If you want to take your furry buddy with you on your new and exciting adventures, you need to make sure that his or her health is on par every time you want to get on the road. Your dog is a member of your family, so it goes without saying that you need to take care of the pet properly. Pregnant, sick, and injured animals have to stay at home unless you have to take them to the vet’s office.
To make sure that your Fido is kept healthy, happy, and safe, you need to be aware of a set of rules made specifically for traveling. We’ve showcased some of these pieces of advice below.
How to prepare for your trip
One thing that you need to make sure of and have to have on you all the time is your pet’s documentation. If possible, get your dog microchipped because you can never know when he might be enthusiastic about something and end up getting lost somewhere in a neighborhood you don’t know.
Go to the vet’s and get a checkup so that the health certificate of the animal clearly states that he or she is carrying no infectious diseases and is vaccinated properly. By the way, the rules and regulations when it comes to vaccination schedules can change constantly, so it is a good idea to keep in touch with your vet.
Get a quality carrier, plenty of treats and a lot of other things that can keep your canine companion entertained while you’re on the road.
What about when you’re on the road?
PETA recommends avoiding leaving your pet in the car. With the windows up, the temperature in a car can get as high as 160F over the course of just a couple of minutes, particularly if it isn’t in the shade and the sun’s up in the sky. Heatstroke can happen in a matter of just 15 minutes and it is life-threatening.
Another golden rule to traveling by car with your dog is to make sure that he or she gets enough exercise and does his or her business in nature before you go on the road. Make stops as often as your schedule allows you to and get the doggy out of the vehicle so that the animal doesn’t have to hold it in for several hours. Use a car harness.
Flying can be extremely stressful for pets, in general, and for dogs in particular. If the airline doesn’t allow you to keep your dog next to you while on the plane, it’s actually better for you to leave the dog at home at a kennel or with a sitter.
Keep in mind that you might encounter inclement weather once your reach your destination, so it might be a good idea to grab some of your dog’s favorite things. Sweaters for dogs can come in handy if it’s chilly outside.
