There is nothing more stressful than travelling with an unhappy, misbehaving animal. It’s never too late to train a dog, even a senior. Work on all the common commands such as sit, stay, down and heel. Hazards can happen much more frequently when you are away from home in unfamiliar surroundings and you want to be sure that your animal responds to voice commands should you have any type of emergency. Spend at least 10 minutes/day going over the commands and working with your dog. It will help to ensure that both of you have a safe and happy trip!
Next find out any hazards that might be in the area where you are going. Generally older animals are already well protected from the common illnesses as they have had years to develop immunity and have often been vaccinated regularly. If you are travelling by plane you will have to have a veterinary certificate stating that your animal is free of disease within 10 days of your flight. It will also require rabies vaccinations which is not a bad idea anyway if you are going into unfamiliar territory. While you’re at it, find out where the closest emergency vet hospital will be so that in case you need it you will know how to get there. Be sure your pet’s flea and tick protection is up to date as well.
The safest and most comfortable way for your pet to travel is by car. That way you can stop regularly and have water and bathroom breaks and give your pet a way to stretch his legs for a few minutes. As older pets need to urinate more frequently be sure to pack a collapsible water dish and let them out every few hours. Make sure your pet is happy in the car and has a well fitting seatbelt that attaches in to your car’s seatbelt system. Acclimate your pet by taking several longer trips in the car with the seatbelt on in the weeks and if possible even months before your trip.
Flying with the pet is not recommended, but there are times when it is unavoidable. Insuch a situation, there are several ways to make this easier for the animal. First, make sure they are comfortable in their crate. Again in the weeks leading up to their trip, start feeding them in the carrier. Start slowly with just tossing an occasional treat into the carrier and then praising them like crazy once they have retrieved it. Always keep the vet certificate with youwhenever travelling with the pet.
In the days before thetrip, make sure your pet’s nails have been trimmed. There might be a lot of walking involved and you may not want them slipping or injuring their nails on unfamiliar surfaces. Be sure to pack a collapsible dish, all of his food, favorite treats and toys, his bed if that is feasible, a brush to keep him clean and any medication that he is taking. It is also a good idea to pack a pet first aid kit just in case!
Last and probably most importantly, make sure your pet is micro chipped and has an ID tag on. That way hopefully if the pet get separated, one can find them easily.
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