Planning ahead makes traveling with pets easier. Think about both the journey itself and where you'll end up. While many of the recommendations made here about traveling with pets are based on regulations in the United States, these suggestions apply to travel within or between any country. Wherever you live, make sure your pet's vaccinations are current, especially the rabies vaccination, which is often required for US interstate travel and for international travel.
In addition to vaccinations, make sure that your pet has proper identification indicating the pet's name, your name, and your contact information. At minimum, this identification should be on a collar, if your pet wears one, or on the pet's travel carrier, crate, or trailer. Ideally, this identifying information should be contained in a microchip—a small device about the size of a rice grain that your veterinarian can easily and safely implant beneath your pet's skin. This microchip can be read by a handheld wand scanner that veterinary hospitals and animal shelters around the world possess and that will enable your pet to be returned to you should it escape or get lost.
Another consideration before traveling with pets is where to stay. Before booking hotels, motels, or campgrounds, check to see whether they allow pets and what fees and restrictions apply. You can find this information on the hotel’s website, pet travel websites, or through your travel agent. Organizations such as the American Automobile Association (AAA, https://www.aaa.com) can also help.
Try not to leave your pet alone in a hotel room. Use a "do not disturb" sign to prevent housekeeping from accidentally letting your pet out. Keeping your pet in a crate can also help prevent escapes.
If you're staying with friends or family, confirm that they can host your pet and whether it needs to be crated. Consider allergies, other pets, and how your pet might react to a new environment.
When camping, keep your pet on a leash, and don’t let it wander. Unfamiliar places can be dangerous, and wild animals can pose risks. Check for fleas and ticks during and after your trip, and see a vet if you have concerns.
Check your pet's carrier or crate to make sure it's in good shape, big enough for your pet, well ventilated, lockable, approved for plane travel if you're flying, and clearly labeled with your pet's name, your name, and your contact information, both at your origin and destination. For air travel, different types of carriers are used, depending on whether your pet will be traveling inside the cabin with you or inside the cargo hold, so make sure you have the right kind. Help your pet get used to the carrier by feeding it in the carrier or letting it nap inside before the trip. Use absorbent bedding in the carrier, and include a familiar item for comfort, like an old shirt.
Make sure your pet's collar has up-to-date ID tags. If possible, include a tag with your cell phone number or the number of where you'll be staying. For cats, use a breakaway collar that opens easily if caught on something, to prevent choking.
If you're traveling because you're moving to a new home, contact the moving company for useful tips on transporting your pets and their supplies. Talk to your veterinarian about helping your pet adjust to a new home.
If you're thinking of traveling outside the country with your pet, talk to your veterinarian first. Your vet might advise against it, because traveling with pets can be complicated. Pets can get lost or catch diseases, or they might have to be isolated for a long period of time to ensure they don’t bring any diseases into the destination country. Many countries have strict rules to prevent the spread of disease, so it's essential to check regulations before traveling. Also, research local veterinarians in your destination country in case your pet needs help. If you don't speak the local language, look for veterinarians who speak your preferred language.
Before going abroad with your pet,contact the nearest embassy or consulate representing the country you'll be visiting to understand that nation's animal import laws. In the United States, most foreign embassies are located in Washington DC, and consulates are usually in major cities, like New York or Los Angeles. The US Department of State has a list of foreign embassies and consulates with their contact information (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/consularnotification/ConsularNotificationandAccess.html).
Make sure the airports you'll be using can provide the customs and pet isolation services you need. If your pet must be kept isolated for a period of time at the airport before traveling, find out whether you need a reservation and what the costs are.
