Taking Care of Your Pet When Travelling
General tips
- Make sure your pet is as fit and healthy as possible to withstand the journey
- Plan your journey carefully, allowing regular stops to exercise your pet
- Take a sufficient amount of your pet’s usual food and enough water for the journey
- Ensure your pet carries an identity disc that includes your holiday address
- Give your pet a light meal about two hours before travel
- If you feed your pet within two hours of travel, this can cause travel sickness
- If your pet suffers from travel sickness, please speak to your vet for advice
- Ensure you are familiar with the PETS scheme requirements
Tips for car travel
- Acclimatise your pet by taking it on short car trips before embarking on a long journey
- Ensure your vehicle is well ventilated and cool en route, including during ferry crossings
- Make sure your dog is always on a lead when you are exercising it
- Some transport carriers will also insist that dogs are muzzled so check in advance
Tips for carrying your pet in a container
- Give your pet the opportunity to go to the toilet before it is put in its carrying container
- Let your pet ‘try out’ the carrying container before the trip
- The carrying container should be well-ventilated, roomy enough for your pet to move around, safe, and have adequate food and water for the trip, with easily-refillable containers for a long journey
- Put a familiar-smelling cushion or rug in the container to help your pet settle
Suggested pet travel packing list
- Bed/blanket/cat basket
- Collar with holiday destination and home ID discs
- Bowls for food/water
- Lead & muzzle (if required)
- Plenty of food/water for trip and first few days on holiday
- Litter supplies/doggy poop bags
- Brush/comb
- Cleaning wipes for you & your pet
- Disinfectant
- Your pet’s toys
- Pet passport and all required pet documentation