Top Tips For Safe Pet Travel
Press release
The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve all seem to mesh into a whirlwind of meetings, events, and parties as we wrap up and conclude our past year. If traveling with a pet is adding an extra layer of work to your schedule this season, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has some great tips to keep you and your pet happy and hassle-free this travel season.
This year, AVMA celebrates 150 Years of Excellence with Top Tips for Safe Pet Travel:
- It is best to purchase an approved crate prior to travel so you have time to let your pet get used to the crate and be comfortable.
- Make sure that your pet is allowed where you are staying. Some accommodations will allow pets and some will not, so check in advance.
- Make sure your pet has identification tags with up-to-date information.
- If you are taking your pet across state or international borders, a health certificate is required. The health certificate must be signed by a veterinarian after your pet has been examined and found to be free of disease.
- It is recommended that you DO NOT give tranquilizers to your pet when traveling by air because it can increase the risk of heart and respiratory problems. Short-nosed dogs and cats sometimes have even more difficulty with travel. Airlines may require a signed statement that your pet has not been tranquilized prior to flying.
- If traveling by car, make frequent stops (about every 2-3 hours) to allow your pet to go to the bathroom and get some exercise.
- Pets should not be allowed to ride with their heads outside the window. Dirt and other debris can enter their eyes, ears and nose and cause injury or infection.
- Pets should not be allowed to ride on the driver’s lap or near the driver’s feet. Small pets should be confined in crates or in travel-safe dog beds and larger pets should be appropriately restrained with harnesses attached to the car’s seat belts.
The AVMA has a wide array of information about pet health and safety tips that have been built upon for the past 150 years. To find out more, visit www.avma.org/.
