Travelling with Your Pets

There are pet owners who are so devoted to their pets that they bring these animals along wherever they go. Although some pets can be really harmless, there are still a few precautions that owners should take into consideration when bringing pets to different places. For one, some pets may not be too comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings and people. Others could get car-sick, so it would be best to put them in a kennel or boarding facility that your vet will approve of. In instances when you need to leave your pet inside the car, leave all doors locked, park the vehicle in a shady area and open windows just a bit for enough ventilation. However, keep in mind that pets should not be left inside vehicles if the temperature is too high or too low. When bringing your pets on long travels, be sure to buy from your local vet shop for pet first-aid kit that includes bandages, antiseptic cream and anti-diarrhoeal medicines for your pets, as well as the phone number of your vet and of an emergency veterinary hospital. However, before you book a room, check with the hotel or resort first if it allows pets inside. Some establishments have kennel facilities available within their premises, too.

Travelling with  Pets

As soon as you finalise your trip and reservations, have a microchip surgically inserted into your pet’s skin. This will contain identification its number. Note that the chip should meet the International Standard Organisation’s criterion. Confirm with your vet that the microchip is readable, because if it fails, your pet will not be allowed to travel. Next, you need to get an EU pet passport, which is issued by the Local Veterinary Inspector and should include your pet’s identification number, the date the chip was implanted and the record of rabies vaccination. In some cases, a blood test might also be required. Some countries require that pets be at least eight weeks old and weaned at least five days prior to your trip. Typically, a health certificate, as well as a valid rabies vaccination certificate that is not more than 10 days old, should be available in order for your pet to be allowed to fly. If possible, book a non-stop midweek flight to avoid huddling the airport with a lot of people. There are other countries that may have other requirements for your pet to be allowed to enter their country, so check with the respective embassy first on all the requirements that you need to comply with. Although this may be a quite overwhelming task to accomplish, it only ensures you, your pet and the country’s safety so it should just be all worth it.