Travel training for you and your pet
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
We all need vacations to get away from the monotony of our everyday routine. If you choose to bring your four-legged friends with you on your retreat, it’s important to know how to care for them while you’re traveling. Most of us travel by car or plane, but either option brings certain drawbacks for our pets.
When traveling with your pets, there may be animal health requirements specific to your destination, either international or domestic. As soon as you know your travel plans, contact your veterinarian to help you with the pet travel process. This process may include:
• Getting a health certificate, also called a certificate of veterinary inspection.
• Updating vaccines.
• Having blood tests done.
• Getting a microchip implanted for identification.
• Having paperwork reviewed and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS).
It’s your responsibility to work with your veterinarian well in advance of your travel to find out what tests, vaccines, paperwork, or other inspections are required by your destination country (or state) AND when they must be completed.
Car Travel
Car travel is usually less stressful on pets because it allows them to be close to you, so you can monitor their well-being and come to their aid if needed. If you drive to your destination, see the helpful hints below to make the trip more enjoyable for you and your pets.
Heat
Never leave animals - or children - unattended in a car, even if it’s just for a few minutes. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), hundreds of pets die every year from heat exhaustion after being left in parked vehicles. AVMA estimates that on an 80°F day, the temperature inside a car can rise to 114°F in 30 minutes. Make sure the only hot dog you have during your vacation is between a bun smothered with ketchup, mustard, and relish.
Securing Your Pets
Distracted driving is dangerous, and unrestrained pets roaming around your car or sitting on your lap can be very distracting. Also, in a collision, unrestrained pets may be thrown from the vehicle and pets riding in the front seat may be seriously injured, or even killed, by an inflating airbag. According to the AVMA, the safest place in a vehicle for animals is in the back seat, properly restrained in a crate, carrier, or safety harness. This helps them stay safe, and you stay focused on the road.
Motion Sickness
It’s common for pets to experience motion sickness while traveling in a car. To help avoid an upset stomach, don’t feed your pet a large meal before travel. Cracking a window to allow fresh air to circulate through your vehicle also helps.
Bathroom Breaks
While your dog may snooze for the majority of the trip, it’s still important to give him or her frequent bathroom breaks. Traffic is unpredictable, so if it has been more than a couple of hours, stop and give your dog a chance to relieve their bowels and stretch their legs. But don’t let a cat out of their carrier when you stop for a break. It’s safest to keep cats in their carriers to prevent the risk of them escaping.
Air Travel
For people, flying is often quicker and easier than driving, but flying can be a more stressful experience for your pets and more complicated for you. The first thing you want to do is check with your veterinarian to make sure your pet it fit to fly. Next, you’ll need to research your options when it comes to which airline to use. All airlines must follow the Animal Welfare Act, which is enforced by USDA/APHIS. This law established certain requirements for transporting animals by plane. Airlines can also impose their own separate and additional requirements.
Once you choose your airline, you’ll want to learn about its policies and requirements for pets traveling in cargo or in the cabin, including how to prepare the crate or carrier for the plane ride and how the airline handles pets from departure to destination.
Pet Travel Requirements
USDA/APHIS regulates the movement of pets into and out of the United States. The APHIS Travel With a Pet webpage - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel - has information about taking your pet from the United States to a foreign country (export) and bringing your pet into the United States from a foreign country (import). This webpage also has information about taking your pet from one U.S. state or territory to another (interstate movement); however, USDA/APHIS does not regulate the interstate movement of pets. Each state or territory has its own animal health requirements. For example, Hawaii has strict entry requirements for arriving pets to prevent rabies from entering the state. Hawaii is the only state that is rabies-free.
Sedatives
While sedatives may make your pets seem less stressed while traveling, these medications can dull the senses and lessen their ability to react to the environment, which can be dangerous in an emergency. When traveling by car or plane, avoid giving your pets any type of sedative. If you think your pet will need a sedative to travel, talk to your veterinarian before your trip.
Familiarize Your Pet with a Crate, Carrier or Harness Prior to a Trip
It’s a good idea to get your pets used to their crate, carrier, or harness before your trip. If your pet is already familiar with the device they’ll be secured in or with, you may have less trouble getting them into it, and they may have less anxiety during travel.
Make Sure a Hotel is Pet-Friendly in Advance
If you plan to stay in a hotel while traveling, contact the hotel ahead of time to make sure it is pet friendly.
Research Veterinary Hospitals at Your Destination Prior to a Trip
Before your trip, research veterinary hospitals in the city or town of your destination in case of a pet emergency during your vacation.