How to travel with your pet

Leaving behind pets when you travel is tough—but before you pack up any furry friend, take note: cats are generally bad travelers. They don’t like being confined to carriers and tend to get anxious in cars, so it’s best leave them at home with a sitter or board them at a kennel. Dogs, on the other hand, are more adaptable, and therefore better travel companions. Here’s how to prep for your pup’s trip:

Before you go …

• See your vet. If you are traveling across state lines or out of the country, you’ll need a health certificate (dated within 10 days of travel) to verify your dog is healthy and current on her vaccines. Talk to your vet about sedatives—especially if you have an anxious pup or your trip is long. (This is also the best way to handle a cat, if you must bring her along.) And consider anti-nausea mediations as well—pets get car sick, too!
• Research emergency vets. Find several veterinarians at your destination or along your route if you’re driving. Program both your vet’s phone number and an animal poison control phone number into your cell in case of emergency.

In the Car...

• Keep your dog leashed in the backseat. Driving with your dog in your lap is not only illegal in some cities and states but it’s also distracting. More importantly, you can end up in a serious accident if she wanders near your brake pad.
• Coordinate rest stops. Every time you pull over for a bathroom, stretching, or water break, extend the same courtesy to your dog. Just be sure leash her before you open the car door.
• Consider your pet’s comfort. If it’s hot and you have to leave her in the car for even a few minutes, it’s imperative to park in the shade, leave water out (in some states, you can be ticketed for leaving a pet alone without water), and the windows cracked open or the A/C running—cars can heat up rapidly in hot temperatures, resulting in fatal heat stroke. Likewise, in extremely cold temps, leave the heat turned up to prevent your pup from freezing.

On a plane …

• Investigate your airline’s pet regulations. Each carrier has its own set of policies, so make sure you know the requirements for specific crate types or brands, temperature restrictions (if it’s too hot or too cold, your pet can’t travel with your luggage), identification or labeling protocols, and water and food requirements. Check with the airline weeks in advance so you have time to prepare.
• See if you can carry on your small breed. Some airlines will allow you to take certain miniscule dogs or cats on board in a soft-sided carrier. This often requires a $50 to $100 fee each way, and your pet must stay in the carrier under the seat at all times (which may require lots of sedation).
• For more tips, check out AVMA's tips.
• Fly direct if possible. And choose early morning or late evening flights in the summer to avoid peak heat hours.
• Hydrate your pet when you land. But wait until your pet settles down before offering any food, as travel can upset her stomach. Finally, keep her in her crate until you are outside—most airports won’t allow your animal to wander.

Signing off while traveling the world myself,

Dr. Justine Lee

Biography:
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC is a veterinary emergency critical-care specialist and the author of It’s a Cat’s World…You Just Live in It and It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet.

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