A Holiday Survival Series: Part One - Traveling with Your Pet

WE SAY THIS EVERY YEAR, BUT… Can you believe it’s already time for the Holiday Season? Halloween is a ghost of the past and we are well on our way to endless Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations.

Since we know the Holiday’s are always a perfect blend of stress and relaxation, we wanted to help out where we can. That’s why, at Deceased Pet Care, we put together a five part Holiday Survival Guide. We hope it takes a bit of the edge off the next two months. First, up -- Traveling with Your Pet.

Do Your Research
There’s nothing worse that being one day from a big family trip and realizing you forgot some key information or item. This is very true for travelling with a pet. If you’re taking a personal vehicle, we’ll give you tips later in this post, but if you plan on travelling by plane or bus, do your research.

Most types of public transportation have stringent rules and regulations when it comes to transporting pets. Often, pets must be registered, vaccinated, leashed, kept in a container of proper dimensions, insured, and often come with extra (or exorbitant) transportation fees. Make sure you are prepared to bring Fido on your choice of holiday transportation.

Have the Proper Paperwork
Speaking of vaccinations and registrations, it is necessary to have all of your pet’s paperwork put together before a trip. If you’re traveling overseas or across state lines, paperwork is actually required by law. Make sure you have full records of rabies and other vaccinations. It’s also highly recommended to have a clean bill of health from your vet before taking trips longer than a few days.

Update Your Information
You can never be fully prepared for all contingencies when traveling. This truth is compounded when bringing along a pet. Ease any potential stress by making sure all your information is correct and up to date. Your pet’s tags, carriers, cages, and leashes should be stamped with accurate contact information, especially a contact phone number.

If you’re considering leaving your pet’s comfort zone, we highly recommend having your pet microchipped before the journey. This is ensures no matter how many thousands of miles you find yourself from home, your furry companion can be connected with you in case of a mishap.

If your pet is already microchipped, make sure the information in the system is up to date, as we can often go more than a year without doing so.
Prepare for the Journey
When it comes to travel, if you're like us, you want to be packed a week out. You check and recheck the list. You take care of the kids bags, your bags, and probably even your significant other. Your pet packing list should be of equal priority.

Set aside smaller portions of food, bring bottled water, and toys for the car ride. Whether travelling by car or air, we like to have a designated pet bag prepped and ready for the journey. We like to include: medical papers, food, bottled water, necessary medications, a leash, bowl, waste scoop, waste bags, grooming supplies, and a favorite toy for a bit of comfort.

Be Safety Conscious
Traveling, while exciting, can often be stressful for your pet too. Make sure you keep a safety conscious mind. You pet should always be properly restrained. Avoid riding in truck beds. If you’re at a rest stop or park, your pet should be leashed in unfamiliar territory. And if possible, never ever leave your pet alone in a car. Your vehicle can go from comfortable to a freezer in no time flat. Don’t risk the health of your pet for a few minutes of convenience.

So that’s our list! At Decease Pet Care, we can’t wait for the Holiday Season. There’s just something about the warm fires, family nights, and road-tripping adventures that make it extra special. We know that your pet is a part of the family, and you want them alongside you every step of the way. We hope part one of our five part Holiday Survival Series helped take a bit of the edge off. Come back in a few weeks for some Thanksgiving Tips. See you soon!