Keeping pets has become quite popular in recent times. People who have pets will tell you that making travel plans (whether for business or pleasure) involves making the decision to take the pet with you or to leave it in the care of an animal shelter facility.
Most pet owners, however, become so fond of their pets that they would rather travel with them wherever they go than leave them behind. This, therefore, requires preparation for a pet-friendly trip. This article provides you with a checklist of pet travel tips for this grooming.
1. Identification labels
Pets cannot be identified. Regardless of the mode of travel chosen, it is necessary to tag your pet with proper identification before leaving. This would help ensure that your pet finds its way back to you in the event that it becomes separated. It also helps avoid confusion between owners in cases where two pets might resemble each other.
2. Permanent pet identification
The sages say that you can never be too cautious. In addition to tagging your pet with the necessary identification tags, it is recommended that you attach a more permanent form of identification, such as a microchip. This would also help track your pet in case it strays or you become separated.
3. Train them while they are young
It is important that you train your pet when it is still young because the animals need some time to fully master the commands and the expected behavior. You must train them to remain calm during the journey and to respond correctly to commands. A reward system is recommended as it helps to keep the lessons learned longer. If you have more than one pet, it is recommended that you train them separately.
4. Secure your pet for its safety
After training the pet, most people assume that it is safe to let it roam in the car / plane during travel. However, this is wrong. Like people, pets can be injured when the travel vessel assumes a sudden movement or in the event of an accident. Therefore, it is recommended to leave the pet in a cage to keep it safe.
5. Choose a suitable travel box
Cloth carriers are a good option for transporting your pet. However, plastic pet carriers are preferred for their versatility, offering security for different modes of travel.
6. Pets and cars
Pets like cats and dogs are fast and agile. Therefore, they will naturally make use of these abilities when their safety is threatened. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the pet feels safe and comfortable throughout the trip.
7. Sedating the pet
Pets, like all other human beings, tend to get anxious when exposed to unfamiliar surroundings. Sedating them could help ease their anxiety and save them from trauma and even accidents that result from fear.
8. Bring a pet first aid kit
We can never say if or when accidents can happen. The best way to counter this is to be ready in case it happens. Pet owners are advised to carry a pet first aid kit that includes bandages, gauze, and hydrogen peroxide in case vomiting needs to be induced. You should also always follow the steps taken by an animal health specialist before personally treating your pet for suspected toxin exposure.
9. Bring water and pet food
Unexpected events, like train delays, are inevitable. Therefore, during travel preparation, it is important for the pet owner to keep this in mind and pack more food and water for the pet in case these events occur.
10. Be very cautious
Regardless of how well you know your pet, you can never know how he will react to new stimuli. Your cat, for example, may decide to seek shelter between your legs while driving after hearing a loud noise like a truck horn. This could result in a fatal accident and therefore it is strongly recommended that you keep your pet safe at all times during the trip.
11. Dealing with a dog during air travel
Most airlines will allow you to bring your pet into the aircraft cabin only if the pet fits in the pet carrier under the seat. It is a requirement that the size of the pet allows it to stand and move in the carrier. You will also be asked to pack some essentials for the dog, such as a bag of poop, a bottle of water, a collapsible container, a recent photo of the dog, and a leash.
The above tips are primarily focused on the safety and well-being of your pet while traveling. Therefore, it is important that preliminary safety precautions are observed, such as making sure your pet is in good physical condition for travel. It is also important to ensure that the travel destination is free from animal diseases such as rabies. By following the above tips, traveling with pets becomes less complicated and a comfortable experience.