Safe Holiday Travel With Pets

We have great boarding facilities at our Family VetCare locations, but we know that sometimes the joy of having a pet means you get to take your pet on vacation with you! If you’re hitting the road or catching a plane with your pet this holiday season, make sure you plan ahead and travel accordingly so your whole family has the most comfortable trip possible.

  • Visit your vet before you leave. Verify your pet’s vaccines are up to date (especially rabies!), and stock up on flea, tick and heartworm preventives. You may also want to ask your veterinarian about motion sickness medication to help prevent your pet from getting sick in the car. And, most importantly, verify your pet’s microchip registration is updated with your current address and contact information, just in case your pet gets loose while you’re in an unfamiliar place.
  • Do your research. If you’re flying, call your airline to see if your pet meets the airline’s requirements for travel. If you’re leaving the country or even the state, review their laws regarding taking pets over that particular border. You might need a USDA-endorsed health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian. You don’t want your pet to get stuck in customs without you!
  • Prepare, prepare, prepare. Print a copy of your pet’s health history to take with you, and write down addresses and phone numbers for reputable veterinarians along your route and at your final destination, just in case. Pack more than enough food and necessary medications so there’s no chance your pet will run out. Keep the medications in their original containers so that the dose and instructions are readily available.
  • Make frequent stops. Have a long drive? Remember that your pup probably needs to use the bathroom more than you do. Stop every three to four hours to let him take a potty break, get a snack and stretch those legs. Bring along their leash and harness as these breaks may be in unfamiliar areas and you don’t want your four-legged family member to get scared and run off.
  • Roll up the windows! We know how cute (and goofy) dogs look with their heads hanging out car windows and their tongues wagging in the breeze. But at highway speeds, rolled-down windows can be dangerous. While jumping out the window can be fatal, a less severe problem would be the potential for floating debris to get lodged in their eyes and cause significant irritation and damage.

Need more help getting ready for your adventure? Contact your Family VetCare location today.

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