This post and giveaway are sponsored by Healthy Paws Pet Insurance®.
If you’re anything like me, your pets are a part of your family. So when the holidays roll around and trips start getting scheduled, you don’t want to leave them. But traveling with pets can be tricky, and if not planned properly can lead to stress for both you and your pet. Before you go packing everyone up for a holiday trip, here are a few of my tips for traveling with pets this holiday season.
Schedule vet appointments before you leave. Is your pet due for their annual checkup in the next 30 to 60 days? If so, see if you can schedule it before your trip. Even if your pet isn’t due for their annual checkup, it’s good idea to have your pet looked by a veterinarian before your holiday vacation to make sure that they are healthy enough to travel and let you know if there are any concerns that may affect your pet at your destination (outbreaks of certain viruses that might not occur in your area, plants to avoid, etc.). This appointment will also give you a chance to get refills on your pet’s medications, flee and tick treatments, and obtain copies of medical records for you to carry on the trip.
While the cost of vet visits might make you want to skip this step, these types of visits can avoid problems when you’re far from home and, if you have Healthy Paws Pet Insurance®, may be covered at up to 90%. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance® is the #1 customer-rated pet insurance, and there for you regardless of whether it’s a routine visit before you leave or an emergency visit for a sick or injured animal while you’re out of town. Purchasing Healthy Paws Pet Insurance® for your pet will help safeguard your family from unexpected bills down the road, whether you’re on vacation or at home. When you’re not worried about cost, you can focus solely on your pet’s care. And right now, you’ll receive incentives ($35 Amazon Gift Cards!) for each friend or family member who you refer to the Healthy Paws Pet Insurance® program.
Look for pet-friendly accommodations in advance. If your holiday trip is a road trip, be sure to familiarize yourself with pet friendly hotels along your route before you leave. While booking rooms in advance is preferred and can save you money, that’s not always possible, so knowing pet-friendly hotels along your route can help when you’ve finally reached your destination. Just don’t forget about smaller, boutique hotels, that may provide pet-friendly options.
Bring the right supplies. Packing for my pets is easier than packing for my kids, but not by much. Like kids, pets often have favorite toys and blankets that have to make the trip, but there’s so much more to pack. Make sure to bring along enough food for your trip plus an extra day or two in a sealed container, along with bowls, a leash, and collar with proper identification. This light up leash is perfect for traveling!
If you’re destination is significantly colder than where you live, you might also consider bringing along a sweater or coat for your dog.
Provide your pet with the right “seat” for the journey. Airplanes usually require pets to be in carriers, so make sure your pet is familiar with their carrier before your trip. For pets traveling by car, make sure they’re buckled up. While you might want to snuggle while driving, pets that are unrestrained in the vehicle are a huge cause of accidents. Not only is it a distraction to the driver, but your pet could get seriously hurt if you were in an accident. Use a pet barrier, pet seat belt, or other proper restraint and also don’t allow your pet to put heads, paws, or other body parts out the window.
Take breaks. Traveling can be stressful for pets, so be sure to give them breaks along the way. Check out the dog walk in the airports (lots of airports have them, you just have to ask) and use stops for gas as a chance to give them food and water.
Keep well hydrated. No matter what time of year you are traveling, hydration is very important. Give you pet plenty of water and don’t be daunted if they don’t drink right away.
Want to win a light up leash of your own for your next vacation? Great! One lucky winner is going to win a light up leash of their very own. Enter using the rafflecopter form below and it could be yours. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
i have a dog who is a sweetie. we do not have insurance, and i’m not quite sure how it works.
My dog is a small Maltipoo. Yes I have pet insurance for him.