For those pet lovers out there, it is hard to imagine leaving your pet for a day let alone a 3 week vacation with your family over the summer. As not only a pet owner, but also a pet lover, you want the best for your little, or big animals, and that means caring for them as around the clock as possible. While our pets will obviously survive for the day on their own, even leaving for a weekend might be hard to do. When some pet owners leave for a longer period of time, they may choose to have a neighbor "dog sit", or use a kennel; but for many animal lovers you want to keep them with you. For this very reason, planes accommodate with those travelers who insist on bringing their little loved ones along. Here are a few tips to consider when flying with your anmimals.
Schedule an appointment with the Vet. This is an essential step because almost all airlines will require veterinarian documentation that confirms your pet is healthy, for the sake of your animal as well as other people in the plane. Even if your plane doesn't ask for the proof of your animal's health, your hotel just might; it is better to be over prepared. The important aspects of the checkup will include searching for any symptoms of an illness, as well as getting them up to date with any necessary vaccinations, rabies being a very important one. What many pet owners may not realize however, is the fact that last year's veterinarian visit will not count for your travels. The majority of planes and resorts will want documentation that was in the last 10 days.
Consider a tranquilizer. Is your animal a friendly creature with the family and then unleashes the wild side when they meet new people or are placed in large crowds? If that is the case, many pet owners may want to consider investing in a tranquiller for back up, especially when traveling by plane. What is important to know is that you should never give your own medication to your animal, even if they might accomplish the same goals it is not worth the risk. For certain drugs, they can work on both animal and human, though due to the body weight differences and other factors their dosage will be drastically different than your own. Talk to your vet if you have any potential concerns with your pet during travels.
Are animals welcome? While it is exciting to have your little best friend along for the ride of your trip to the Caribbean or to tour the coast of Greece, you will want to find out if all of your destinations allow the presence of an animal at all. There are certain locations that only allow seeing eye dogs on the premises. Also, in America we don't generally have animals quarantined, apart from certain requirements, however you never know what to expect around the world. Contact the American Embassy in order to find out important details regarding animals in their country.
Don't forget to tell the airport. If you plan on bringing a pet on your travels, make sure you contact the airport ahead of time. This does not mean calling them the morning of your flight, either. Prior to booking your tickets, it is encouraged to discuss the matters with the airline you plan on using. This would include finding out if they fly animals, the extra charges for cargo space, etc. If you don't plan ahead and still want to take your pet, you may just have to pay extra money to reschedule your flight, it's just not worth it; so plan ahead!
Remember the necessities. Just like you need food and water, so do your animals. While they may be able to go longer without eating or drinking, you don't want to starve them out on a long flight, so feed them before boarding your plane. With the tighter security measures that have been enacted after the disaster of 9/11, it is likely you will be hanging out at the airport for a good 2 hours before departure making it a perfect time for feeding your animals. Remember though, they are going on a flight too. Don't over feed them or give them too much water beforehand either. In all honesty, the more planning you do before leaving for your trip, the happier you and your pet will be! Enjoy your travels and the extra time spent with your family and furry friends.