This month’s focus is travel, with tips for safety, comfort, and efficiency in traveling with your pets.  We’ll focus on travel with dogs and cats because other species of animals require much more stringent and specific considerations for safe travel by any mode of transportation.

Planning Ahead for Successful Travels

The Pet Carrier

Having the right size and construction of pet carrier is the single most important consideration for successful travel.  Many types now accommodate seat belts,  which is an extra measure of common sense for  pet safety.  If the carrier is too large, the cat or dog can slide and bang from one end to the other in stop-and-go traffic or on rough roads.  If it is too small, the animal cannot rest in comfort during long trips.

Other considerations are:  will you be feeding your animal during the trip within the carrier or will you be removing the animal from the carrier in order to feed and water it?  Does the carrier need to meet airline restrictions?  Even if it isn’t today, might it be a requirement for travel in your future?

Packing Food & Medicine

Any time you incorporate changes into your pet’s diet, you have to plan on some minor to major problems.  This can be trying enough when you’re at home – don’t invited problems when you travel.  Bring enough of your dog or cat’s regular food items to last through your trip.  In fact, pack a couple days extra so that you are prepared for any eventuality, including snow-packed roads or closed airports.

The same is true of your animal’s medicines, if any.  Refill all pet prescriptions that might run low while you’re away.  It may not be possible for you to find all of your animal’s needs at a distant location.  Pack the medications within the area of your luggage you reserve for your own medications, and don’t let that piece of luggage sit out in the hot sun.  Keep it in a cool, dry place whenever possible.

Home Away From Home

If your animal is a seasoned traveler, then you may already know that it is best to disturb his routine as little as possible during travel.   Try to keep his feeding and walking times as close to routine as possible.  And don’t neglect play times.  If Fido is used to chasing the stick every evening after supper, he’ll expect the same regardless of where you two are.  Try to oblige him.

Of course, travel is, at its very essence, change.  Don’t fret if you need to move the schedule around a bit.  But be sensitive to the time and space your pet will need to adjust.  Cut him some slack if he won’t perform his usual tricks when first settling in to a new hotel room.  He may act more nervous than usual as he scopes out the new smells in his “territory.”   He may even act very territorial when service staff enter the room, so, if you are not going to be in the room to restrain him, put him in his carrier during his absence.

Of course, every hotel has its own rules.  Some allow the free run of the place to dogs and cats; other require that pets remain in hotel boarding facilities when pet-owners are not in residence at the moment.  Inquire at your individual establishment.

Whatever the rules, try to bring a little piece of home with you wherever you go.  This can be a favorite pull toy, chew toy, or doggie blanket.   Even a special collar or leash can spell “home” to your dog or cat.  For example, we have one blue retractable leash that has always been used when we’re going to take our schnauzer for a run in the park.  Packing that for a long car trip seems to telegraph to her that, whatever the time or discomfort in the trip, she can look forward to a long romp with her owners when the destination is reached.