It can be great to bring your pets along if the locale is appropriate for them, but regardless if they wait it out at home or tag along, you must plan ahead for a worry-free adventure.
Stay-cation
If at all possible, hire a pet sitter so that your pet can stay in familiar surroundings...his home! It is a must that the sitter meets your dog or cat ahead of time. Observe the pet sitter's interaction with your animal, make sure he or she knows Pet First Aid & CPR (most accidents happen when we are away from home), provide them extensive information about food, exercise, medication, toys, sleeping habits, emergency numbers, etc. and make sure you can reach the pet sitter and that they can reach YOU while you're away.
Boarding
If you choose to board your dog or cat at a kennel, make sure you do a walk through of the kennel WITH your pet prior to leaving him there. That way the facility will be familiar to your dog or cat when it is time for him to stay there without you, and you can really assess the quality and safety of the place. This walk-through will also give you a good sense of how the staff interacts with your pet, what the facility is like, where they will sleep and exercise and may bring to mind any other questions you have.
Bringing Fido or Fluffy Along
If your pet is lucky enough to travel with you, please make sure you've checked and re-checked all arrangements ahead of time so that there won't be a sudden surprise like “NO PETS ALLOWED.” Realize that even if you’ve gotten the okay for your dog or cat to stay with you at your hotel, there could be difficulties in bringing the pet along to restaurants, lakes & beaches. Do your research, and never leave him alone in a parked car for even a few minutes. Not only could he be dognapped, but he could suffer heat stroke and die.
If going out of state, check with your Veterinarian as to whether you need a health certificate. Make sure all vaccines are current and that you have ID on your pet. Make sure their tags have a cell phone or other number that is local to where you're staying so that you can be reached immediately should you become separated from your pet. Always carry a photo of your dog or cat in your wallet should you have to make “Lost Pet” flyers or provide proof of ownership.
What to Bring
Remember to bring along plenty of your pet’s food and also bottled water. Changing brands and even different water could result in stomach upsets, vomiting and diarrhea. Also, if going by car, pre-condition your pet by taking longer rides over the weeks preceding your trip and bring along ginger or ginger snap cookies. Crunching on a couple of cookies about twenty minutes before embarking settles most canine tummies.
Don't forget doggie seat belts or restraints to keep your pet safe while riding in the car as well as any medications or vitamins your pet normally takes, along with his bed, favorite toys and of course...a Pet First-Aid Kit just in case, and have copies of your pet's medical records (including latest vaccinations) conveniently available.
Please don't let Fido or Fluffy slip through the cracks in your vacation planning. They too are part of the family and deserve your care and consideration at all times!
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