Thinking of travelling with your pet? Let’s be very honest this time, though taking the pets for vacation or any other reason with you can double the pleasure of moving, yet it must be accepted that shipping pets is a very time consuming and tedious task. As a pet owner, you should be very careful about advance planning when you need to transport your pet, whether domestically or internationally.
Shipping pets requires adequate knowledge and equipment to tackle any kind of circumstance during transportation.
So whenever you want to move your furry, feathery or scaly friend along with yourself, you must follow some basic yet important rules to make your fondles journey comfortable as well as hazardless.
Before diving into the main points, let me remind you of the very essential part of moving with your pet that is do not lose your inner zen while packing. As pets are very much akin to their owners, your pet will easily sense your stress and it might be anxious about travelling. Therefore, it will be a smart move if you start packing in advance and do not try to pack all the things at a time. Make the process done slowly without hampering your pet’s daily routine. If possible, keep your pet in a separate room with all of its stuff. Ask your movers and packers to not disturb your pet in any way.
Let’s follow the tips:
Select the right carrier and make the animal acclimatised
Choose a suitable crate according to your pet’s height and weight. The crate must be spacious enough that it won’t touch the animal’s head while it would stand or move around inside the crate. Arrange a four side well ventilated crate with removable and washable bottom. But a sturdy crate made of hard plastic instead of fabric ones. Make sure that the crate has a spring lock system.
After buying a crate, make your pet familiar to its new gear before the long move. To encourage it to stay inside the crate, treat your pet with its favourite munchies.
Get an appointment with your vet
Take your pet to a licensed vet to check up if there is any underlying health problem. Get all the vaccination done before 10 to 25 days before final move. Also ask your vet how to deal with the animal’s stress diarrhea and breathing problems (if it occurs). Gather all the medical records and vaccination certificates and make them signed by an accredited veterinarian as those might be shown at custom’s check post.
Check out the rules and restrictions
Go through all the necessary information and regulations regarding pet transportation before starting to travel, as some states and hotels have certain restrictions for taking pets inside the human accommodated places.
Update your new address
Make your pet’s travel tag updated with your new home’s address and also include your contact details. Do not forget to tag the previous address too. If you want to provide your pet some more extra security, insert a customised microchip under your pet’s skin. It will help you find your pet if it gets lost somehow.
Make your pet familiar to the road travel
Before heading to the big move, make your pet accustomed to the moving process. Start taking it outside for a short span of time first then gradually increase the duration and distance of the destination. Immediately remove the animal from the vehicle if it feels unwell.
Preparations for air travel
If you are planning to fly with your pet, book your air ticket in advance for sure. Ask the certain airline if it allows pets inside the flight cabin. You need to pay some additional charges for that. Some airlines allow ESO and life support animals inside the cabin. Do not ship your brachycephalic animals as a cargo hold as high altitude air pressure can cause breathing difficulties for them.
Arrange a travel kit for your pet
Unalike you, your pet would also need a travel kit that includes food supplies, medicines, oral saline, bottled water, flea and tick remover, clipper, burnol, gauge pad, antiseptic cream or solution, waste bags etc.
Feeding restrictions
Do not feed your pet just before boarding or driving. Also do not make it drink a lot. Finish the feeding process at least 4 to 5 hours before travelling. But that doesn’t mean you make the animal starve. You can give a little portion of food and drink if it wants. Better suggested to provide your pet wet food instead of dry ones. Keep some ice cubes in the attached food bowl of the crate, so that the pet can lick those if thirsty.
