Taking your pet on a trip?

1. PETS should always have complete Pet Passports well before you make a journey. Ensure that you schedule a visit to your veterinarian and allow sufficient time prior to your trip to discuss diseases or problems that might exist where you are travelling and that don’t exist at home. 

2. When travelling by car, plan for twice as many rest stops as you would for a small child. Pets need ample time to stretch their legs and to go to the bathroom.

3. Avoid motion sickness by only feeding your pet a small meal a few hours before leaving for your trip. Also, start with short local trips and gradually increase the time before a long trip.

4. Take plenty of fresh water, possibly enough for some days. It has been found that many area’s water varies, this has caused problems. Whenever you travel with your pet and factor in potential emergencies, such as if your vehicle breaks down. Always bring extra food and snacks for the road.

5. Safety belts and harnesses are good for securing small dogs in vehicles, but the safest way for your dog to travel is secured in a crate in your back seat or at the rear of an estate vehicle. Dogs should never travel in the open bed of a pick-up truck.

6. If your trip includes an overnight stay, research pet-friendly hotels first and have a full understanding of what accommodations are available for them, as well as any extra charges that may apply.

7. All airlines require pets to have a health certificate before they can fly -make sure you check first. Each airline’s policy differs, so plan accordingly. Also, find out if the airline will fly your pet during weather extremes – hot or cold. 

8. Make sure your pet has a strong collar and identification tag, and include information about your destination should you get separated. Also, remember that all dogs and cats in Europe are required by law to be microchipped. Also, remember to carry a current photo of your pet along with the health certificates and inoculation records.

9. Never leave a pet in a car on warm or hot days. Temperatures in cars are at least 20 degrees above the outside temperature and heatstroke or death can result.

10. Prepare for the unexpected and enrol your pet with a Veterinary Pet Insurance policy. Pet Plan of Spain now cover you for all veterinary fees in Europe, which will give you great peace of mind should an accident or illness occur on the road.