by Crystal Collins

Created on: November 03, 2008   Last Updated: November 26, 2010

Traveling with your pet can be a great way to further your bond, and to include your four legged or feathered family member in your life away from home. Such a grand plan does not come without need for caution, though, so following these simple tips will help to insure that your pet is kept safe.

Before you leave on your journey, confirm the pet guidelines for where you are staying. Before traveling, be sure that your pet is up to date on any vaccinations, especially rabies, and if you will be hiking or in warm weather with a dog, be sure to take heartworm, flea and tick preventatives as well. Parasites are a souvenir better left behind!

Keep your pet secured if traveling in your vehicle- strap down crates or cages, and use a seat belt harness for dogs. Be sure his collar is secure to prevent escape and keep his head in the window to avoid injury from road debris! Do not open cat, bird, or other animal cages unless absolutely necessary and be sure that you are safely in your car with the doors and windows closed if you do.

For dogs and cats, you can print up a cheap temporary ID tag at a machine found in many pet stores or you can use paper and clear tape on an old or current ID tag. Give a local or cell phone number. If traveling with a pet in a cage or crate, be sure to clearly mark the crate with this information. For airplane travel, this is required by the airline but even if traveling by car, this is important.

Always take more food than you think you'll need. Have plenty of fresh water from home that your pet can drink. Be sure to pack blankets, extra leashes or collars for dogs, bowls and cleaning supplies. Birds can aspirate water if they drink while the car is moving, so take fruit or bread soaked with water in their food dish so they can stay hydrated. Be sure to take a small litter box or disposable pie pan filled with litter in your cat's carrier for very long trips.

Following these common sense tips won't stop traffic or make the rain go away, but they can make your travels much more enjoyable by keeping you and your pets safe when on the road.

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