Traveling with Pets

By Michelle Kraft, DVM

Its that time of year again! Time for spring break and summer vacation. Time for trips to the park, the mountains, the lake or the beach. Most pet owners love going out of town to relax and unwind but dread leaving their furry friends behind. Nowadays, it is relatively easy to travel with your pets, whether it is a short car ride or traveling across country via automobile or airplane.

Dogs make perfect travel companions most of the time. Most dogs love to jump in the car on a nice day to go for a ride to the park. However, not all dogs are so enthusiastic in the beginning. Many dogs can get car sick or very anxious on rides, especially if this is a new experience for them. For those nervous dogs, it is important to not only take them on many car rides but also take them to places they enjoy, rather than just a trip to the veterinarian every time they get in the car. Usually with a few trips to the park, those nervous dogs are more than willing to go for a ride. If your dog tends to vomit due to motion sickness, there are some over the counter medications you can give after a discussion with your veterinarian. If those medications arent helping, stronger medications for sedation can be prescribed after an examination with your veterinarian to be sure they are safe to administer.

Another thing to consider for your canine passenger is a safety belt that attaches to a harness. Not only will this keep your dog safer in an accident, but it will help prevent your dog from jumping all over the car and causing a collision. You can purchase these canine seat belts at your local pet store or online. Remember, it is never safe to ride with your dog on your lap, especially in the event that your airbag is deployed.  

Traveling with our feline friends may be a bit more challenging as they are not as accustomed to riding or flying and prefer to stay in their home. Since cats can stress out or panic easily in transit, it is highly advised that you purchase a secure cat carrier for them to ride in. Pet stores carry anything from plastic crates to zip up soft nylon carriers that resemble duffle bags. For long trips, anxious cats do well with a sedative that can be prescribed by your veterinarian after an examination. If you plan on traveling a long distance in the car with your feline companion, I would be sure to have a litter box on hand so you can let them use it occasionally when you take a break from driving. Many cats wont use the litter box due to nervousness. Other cats may vomit, urinate or have a bowel movement in their cat carrier. Therefore, it is probably a good idea to bring some paper towels, cleaning supplies and some fresh blankets in case this happens. 

If you are looking to travel with your pet on an airline, you must make sure the carrier is approved for airline travel. Even if the product is labeled airline approved, I would call your specific airline and be certain it is allowed. Also, different airlines require different dimensions if you are carrying your pet on with you. For instance, Air Tran requires smaller dimensions for a carry on carrier than Delta, so it can fit under the seats on that airline. Different airlines also have different weight restrictions if you want to bring your pet in the cabin with you. Most allow you to bring one pet on with you if the pet weighs less than 15 pounds in lieu of a carry on. Larger dogs must fly in cargo, unless you have a canine assistance dog. If you are shipping your pet in cargo, I would purchase the strongest and most secure kennel you can find. Fees range anywhere from $100 to carry on, up to $300 to ship in cargo one way. There are also restrictions on the age of your pet. Often puppies and kittens must be older than 10 weeks old to fly. You should research your airlines specific requirements before traveling.  

It is always recommended to see your veterinarian a few days prior to traveling to purchase a health certificate. This is important to make sure your pet is healthy enough for travel and to have the appropriate legal documentation of their vaccination status, proof of negative heartworm tests, fecal exams, and any deworming or parasite treatment. If you are flying with your pet anywhere in the United States, I recommend having a health certificate on hand in case there is a problem. If you are traveling internationally, a health certificate is required. Often other countries will have strict and detailed requirements months prior to travel, especially when it comes to rabies vaccination. So if you are planning on traveling with your pet to another country in the next year, I would recommend researching the requirements needed for travel far in advance. You can find stipulations for the different countries on the website www.usda.gov.

Finally, no matter where you are traveling with your pet, it is important for them to have identification tags attached to their collar or a microchip in the event they get lost. These upcoming months are some of the best for travel and recreation. Be sure to include your furry friends on your excursions and if you have any questions be sure to contact your local veterinarian.

Dr. Michelle Kraft is a veterinarian with Little River Animal Hospital, 15710 Birmingham Hwy, Alpharetta. 770-619-1616, Animal-Dr.com