An ideal vacation means staying away from the emergency room and enjoying your time off to the fullest. To make this possible, the first step is to be aware of the most common health problems that can make your dog sick.

Taking proper care of your pet and preventing health problems throughout their life is always important. However, when going on a trip, taking extra precautions is vital to minimize the risk of accidents, avoid unforeseen expenses, and enjoy your dream vacation without stress.

In addition to carefully planning the itinerary and avoiding dangerous situations, it is advisable that you take out health insurance for your pet if your budget is limited. By doing this, you can put a cap on unexpected expenses in the event that your pet experiences health problems during your vacation.

Most common travel-related health conditions in pets

Food poisoning, allergic reactions, and injuries due to accidents are among the most common health complications that would warrant a trip to the veterinary for immediate emergency attention. Traveling involves a change in environment, which may increase your pet’s risk of experiencing such health problems.

1. Travel anxiety

2. Motion sickness

3. Respiratory problems

4. Temperature intolerance

5. Contagion

6. Injuries

5 Factors That Can Make Your Dog Anxious

5 simple practices that could save your pet-friendly vacation

It is widely agreed upon that the easiest and most efficient way to solve a problem is preventing it from occurring in the first place. Preventative care is a proactive approach to healthcare and ensuring your pet’s overall well-being and good quality of life. Keeping the following practices in mind will help you mitigate risks and make the most out of your time away with your pet.

1. Socialization

Getting a pet used to being around new people and spending time visiting different locations will not only reduce their overall anxiety, but also train them to adapt to changing environments and to behave properly in transitory situations.

Teaching Your Dog Good Manners

2. Food

If your gourmet pet has special dietary needs and requires nutritional supplements, bring a few servings of their food with you. Ideally, you should bring enough to comfortably last the first few days of your stay.

You will not have a pleasant experience if, right after a long trip, you have to desperately run around your destination looking for stores that stock your dog’s food. You also risk having more unpleasant memories if you instead take the risk of dealing with the unforeseeable consequences of changing your pet’s diet.

Also, even if you brought the perfect food for them, make sure to only feed it to your pet in small portions during the trip and keep them hydrated by regularly offering them water along the way.

10 Dog Breeds Prone To Obesity

3. Meds & Grooming Products

If your pet suffers from any type of allergy or health condition that requires treatment, asking your vet for a prescription before your trip could save you a lot of time and trouble. Wasting a sunny day at the vet’s waiting room because you lost or forgot your pet’s meds is certainly not anybody’s definition of a perfect vacation. You can prevent this by planning ahead and bringing a prescription with you, just in case.

Prepare a first aid kit, include your dog medicines and do not forget to pack some of the grooming and hypoallergenic products your fur baby uses regularly.

Schedule a check up with your local veterinary well in advance so as to monitor for possible symptoms or allergic reactions, in the event that your pet requires any type of treatment before leaving.

If your dog will travel by plane, keep in mind that certain airlines require a health certificate issued within 10 days prior to the flight.

The Ultimate Guide To Groom A Senior Dog

4. Comfort & Safety

During your trip, make sure that your pet is not exposed to excessive heat and that they always stay in well ventilated areas.

If your dog belongs to one of the short-nosed, brachycephalic or bulldog-type breeds, remember that they are very susceptible to heat and confinement can make it harder for them to breathe properly. In such cases, avoid having your pet travel by plane as cargo and consider looking into companies that specialize in pet transportation services.

To avoid injuries and ensure your pet travels comfortably, there is a wide range of products designed to make your experience pleasant and easy. Click To Tweet Secure your dog properly or keep them within a designated area to prevent sudden movements of the vehicle from inducing any stress or trauma. You will find different types of carriers, pet barriers, strollers, safety seats, harnesses, etc., depending on the mode of transportation that you decide on. Click To Tweet

Be sure to choose products that allow your pet to stand upright or change position, and do not limit air circulation.

Tesla Unleashes Their Latest Innovative Car Feature: “Dog Mode”

5. Papers & Regulations

Make sure that you have proof of pet ownership, health documentation, and updated information on vaccinations close at hand.

This is indispensable when traveling abroad since border authorities, as well as some transportation companies, can ask you to present this information.When traveling, always keep your dog's papers and proof of up-to-date rabies vaccination handy. Click To Tweet

If you are planning an international trip, make sure to browse the governmental websites or to contact the embassy of the country (or countries) included in your itinerary to find out what are their current health and safety requirements. Double-check with your trusted veterinarian that your dog meets all of these requirements to enter the countries in question and can travel without any problems.

Be ready to enjoy the adventure and sign up now!