Is Your Pet Traveling With You This Winter?

With so many family members scattered around the country, holiday travel is at an all-time high. If you're planning a holiday trip this year, what are your plans for your dog or cat? At Richview Animal Hospital, we recommend allowing your pet to stay with us at our boarding facility. If your plan is to keep your pet with you, here are some tips for making the journey safer and more enjoyable, both for you and your pet.

Important Tips When Traveling With Pets

Dogs and cats are happiest in a familiar environment, so traveling with pets can be a bit stressful on everyone involved. Keep to your pet's daily routine as much as possible, and allow them to have some familiar toys and bedding with them during the trip. Change makes pets feel unsafe, so giving them a familiar routine will be a comfort to them.

Some pets are better travelers than others, but every pet can potentially get lost far from home when on vacation. The best way to make sure you get your pet back is by giving them ways to be identified when they're found. Microchipping is one of the most effective ways to identify lost pets, and we'll do it in our office in just a few minutes. It's also important for your pet to wear a collar at all times, including a tag with your cell phone number and name attached.

Traveling with pets is safer in a car, but if you absolutely must fly, make sure your pet is safely harnessed in its carrier so that it can be secured during x-rays and other examinations. If your pet absolutely must fly in the cargo hold, follow these important guidelines:

• Only choose a direct flight
• Travel on the same flight, and watch your pet being loaded
• Keep weather extremes in mind, and travel early or late to take that into account
• Carry a photo of your pet with you at all times

Looking for an Ontario Veterinarian?

Traveling with your pet can be stressful, but our professional team is here to make the process as easy as possible. If you have any questions about pet travel, call our office at 416-245-8805 to schedule an appointment.