Should You Take Your Pets on Holiday with You

If you’re really hoping to get away from it all by taking a much-needed holiday from work and seeing a brand new place, you may be ready to book your next trip right away. But you may also be reluctant to do so if you have pets and you’re worried about leaving them alone or putting them in a boarding facility. As a great pet parent, you may be concerned about abuse, or you may be worried about your pet getting the right medications each day if he’s older or has a chronic condition. In these cases, it may be best to take your pet on holiday with you.

Below are a few things you should consider before you decide to take your pets with you on your next adventure. Should you really take your pet along, or is it best to leave him at home?

Can Your Pet Handle the Stress of Travel?

Many animals, particularly cats, become easily frightened and stressed by the simple act of riding in a car. While there are natural and veterinarian-prescribed remedies that you can use to try to calm your pets down as best as possible, you need to ask yourself whether the stress of travel is really worth it.

Are you taking your pet on holiday with you for yourself or for their wellbeing? Cats, for example, are creatures of habit and will often prefer just staying home and being taken care of by a reputable pet sitter than going on the trip with you.

You’ll Need Extra Supplies and Paperwork

Packing for a holiday is stressful enough, but when you’re travelling with pets, you need to take along even more supplies to keep them happy and healthy. These include any medications that they’re on, the food and treats that they eat daily, and, of course, things like litter boxes for cats and leashes for dogs.

Whenever you travel with animals, you should always carry a health certificate, as well as medical records, with you as well. Also, make sure that your pets are up-to-date on any required vaccinations for the destination that you’re travelling to. Additionally, keeping your pet insured is also a good idea.

Expect Extra Legwork for Booking You Trip

When it comes to booking a hotel, resort, or a rental home, you’ll need to be absolutely certain that the facilities are pet-friendly. This will require more legwork on your part because these establishments can be difficult to locate quickly.

Plus, you should also be sure that your accommodation is located near outdoor areas that are pet-friendly as well so you can give your pets the exercise they need. Save time and make your search easier by visiting websites like Dog Friendly Hotels by My Pawson.

You also need to look into airline requirements for travelling with pets, as many have restrictions set upon the number of pets that they can take aboard, especially if you want your pet to be in the cabin with you, which is always the better option. Remember that there are risks involved with putting your pets in cargo during a flight, so avoid this if you can.