Planning a family vacation and taking your pet? Then don’t forget to make appropriate travel plans that include your pet.

Route: If you are making an extensive trip which will include overnight lodging, be sure to plan your motel and hotel stops in advance. Not all lodging is pet friendly. Be aware of the time and distance between rest stops for the potty and exercise of your pet. While at each rest stop, don’t forget to check your pet’s water supply.

Things To Take

Collar: Always have a collar with appropriate up-to-date identification tags.

Vaccination: Be sure to have the vaccination records on hand.

Photo: Carry a current photo of your pet with information on the reverse side, such as the pet’s name, your contact information (if you have a cell phone write down that number as well), veterinarian contact information, any health problems that your pet might have.

Water: Keep a non-spill container to provide your pet access to fresh water at all times while traveling.

Food: Don’t assume that you will be able to find the brand of food your pet eats at your destination point. Be sure to take enough food for your pet to last the duration of your trip. If you feed canned food, take a manual can opener.

Towels and Blankets: Your pet should feel secure while traveling. A favorite blanket and some towels can help comfort your pet.

Toys: Bring your pet’s favorite toy. This will help the travel time pass.

Crate: Traveling with your pet in its crate can be a benefit should you find yourself in a traffic accident. Be sure to place an identification tag on the crate that includes information such as your pet’s name, your contact information, emergency contact information, veterinarian information, other identification such as tattoos or micro chipping. You should also consider including a note that describes how your pet should be taken care of in your absence. You might consider something like the following: “In case of an emergency, please do not take my pet to the local shelter, but rather to a veterinarian. Payment is guaranteed.”

Medication: Make sure you don’t forget to take enough medications that your pet might be taking to last the duration of your trip.

Leash: Bring a leash.

First Aid Kit: Be sure to bring your pet’s first aid kit. A list of items for a first aid kit is below.

In the event you are traveling during the summer months, you must take special care that your pet will not suffer from heat stroke. Some of the symptoms include panting, salivation, erratic pulse, muscle tremors, anxiety, tongue turning red, loss of coordination, convulsions, or coma. Heat stroke can lead to death.

Remember that if you stop on the road, do not lock your pet in a closed vehicle. You should never leave your pet unattended since heatstroke can occur within minutes. In the event that your pet is suffering from heatstroke, be sure to place it in an open, well ventilated, shaded area. Wet your pet with cool water and fan with a towel or anything that might help you to circulate air. As soon as possible, give your pet cool water to drink and immediately take it to the nearest veterinarian.

This information is intended as a guide to help you plan a trip, but it should not be considered an exhaustive list. If you have a special needs pet, be sure to bring the supplies that you use to care for your pet on a day to day basis.

First Aid Kit

Preferably, you should have several first aid kits available: one in your safe room or emergency shelter, one in the automobile that you use to transport your pets, and one in your home in a readily accessible location. Here is a list of the basic first aid items you should keep in your kit:

• Self sticking conforming bandages
• Absorbent gauze pads
• Absorbent gauze rolls
• Cotton tipped applicators (Q-tips)
• Antiseptic wipes
• Emollient cream
• Tweezers and scissors
• Instant cold pack
• Latex disposable gloves
• Kaopectate
• Nail clippers
• Rectal thermometer
• Antibiotic ointment
• Eye and ear ointment
• Antihistamines (as approved by your vet)
• Pet Medications
• Pepto-Bismol

The first aid kit is a good place to store your pet medications. Be sure to ask your vet about the correct dosage of Pepto-Bismol (for gastrointestinal upset) and Kaopectate (for diarrhea). Check on the proper Antihistamine and dosage for your pet’s size. Also, keep a copy of your pet’s vaccination record and a current photograph of your pet, identifying it by name. On the back of the photo, indicate whether your pet is tattooed or micro-chipped, what to do with your pet in case you are not available, and the name, address, and phone number of your pet’s healthcare professional. Be sure to have at least one week’s supply of any medications that your pet is taking. It is important to rotate the medications to ensure freshness. One way to accomplish this is to replace the old medication with the new at each refill.