- If your pet has any chronic conditions, take all pertinent medical records. It’s a good idea to have your pet’s records with you any time you travel.
- If your pet is on any long-term medications, be sure to have plenty to last your entire stay.
- If you are driving north or south of the U.S. border, be sure to check all local regulations and have your pet’s current health certificates with you.
- If you’ll be staying in a certain area for any length of time, be sure to establish a local vet as soon as possible in case of emergency. Go to PetTravelCenter.com and click on Pet Emergency Tips for more information.
- Ask a local vet about any diseases or parasites that may be present in that part of the country (Lyme disease in New England or year-round fleas in Florida, for instance). Your pet may not be protected against these if they are not present where you live.
Also consider taking along a photo of your pet in case you get separated and need the help of others to locate your pet. A pet travel ID tag with your cell phone number is also a good idea. If someone finds your pet, they can contact you quickly, instead of them calling a home phone number and not finding anyone at home.
Bottom line is to be prepared when you hit the road with your pet. What other essentials can you think of to take along when you travel with your pet?
Happy Pet Travels!
Tom James
PetTravelCenter.com