Welcome to the third post of my 4 series post about safe travel for you and your pets. In this series I will cover:

• How to prepare and plan for pet travel
• Pet travel by Air
• Pet travel by Car
• Pet travel by train and buses.

The third post of the series discusses safe travel by car. Let’s get started.

Start small

Before considering bringing your lovable pet on the annual family road-trip, it is best to make sure your pet is already accustomed to cat travel before you travel too far. So take the time to acclimatise you pet with a few short rides in the car before the planned longer trip. The important thing is to attempt to associate positive thoughts with your pet when travelling in the car. So praise your pet after each short journey and slowly build their confidence with getting in and out of the car.

Carriers where applicable

For the safety of smaller pets and you and your family, small pets such as cats should always travel in an approved pet carrier. Similar to when travelling by air, pet carriers should be large enough for your pet to stand up in and turn around and also be secure (with a lock or similar). Confining your pet during car travel rules allows your pet to feel secure and also prevents them moving around the car interior (and hence removing the risk of them crawling under your feet while you are driving).

Dogs

Some basic rules with dogs travelling within cars are:

• If your car is equipped with an airbag, your dog should NOT travel in the front passenger seat
• Never let your dog travel sitting on your lap
• Do not allow your dog to travel with their head outside the window of your car. Doing so increases the risk of dirt or other debris entering their ears, eyes or mouth.
• If your dog has to ride in the back of your ute / truck, then make sure he/she is leashed and confined to a secured portable kennel.

Refreshments and supplies

Try to stick to your pet’s regular feeding routine when travelling with your pet. If you are travelling during the day, feed your pet it’s main meal when you reach the destination or at the end of the day’s travel. Make sure you have plenty of water and a water bowl with you whilst in the car; when you stop to refuel / get supplies, give your pet the opportunity to stretch their legs and have a drink of water. Toilet stops of course for you and your pet are also a necessity, and remember never to leave your pet unattended in the car.

A final note

Like all travel with your pet, good preparation can mean the difference between an enjoyable trip with you and your family pet, or a never to be repeated experience!

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Welcome to the second post of a 4 series post about safe travel with your pets. In this series I will cover:

• How to prepare and plan for pet travel
• Pet travel by Air
• Pet travel by Car
• Pet travel by train and buses

Moving forward with the series, let’s get started with the second post discussing air travel and your pet.

Travel by Air

Travel by air for your pet is arguably the most convenient for you but the most stressful for your pet (and possibly you as well!). I for one have never enjoyed putting Charlie our Tonkinese in the carrier and into the hull of the plane however the convenience of flying (particularly when travelling long distances) is too much to deter me. Air travel can however be a safe and comfortable method of transport for your pet as long as you are prepared.

Airlines

Airlines all have their own specific requirements in regard to travelling with your pet, and this varies from country to country. For this reason it is vital that you confirm with your chosen Airline what is allowed and required in relation to pet travel prior to purchasing any tickets, to avoid disappointment.

General guidelines

The below are some general guidelines around how to prepare your pet for air travel. I have found that most airlines’ regulations are consistent with the required preparation noted below.

Minimum age to travel

Many airlines will have a minimum age of your pet before it will allow it to travel. As a rule of thumb, most airlines adopt an 8 week minimum age for most pets.

Health certificate

Some airlines, particularly in the USA have a requirement that your pet must have a health certificate from your vet within 10 days prior to travel date. This I must add is not however a requirement of most Australian airlines when travelling with small pets such as a cat. The regulations may have changed however so once again, best to check with your airline.

Approved pet carrier

Having an approved and quality pet carrier, specifically designed for pet transport, is good insurance for your pet’s safety. This is the very reason that almost all airlines will insist that your pet is contained within an approved pet carrier, that the carrier can be locked and that your pet can stand up, turnaround and lie down within the carrier. In addition, your pet carrier should be well ventilated and the base covered with absorbent and comfortable material. Make sure that the carrier also has your pet’s contact details clearly labelled.

It is also a great idea to get your pet used to being inside your carrier.  We often leave Charlie’s carrier open so he can climb in whenever he likes.  We often find him sleeping in the carrier so as a consequence when it comes time to travel we have no problems with getting him inside. 

Preparing for flight

It is a great idea to arrive early for your flight and to give your pet plenty of exercise prior to checking in. Typically it is also recommended that your pet travels on an empty stomach and the use of pet tranquillisers (in an attempt to calm them) is not recommended (due to the increased chances of heart or breathing problems during flight). Again when in doubt, consult your vet for specific requirements and advice.

Checking in

Try to check in promptly and minimise the length of time that your pet spends in the airport terminal. Personally put your pet on the luggage crate when checking in your pet and promptly collect your pet when arriving at your destination.

Other thoughts

Some other points worth mentioning are to always try to book non-stop flights whenever possible and avoid travel during very busy holiday travel times.

That completes the second post of our 4 post series on safe travel with pets. If you enjoyed this post, please stayed tuned for the next in the pet travel series - Pet Travel by Car.

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Welcome to the first of a 4 series post about safe travel with your pets. In this series I will cover:

• How to prepare and plan for pet travel
• Pet travel by Air
• Pet travel by Car
• Pet travel by train and buses

So let’s get started with the first post of the series by discussing good travel preparation and planning for you and your pets.

Before you travel

A great holiday for both you and your pet begins with making sure that your pet is fit and healthy for travel. So monitor your pet in the weeks leading up to travel, ensuring that your pet is eating well, getting plenty of exercise and is essentially happy. It is also important that your pet is all up to date with worming, fleas and vaccinations. If in doubt, have your vet check over your pet before departure. This is particularly relevant for elderly or difficult pets.

Identification

Correct identification for your pet is of course a great idea for all of the time, however even more important when you are leaving home. Make sure your pet is ID tagged (as well as being micro-chipped) and the correct address details (both home and your holiday destination) are recorded. In addition, I would recommend taking a few recent photos of your pet with you on holiday - just in case they get lost whilst away from home.

Consider the destination

It may sound obvious, but making sure that your destination is “pet-friendly” is critical. This will include of course ensuring that your accommodation is suitable (be it staying with friends/family, hotel, motel B&B etc.) in addition to confirming that your pet will be OK during the day if you are off out sight seeing. Note that if you are staying at a hotel/motel, you will need to also confirm if your pet can stay in the room while you are not there. If this is allowed, it is always a good idea to leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door to reduce the risk of hotel staff entering your room whilst you are away (and your pet is there alone).

What to bring

It is a good idea to pack a suitcase just for your pet. This will include essentially most of the items that make living at home enjoyable for your pet such as:

• Appropriate food and treats
• Food / water bowls (for both while you travel (depending on the travel method) and when you arrive at your destination)
• Grooming equipment
• Favourite toys
• Sleeping bed / blanket.

Some other thoughts

Packing a simple-first aid kit that includes some pet safe medications is a good idea. In addition to that, I would recommend you monitor your pets health and behaviour more closely whilst on holiday. Check for any irregularities such as a runny nose, discharge from eyes or behaviour changes (excessive scratching/cleaning, biting etc.) and make sure you visit the local vet if you have concerns.

OK, that is it for the post 1 of our 4 post series about safe travel with pets. Next week I will continue the post series with tips and advice for safe car travel for you and your pet.

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