Thanksgiving Travel with Pets
For many pet parents, Thanksgiving means it’s time to load your family up and head out of town. If you’re bringing your pets with you this holiday season, you might be feeling anxious about what lies ahead. How can you make holiday travel with pets smooth and stress-free?
The team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital has some tips to help you prepare:
3 Tips for Thanksgiving Travel with Pets
1. Prepare (Well) in Advance of Your Trip
Planning ahead is the secret sauce to successful holiday travel with pets. You can’t plan for every possible scenario, but you can get pretty close.
First, make sure your pet is healthy and up-to-date on all his vaccines. If you’re crossing state lines or taking Fido or Kitty on a plane, check the requirements for pet travel. You might need to get a health certificate from your veterinarian or provide proof of specific vaccinations.
Some certificates have to be given out a certain number of days before a trip, so make sure you thoroughly understand the requirements.
Next, keep in mind that between weather and random acts of the Internet gods, air and road travel during Thanksgiving can be unpredictable. Delays happen. So do changes in plans.
How do you prepare for this? By making sure your pet is microchipped and has a collar with updated ID tags, along with a pet first-aid kit and extra food, water, and waste bags.
Once all that’s covered, book pet-friendly hotels or vacation homes in advance. A lot of the more pet-friendly accommodations book up quickly—especially around the holidays.
2. Choose the Right Travel Carrier
A comfortable, well-ventilated travel carrier is a must for your pet’s safety during the trip. This is true whether you’re flying, driving, or traveling by train.
The carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. For car travel, make sure you secure the carrier with a seatbelt to keep it from sliding or tipping over.
If you’re flying, the carrier has to meet the airline’s requirements, so make sure you know those rules well before you board.
To help your pet feel more comfortable during the trip, place familiar items like her favorite blanket or toy inside the carrier.
You can also speak with your veterinarian for tips on managing pet anxiety during travel. Special treats, supplements, and medications may help your pet get through a stressful flight or drive.
3. Make Regular Stops
If you’re driving, forget the idea of driving 10 hours without stopping to make it to your destination. Your pet will need a rest stop every couple of hours to stretch, do their business, drink water, and eat.
Plenty of rest areas are pet-friendly, and most gas stations have a strip of grass you can walk your pet to for a potty break.
Just make sure you keep your pawsome pal on a leash. The last thing you need is to have him running off in a strange town!
Airplane travel with pets is a bit trickier. Time is your friend here. Arrive at the airport early so you have plenty of time to check in and go through security.
If your pet is small enough to ride in the cabin with you, make sure she has a potty break right before the flight. If your pet is traveling in the cargo hold, provide a small amount of food and water, along with a leash, and any other items the airline recommends.
Problem-Free Pet Travel
When you’re prepared for pet travel during the holidays, you can face those unavoidable bumps and wrinkles with ease.
The caring team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital is here to help you prepare your pet for travel. Whether you need to get your pet up-to-date on vaccines or need a health certificate, we can help. Call us at 530-823-6306 to learn more!