Holiday Travel With Pets: 10 Tips
Planning a trip around your pet? Same. Let’s keep it safe.
If you’re like us, going somewhere for the holidays without your pet is — well, it’s just not happening. Traveling with animals can be stressful, but fear not. There’s plenty you can do to make the experience comfortable, safe and even fun for everyone.
Here are our top 10 tips (5 for flights, 5 for cars) to check out before you and your crew hit the road.
Air Travel ✈️
1. Chat with your vet. Make sure all records, identification and vaccines are up to date. If your pet is naturally anxious, discuss holistic remedies to calm and soothe on the day you leave.
2. Get the right crate. It should be USDA approved, and it should offer enough room for your pet to comfortably sit, stand and turn around. Include their favorite blanket inside, and make sure identification and contact information is clearly visible.
3. Pack up food to go. Portion out the servings you’ll need in a plastic bag or collapsible food bowl. Pro tip: The day before you leave, freeze water in a bowl overnight. It will slowly melt during travel, giving your pet a steady supply of hydration.
4. Bring the chew toys. Not only can they help alleviate stress, they can also relieve pressure in your pet’s ears during takeoff and landing.
5. Take potty breaks before the flight. Most airports have pet relief areas outfitted with turf. Though it’s an unfamiliar space, offer your pet a chance to go in hopes of avoiding an accident while in flight.
Road Trip 🚗
1. Keep them restrained. From sudden swerves to abrupt brakes, driving can be unpredictable! Cats and small dogs should be secured in a carrier, and large dogs should have a harness. Never let an animal ride in the bed of a truck, and resist the temptation to let your dog hang their head out the window.
2. Pack a travel kit. Everything at the ready means fewer stops and less hassle. Here’s a handy checklist of some items to consider:
Food, treats and water
Collapsible bowls
Identification and contact information
Current medical records
Waste bags
Litter and travel litter box
Blanket and a few favorite toys
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A pet First Aid kit
3. Stop to snack. Eating while in motion can upset your pet’s stomach (and can also be a choking hazard). Pull over and pause to feed — it can double as a bathroom break.
4. BYOW. Bring bottled water from home to keep your pet hydrated. As sensitive to scent as animals are, some will refuse to drink from an unfamiliar source.
5. Exercise before leaving. Right before you load up the car, let your dog run outside or give your cat an epic play-session workout. The boost in activity will tire them out for some extra ZZZs on the road.
Got a pet question for our blog experts to answer? Email us at support@halopets.com and we’ll get to work 🐾