Traveling With Your Pet

Planning Your Trip

Pet-Friendly Hotels And Pet Needs

One thing we all ask ourselves is how do I bring my pet on vacation or for family visits. If you’re staying in hotels in Canada, you may want to look at this website. Its called Pets Can Stay. Traveling with your pet takes planning.

They actually give the hotels their seal of approval therefore you know they are up to date and confirmed properly. You can also see if the car rental service will allow your pet to travel with you. I recommend using rhinocarhire to double-check before booking.

There is also another fantastic site I came across that can find you nearby trainers, pet care, pet sitting and more. You can search the area your traveling to assist you. It is called Pet Stays. It’s worth checking into before you travel so you can plan some great things for your pet to enjoy as well. The website owner is very responsive and friendly if you should have any questions.

Documents You May Need For Your Pet When Traveling To Other Countries

Depending on where your planning on traveling to. You may need to contact the Embassy of the destination country. You can find more information on the Government of Canada page to see what you may need before leaving the country. Canadian International Health Certificate will be needed.

Make sure your Micro Chip is up to date. Contact any services or Microchip location services you may have ahead of time. The last thing you want is not to be able to locate your pet if something should happen.

Other Accommodations

Depending on where your visiting you may want to consider not bringing your pet. If you’re going to be doing a lot of sightseeing, I would highly recommend a local dog or cat resort/kennel. A family member or friend can assist you as well. Sometimes our pets would rather be at home than in a strange environment left alone for hours on end.

Flying With Your Pet

Contact the airlines to see what they need for transporting your pet. For Air Canada or West jet you can click on the links to see what is needed ahead of time. You can also go with a worldwide pet transportation company. I don’t, however, recommend sending them cargo. It is extremely hard on the animal.

Crate For Safe Travel

You will need to make sure your pet has a proper carrier. Most airlines will give you the information on the maximum and minimum requirements and measurements. Make sure you check with your vet to see if your dog is healthy enough to travel on a plane.

Make sure you put all the information as Live Animal, with your name, cell phone and destination phone number, and a photo of your pet. Should your pet escape from the carrier while your traveling, this could be a lifesaver.

Some dogs may suffer from anxiety and are a flight risk. So make sure you cover all that on your vet appointment when completing your travel documents.

Packing Thier Favorite Things

What To Pack

It can be very stressful for a pet to leave their routine and environment. When traveling with your pet make sure you bring their favorite toys or blankets. Here is a list of things you may want to bring. Check with your airline to make sure you can take any food or treats.

• Bed and Blanket
• Favorite Toys
• Enough Food and Water if you use spring water
• Vitamins or medications
• First Aid – Bandage, Gauze, Polysporn and other necessities.
• Training Treats and Interactive toys
• Leash/Harness

Traveling By Vehicle With Your Pet

Keep Your Pet Safe When Traveling

Do not leave your pet unattended in the vehicle. Especially in unknown places. Try to pack lunches or take out to include your pet as much as possible. Give them plenty of space and a bowl for water. Invest in a seatbelt harness. You can check out supplies to get your new dog for a refresher.

You will also want to stop now and then so your pet can stretch and go to the bathroom. When traveling with your pet, always try to keep your pet close in unfamiliar grounds. Depending on the weather as well. You should never ever leave your dog in a hot car. It can take seconds for your dog to die of heatstroke.

In the cold weather as well. You should always make sure they are warm and not stressed. Especially when leaving them in a crate. The last thing we want to think about is our pet escaping during an accident or open door when you’re far from home.

Check for Local Vet Hospitals

Emergencies

You can search on google for available pet hospitals in the area your traveling. I found a good site if to check for local vet emergency hospitals at Pets Welcome.

Pet Insurance

Pet Insurance can help if there are any problems. You can contact your insurance company to find out if they have additional coverage for your pet. CAA Pet Health offers Pet Insurance as well. You can also check into Pet Plan if you live in the USA.

Keeping Your Pet Safe During Family Visits

Introduction

Remember your pet has no idea what the rules are at your destination. You have to take the time to make sure your pet knows its boundaries. Training ahead of time can really help. Practice Training ahead of time.

Making A Safe Spot

Set up a safe spot for your pet. Close to you. Your pet will want to make sure your in sight at all times. Give them a place to rest and still be part of the adventure. Remember this is scary to them sometimes. Other times they can be over-excited from all the attention. Bring some puzzle toys or other things to distract any unwanted behavior.

Try To Include Your Pet When Traveling

Try not to exclude them. Remember you decided to take them along. So make sure they enjoy the trip as much as you do. Try to have a secure place that is fenced in so they can run free and stretch. Find local dog parks in the area so you can burn off that extra energy they may have.

Your dog may only be just part of your life, but for a dog or cat, you are their whole world. Keep them safe from harm and protect them in every way you can. We hope this article will help you plan your next trip with your furry little loved ones. Make traveling with your pet a better experience each time.