Travelling With Your Pets

We know how stressful some car journeys can be, now add an anxious pet and you potentially have a recipe for disaster! There are a variety of pet travel-related problems, including nausea, excitability, and barking. 23% of dogs in the UK are restless when travelling, and 10-15% of dogs in the US suffer from motion sickness. We’ve compiled a few tips and tricks to help make your trip as smooth as possible.

Vet Visits

A major stress of travelling far from home is: what will you do if your pet gets ill? Firstly, it’s important to research the nearest vet clinic to where you will be. But it may not be necessary to bring your dog to the vet straightaway. Felcana is launching a personalized and convenient telemedicine application, which provides a mobile first solution to help you decide whether or not you should bring your pet to the vet immediately. We understand how difficult it is to find time to go to the vet, only to be stuck in traffic on the way there. Felcana will give you reassurance from the comfort of your own home, reducing both your and your pet’s stress, and giving you more time to enjoy your time together.

Carriers and Crates

Giving your pet a confined space can make them feel safer. You have to make sure, of course, that your carrier is large enough for your animal and equipped with all of life’s comforts, including blankets/bedding and some water for a long journey. Assure that you’ve secured your carrier well into your car. It is good to get your cat or dog used to their crate before going on your journey – try placing it in the living room and crate-training them whenever you leave the house.

Training

You can practice journeys with your pet by starting off by just driving around the block with them and slowly increasing their time in the car. This is especially good if your pet gets travel sickness, as it will desensitize them. Even once they’ve gotten used to longer car journeys, make sure to take multiple breaks to stretch out both your and your pet’s legs. 

The Car Environment

Like us, all animals have different personalities. Some may find it soothing to put on certain music while traveling, whereas others may like one of the windows wound down. Try different things when traveling with your pet to see what works for them. Another thing you can try is pheromones. These come in sprays usually that are meant to soothe your worried pet during the journey. These work variably on cats and dogs, but be sure to enquire at your local vets!

Longer Journeys

The same advice for short car journeys applies to longer ones. You and your pet will both need a break every now and then, and a good rule-of-thumb is to stop and stretch out your legs every two hours. If you are travelling outside of the UK with your pet, make sure that they have all the correct vaccinations for the country you are travelling to – be sure to check these with your vet. The most important thing is to be prepared – have all your animal’s up-to-date papers with you, make sure they are well-exercised beforehand and make sure they have a comfortable, safe space in the car. And most importantly, enjoy your holidays with your cuddly companion and safe travels from us at Felcana!

This post was written by Melody Winterhalter from The Royal Veterinary College, London.