Traveling with a Pet Checklist
Traveling with your pet can be an exciting adventure, but it requires careful planning to ensure a smooth and safe experience for both you and your pet. Here’s a comprehensive travel checklist for dog and cat owners to keep your pet happy and healthy on the go.
Essential Items and Tips:
Lead, Collar, and Tags: Have their ID ready! Make sure your pet wears a collar with an ID tag that includes your contact information. A lead is necessary for rest stops and exploring new places. Ensure their harness is snuggly tight so they don’t get loose in an unfamiliar area.
Vaccination Records: Carry up-to-date vaccination records, especially rabies, as some destinations require proof upon entry. Print them out and have them readily accessible so you don’t have to sift through your digital records at an inconvenient time.
Microchip Registration: Ensure your pet’s microchip is registered with your current contact information, providing an extra layer of security in case they wander off.
At-Home Comforts: Bring along their crate, favorite toys, and a blanket to give your pet a sense of familiarity and comfort during the trip. It’s good to have the sights and smells from home to remind them that they are safe.
Medications and Prescriptions: Make sure to check your pet’s prescriptions at least a month before you plan to leave. This way you’ll have plenty of time to plan for your refill before your trip. Pack all necessary medications along with copies of prescriptions in case you need emergency refills.
Veterinary Contacts: Research and list veterinarians and emergency services in the area you’re traveling to for peace of mind.
Pet First Aid Kit: Prepare a first aid kit tailored for pets, including bandages, antiseptic wipes, and tweezers.
Pet Health Insurance: Consider getting pet health insurance for unexpected illnesses or accidents. Just like human medicine, we recommend pet health insurance for every visit.
Travel Certificate: If traveling out of the country, obtain a pet travel certificate from a veterinarian. The process can take a few weeks to many months, depending on the requirements of the destination country. Please work with your veterinarian as soon you know your pet will travel to another country, according to the USDA.
Check Territory Requirements: Familiarize yourself with the regulations of your destination at least six months in advance to complete any necessary paperwork and medical needs.
Common Airline Pet Regulations include:
According to Nationwide
Dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks of age.
No more than one puppy weighing over 20lbs each can travel in the same kennel.
No more than two puppies or kittens weighing 20lbs or less each can travel in the same kennel.
Veterinary health certificates must be dated within 10 days of outbound travel for domestic travel and 14 days for international travel.
Up to date vaccination records for all pets.
We hope that you find these tips useful and that they help traveling with your pet become a bit easier! Contact us if you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment. We’re always here for you and your pets.
Sincerely,
The BLVD Team