From Plane Rides to Road Trips
Traveling with pets can be stressful for a lot of reasons. Many people don’t know what to expect when they first embark on a journey with their pet, and there’s a lot to know. Everyone’s heard horror stories of traveling with animals on a flight.
However, there’s a lot of information that gets lost in the mix, and we’re here to clear all of those mysteries and questions up. These are the main tips and pieces of information you need to know about traveling with your pet, whether it’s on a flight on in a car.
How to Transport Pets
When traveling, people decide to use a variety of different vehicles and methods to get where they need to go. For this purpose, we’re just going to focus on traveling with your pet by either driving your car or flying in an airplane.
If you’re driving, do what’s best for your pet. If your pet is a bit crazy when they’re in the car, it might be best to kennel them in the back in the most comfortable way possible. This helps keep them calm and focused. Always make sure they’re getting enough air conditioning (or heat, depending on the weather) so that they’re not too hot or too cold.
If you’re flying and decide to take your pet with you, things can be a bit tricker. Depending on the size of your dog or cat and the flight you take, things can be different. There are some flights that don’t allow any animals on board or in the cargo area, so make sure you do the proper research before booking any flight.
If you book a flight that lets your animal stay with you in the passenger area, you’re probably going to need to keep them in a tiny kennel during the flight. Always make sure your pet gets enough water and food before getting on the flight, and always make sure they use the bathroom before embarking on your journey.
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How to Ease Anxiety for You and Your Pet
Traveling brings about a ton of anxiety for all involved, which includes both you and your pet. However, you can try to ease this anxiety and fear in simple ways.
When you’re traveling on a flight, make sure your pet is as calm as possible. If your pet isn’t used to being in a kennel, take some time for a few weeks prior to flying to associate your pet with the kennel you have. Your pet needs to be as calm as possible in this kennel during the flight, and you really don’t want them to stress as they’re away from you.
By training and preparing your animal to be around people, whether it’s in a carrier or in a kennel, you can help ease some anxiety as you get ready for your traveling.
If you’re driving with your pet, get your animal ready for a long road trip by taking him or her out for systematic little drives here and there. This really helps prepare your pet for the drive, especially if they’ve never been on a lot of car rides before.
What to Expect
First of all, expect your pet to be nervous. Whether you’re driving across country or flying together in an airplane, your pet is going to be around new people and new places that they’ve never seen before. Because of this, make sure you take the time to calm your pet down if it looks like they’re a bit stressed out by their surroundings.
You should also expect to always be ready to pull over and let your pet go to the bathroom if you’re driving. Start timing your stops or mapping when you’ll pull over to let your pet go to the bathroom. By planning everything in advance, you won’t be caught off guard (or schedule) when you realize your pet needs to relieve itself.
Things to Avoid
When traveling with your pets, you should make sure to never leave them alone in a parked car. Whether it’s hot or cold, your pet could severely suffer from intense weather.
When traveling by airplane, you should also avoid putting any food or water in the carrier. While some owners may want their pet to be able to eat or drink when necessary, this can make a mess and get everywhere in the kennel. Instead, make sure your pet has eaten and hydrated itself well before they are on the plane, whether it’s in the cargo area or with you in the passenger area.
You should also avoid feeding your animal in any moving vehicle. This will make a mess, and your pet won’t feel the greatest if it’s eating in a car. Instead, stop off at a park or rest stop and give your pet time to digest its food accordingly. Take about half an hour and go ahead and eat some food you packed for yourself! This will make your pet feel better, and it’s a great way to make sure your pet is okay.