{"id":3777,"date":"2018-05-15T08:20:45","date_gmt":"2018-05-15T13:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.diamondpet.wearewoodruff.xyz\/?p=3777"},"modified":"2024-03-11T16:52:18","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T21:52:18","slug":"traveling-safely-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/culture\/pet-tips\/traveling-safely-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling Safely With Your Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"

People travel with their pet for many reasons, including business, vacation and relocation. After all, if you consider your dog or cat to be a member of your family, you want to include them on trips. And chances are, you\u2019ll have options for how you and your pet travel, be it by car<\/a> or by plane, depending on your destination. If you are thinking about traveling with your pet, here are seven questions to consider.<\/p>\n

Is your pet healthy?<\/h2>\n

Whether traveling by land, sea or sky, your pet should be healthy enough for travel and current on his or her vaccinations. As part of your pre-travel planning, ask your veterinarian if your dog or cat is fit to travel. Pets with underlying health conditions or who are very skittish or aggressive shouldn\u2019t be subjected to the stress of travel, although traveling by car with you will be easier for them.<\/p>\n

Flying, in particular, can be stressful even for well-seasoned travelers. If flying is your only option to reach your destination, it may be best for your furry companions to stay home with a pet sitter or relative \u2014 or to enjoy their own staycation at a boarding facility.<\/p>\n

Be aware that many airlines will not permit snub-nosed or smooshed-faced (or, in vet-speak, brachycephalic) dogs and cats to travel in the cargo hold. These pets can have trouble breathing even under normal conditions and may not make good air travelers. Traveling by car is definitely easier \u2014 and likely less stressful \u2014 for these breeds of dogs and cats!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re traveling across state lines or flying, you\u2019ll need a health certificate for your pet and proof of rabies vaccination (and possibly others). Your veterinarian can provide the health certificate, which most airlines will want issued no more than seven to 10 days prior to departure.<\/p>\n

Is your destination and the route to it pet-friendly?<\/h3>\n

Be sure to do your homework and planning before traveling to a new destination with your pet. While more hotels, restaurants, parks and other venues are opening their doors to pets traveling with their owners, these businesses vary from one area to the next. Metro-area trains and buses <\/a>may or may not permit your pet to board, depending on your pet\u2019s size. If you\u2019re planning on using public transit to move about your destination city, you\u2019ll want to investigate their pet policies before you arrive.<\/p>\n

If you and your pet will be traveling by car, map your route in advance to ensure enough stops for your pet to get out, stretch and relieve themselves.<\/p>\n

Is your pet\u2019s identification up-to-date?<\/h3>\n

Pets can escape and get lost, no matter how careful you are. That\u2019s why your pet should have an updated identification tag that includes your cell phone number on his or her collar. Better yet, a microchip is a more permanent ID method and, if you\u2019re traveling to another country, may be required. Just be sure your microchip company has your current contact information as well as your emergency contact\u2019s current phone number.<\/p>\n

Will some routes be less stressful for your pet?<\/h3>\n

Just as making connections can be stressful for us, being transferred from one plane to another can be stressful for your pet. Whenever possible, book a nonstop flight to your destination. You\u2019ll also want to avoid scheduling cargo travel for your dog or cat during seasons with temperature extremes. During these times, the danger isn\u2019t in the air but on the ground. In fact, according to PetTravel.com<\/a>, many airlines won\u2019t transport pets as cargo during excessively hot or cold periods. Delta Cargo, for example, imposes temperature restrictions of 10 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for safe, comfortable pet transport.<\/p>\n

When traveling by car during spring and summer months, never leave your pet alone. Leaving the car windows partially open or parking in the shade isn\u2019t enough to prevent the interior temperature from rising to deadly levels, even on a relatively mild day. And the majority of the temperature increase occurs in the first 15 to 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

Cold weather travel has its risks, too. As with warm weather, leaving a pet alone in a car during cold weather can be dangerous. Cars can hold in the cold much like refrigerators and allow pets to freeze to death.<\/p>\n

Should your pet be given a sedative or tranquilizer?<\/h3>\n

Dogs and cats that need a sedative, tranquilizer or motion sickness medication in order to travel are likely to be happier staying home, preferably with you, a pet sitter or relative. But if your dog or cat has to travel with you, consider traveling by car, train or ship. When flying, giving your pet a sedative or tranquilizer is not recommended because the effects of these medications on animals at higher altitudes are unpredictable. And unfortunately, calming devices including ThunderShirt\u00ae wearables are typically not permitted by the airlines.<\/p>\n

Do you have an appropriate carrier or restraints for your pet?<\/h3>\n

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has regulations that specify what type of crate or carrier is acceptable for pet air travel. The pet crate must:<\/p>\n