Vacation with Fido

If you have decided that Fido would like to see the world beyond your backyard and accompany you on vacation, there are many things to plan; how to get there, what preparations you need to make, where you stay once you get there. Planning in advance will help provide a smooth trip so that you and Fido can enjoy some time off together in a faraway land.

Take the time to be sure your pet is up to date with vaccines and healthy enough to travel. Although we recommend heartworm and a flea and tick preventative year round, it is especially important to have your pet on these products while traveling. Different regions of the country can potentially have a higher prevalence of heartworm, for example. Or other places, like beaches, may harbor hookworms. Parasites are souvenirs you do not want your pet to bring home with you. Bloodwork may be indicated before your departure to ensure your pet’s health. If your pet is on preventatives or prescription medications, be sure to take them with you in the original labelled container that was dispensed to you from your veterinarian. Even if you are only going for a weekend vacation, if a health problem occurs it will be helpful for an emergency veterinarian to have the name and strength of a medication so they can best treat your pet. When flying, it is required that medication be in a labelled container or it will be discarded. Also keep a copy of your pet’s health certificate and vaccination certificate with you. Some hotels, airlines and even campgrounds may ask you to present them.

Now that you and Fido are prepared, my next post will talk about planning your vacation. Stay tuned!