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Travelling with your family pet can be a fun and enriching experience, but can become stressful and frustrating if you have not done your homework or if you are unprepared.

An important consideration to keep in mind at the beginning of the entire process is your animal’s physical and emotional well-being. Are they healthy enough to travel or are there age or illness concerns that should be taken into account? Do they like to travel and have the temperament to meet new people and stay in new places? If not, it may be more comfortable for them to stay at home under the careful watch of a trusted sitter or boarding facility.

Ensuring that your pet has proper identification, whether it is a microchip (highly recommended for all pets, regardless of whether you are travelling or not), and/or dog tags on a collar that remains on your pet is important. Similarly, just like you ensure all of your identification is in order for travel, your pet may need documentation if you are crossing country borders. Minimally your animal will need a health certificate signed by a veterinarian and an up-to-date rabies vaccine certificate. Many countries require specific documentation, blood tests, antiparasitic treatment, special vaccines, and a microchip to be implanted prior to travel. You may even need the signature of a government veterinarian! This information is inherent upon you, the traveller, to investigate, print out, and bring to the clinic in a timely manner to ensure that your pet can travel with you. Several months preparation may be required to be ready in time (see below for a link to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website).

Just like your destination and mode of travel will determine what you pack for yourself, these will determine what you pack for your pet. If you are going on a road trip in your car, consider taking things that will make your pet comfortable, both in the car and at stops along the way. Food and water and their respective dishes, leash, treats, litter box, blanket, bed, poop bags, and any properly labelled medications are all some of the things you need to remember. Wherever you are staying, bring a portable kennel if your pet is comfortable in one. This will allow your pet to be settled in their new environment. If you are going somewhere where your pet will be swimming you may want to bring an extra collar if your pet will be in the water a lot. This will allow for one to dry while still keeping an ID on your pet.

Who to contact?

• the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for the specific health certificates and all the prerequisites required to enter the country to which you will be travelling  ( http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/exports/live-animals/health-certificates/pets/eng/1321265624789/1321281361100 )
• your accommodations
• the airline or travel company
• your veterinary clinic

If you will be staying in a hotel ensure that you have researched whether they have any restrictions on pets. Some hotels limit the number of pets per room while others have size/weight restrictions. And don’t forget, the whole point of travelling with your pet is to include them in your activities so don’t leave your pet alone in the room if you can help it. If you do need to go out, inform the front desk staff that your pet will be in the room, and leave emergency contact information for them to reach you.

If travelling by air, it is important to check with the airline prior to flying. Different airlines have different policies and you will need to investigate and follow their rules to not be turned away from your flight. It is also vital to know the requirements of the country to which you are travelling to for your pet to be admitted. Again, it is vital for you to find this information out, and to ensure that you have left sufficient time for any requirements to be fulfilled.

Do your research before you go. What are some of the endemic diseases at your destination or along the way? For example, heartworm is a year-round concern in Florida so your pet should be protected with a heartworm preventive medication. Ticks are parasites that should be taken into account as well, as they can carry diseases that can be transmitted to your animal. Are there any additional vaccines your pet needs prior to travelling to your destination? When you are booking your health certification appointment with your veterinary clinic, make sure you mention if you will be needing any extra medication for the trip to ensure that the appropriate medications are waiting for you by the time of your pet’s appointment.  Whether your trip is long or short, research some veterinary clinics near your location to have their phone number on hand in case of an emergency.

Travelling with your pets can be a wonderful and enriching experience for everyone involved. The memories and photos of the destinations and the journeys will be cherished, just make sure that everyone in the family is properly prepared and packed so there are no hiccups along the way. Happy travels!!!