Travelling with your pet

It’s almost holiday time and many of us are planning our festive season road trips.

Some of us, however, are planning on taking the entire family with and by that we mean the pets too.

It’s not as simple as loading up fluffy into the car and heading off. Fluffy will need some care and a host of provisions which will ensure that his/her trip to the beach is stress-free and comfortable.

Also read: The right way to rehome a pet

Here are some tips for you to consider when travelling with pets.

1 Comfort

The first goal is to ensure that your pet has a comfortable spot in the car. Smaller dogs are easy to accommodate on your lap or on the floor, larger dogs, however, will need more space. Try and avoid having the dog roam the cabin. We suggest that you get a travel crate which can be secured using the seatbelt. In fact, there are even pet-friendly seatbelt attachments available from major pet stores.

2 The essentials

Our second tip would be to make sure that you have a travel kit ready for your pet. This kit should include water, food, bowls, snacks, a leash, medication and their favourite toy. It is advisable that you avoid feeding your pet while on the move as this could cause the animal to become nauseous. There are travel-safe water dispensers and pet travel kits available from many pet stores.

3 The stops

Your pet will need to get out and stretch their legs a lot more than you will so it is essential that you know where the ideal stopover locations are along your journey. Most petro-ports along our national highways are pet friendly and offer large grassy areas as well as water facilities for pets. You will most probably have to stop a few times depending on the needs of your fluffy companion. These stops should include a walk and perhaps a bit of mental stimulation.

Also read: Vaccinate your pets

4 Keep them inside

We have all seen the television adverts where the dogs have their heads out the window of the car. This is not advisable. Something could hit your dog in their face or they could get sick from the cold air which means that neither you nor they will be enjoying the holiday. It is best to keep them on the back seat.

5 The drugs

If your pet is a nervous Nellie then we suggest that you contact your vet and inquire about calming and stress relief medication. There are a host of options available and they not only work with travelling but also if the pet is going to be in a high-stress environment at the destination. Some pets are hypersensitive to change and although they love being around you, they might not feel all that happy being around a bunch of strangers in a strange place. Consult your vet for more information. It would also be advisable to locate a local vet at your destination and to know how far it is from where you are staying.

6 Pet friendly

Seeing as though you are taking your pet on a holiday you must be aware of the fact that your holiday destination is pet friendly. It would be advisable to locate other pet-friendly places near your destination. Many restaurants and beaches are becoming pet friendly; however, there are some which prefer the four-legged customers to wait outside.

We hope that these tips have helped you when it comes to travelling with your pet. We also suggest that you do your homework if you plan on travelling with your furry friend for the first time. Make sure that you and your pet will be safe at all times as well as comfortable.