Tips for Traveling With Your Pet for Thanksgiving

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Can you believe it? Thanksgiving is already next week! What do your holiday plans look like this year? If you'll be heading out of town for the week or weekend, we know how hard it can be to leave your furry friends behind, so if you'll be traveling with your pets following right behind you, we want to make sure the trip is as stress-free as possible for the both of you.

Below, take a look at some travel tips we want you to keep in mind this Thanksgiving:

Prepare a travel kit.

Just like you need to pack things for yourself, you also need to pack things for your pet. Some items to include in your travel kit are a food and water bowl (and food and water), a leash, some plastic bags, a scooper to pick up waste, any medication your pet requires, and some first-aid materials. Additionally, you want your pet to feel right at home during the trip, so also make sure you gather some of their favorite toys and a bed or pillow that they feel comfortable with.

Always have someone with your pet.

This is especially important to keep in mind if your trip is a road trip - animals should never be left alone in a parked car. Just like cars can get extremely hot in the summer, they can also get extremely cold during this time of year, which puts your pet in serious danger. With that said, if you know you'll need to make some stops along the way, make sure you're finding places that are pet-friendly so that your pet can stay by your side.

Have the right carrier ready.

Any crate or carrier you use should be big enough for your pet to be able to stand, sit, lie down and turn around. You want your pet to be as comfortable as possible, and if they're feeling crammed, it's going to be a long trip for the both of you. If you'll be driving with your pet in a crate or carrier, you should also make sure it's secure so that it doesn't bounce around during travel.

Properly identify your pet and travel items.

Your pet carrier should be clearly marked with your pet's name, your name and your contact information, and you should always have identification on your pet (such as on their collar) in case something should happen. Additionally, make sure that anyone you're traveling with knows about your pet, and if you'll be flying to your destination, alert the staff so that all the right people are aware.

A final few tips to remember are that your pet should always be in good health before travel, and you should also feel confident that they are healthy enough to travel. Furthermore, you should always seek out a vet in the area that you're traveling to just in case an emergency should arise.

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital provides a wide array of veterinary care services to patients in Berkeley Heights, Summit, Murray Hill, New Providence, Plainfield and Westfield, New Jersey. Services include, but are not limited to, vaccines, surgical procedures, spays and neuters, animal dentistry and microchips. For more information, please call (908) 464-0023.