Dogs and cats are no longer just pets, they have become a part of the family in many Australian homes. Even the term “fur baby” now gets used to describe people’s cats and dogs. Considering this a lot more people now choose to take their fur babies with them when they go on holidays.
Here are our top tips for planning a holiday with your fur baby:
Flying with your pet
Generally, when travelling with pets you will need to plan well ahead making sure you’ve arranged the correct requirements for flights.
According to Virgin Australia’s guidelines for domestic travel is currently is that only dogs and cats are accepted for transport when accompanying guests. All other animals will need to be transported using an animal transportation supplier.
Additionally, your pet must:
- Be over eight weeks old (this is due to possible dehydration while travelling);
- Is in good health;
- Not exceed 65kgs (including the container);
- Not be unduly aggressive;
- Be transported in a container which complies with the Virgin Australia guidelines for pet containers and is the correct size for your pet
- Be treated for the Hydatids Tapeworm prior to arrival if travelling to Tasmania.
Some states have specific quarantine requirements. Please ensure you check prior to travel.
A Veterinary Certificate confirming that your pet is fit for air travel (dated within two weeks of the travel date) is required if the pet is:
- Pregnant or has given birth within 48 hours of the planned departure time;
- Over 12 years of age;
- Between 8 and 12 weeks old;
- Sick, injured or recovering from surgery;
- Has been sedated.
You also need to make sure that the airline will accept your dog breed on board their flights. Some airlines will now no longer accept bookings for brachycephalic breeds (also known as snub-nosed breeds, which includes cross breeds)
Road Trips with your pet
If taking a road trip, you still need to make sure that you plan your trip as much as possible. Take short weekend trips to start with, this way you will get your pooch used to travel and it will also help you find out what works best for your family.
Make sure to plan stops and know which spots are pet friendly. You will need to take these stops into consideration when you are working out your length of journey and how far you can travel each day.
Look into appropriate safety harnesses to secure your dog while you are driving.
It might look fun, but you should not allow your dog to travel with their heads out the window. It is a safety risk for them given the danger of being hit by objects and can also be a distraction for you, the driver. Your fur baby should be safely secured inside the vehicle with a harness designed to clip into a seatbelt. You may even prefer a secured pet container which allows them to lie down and move around comfortably.
Join Facebook groups dedicated to pets.
This is a great way to get other travellers’ feedback on their experiences of travelling with their fur babies.
By joining these types of groups, you will get honest and unbiased reviews. People often post photos of where they have been and will leave recommendations with their own personal hints and tips on what they have experienced.
This also helps you be part of a community of like-minded travellers and may help you feel more comfortable and prepared for your own journeys.
You might also find that by being part of certain groups that you could join a tag along trip or even get discounts offered to you for just being part of a group.
Make sure your fur baby is up to date with their vaccinations and worming. The last thing you will want is to have to take your fur baby to a vet while you’re on vacation, so make sure to arrange a vet check-up before you travel.
Pop on over to our Facebook group join our pawsome community of fur baby families. 4 Paws on Board Group
Packing for your fur baby
Pack their bedding so they will sleep comfortably like they would at home. Just like us, our fur babies love to have some of the comforts from home. This will help them stay calm in a new place.
Remember their food! It’s a good idea to take their normal food with you. You really don’t want to risk any tummy upsets while traveling with your fur baby.
Dogs and cats can get dehydrated just like us. Make sure you have plenty of water on hand for when they get thirsty. Depending on the destination you may need to take your own water supply. While there may appear to be fresh water sources, these may contain bacteria and other harmful agents
Make sure you pack their favourite toy to keep them entertained while you are away.
Think about if you will need an enclosure to contain them if you are camping as they last thing you want to have to worry about is them running away or getting lost away from home.
Take a copy of your pet insurance policy and your pet’s health certificate with you just in case any nasty surprises pop up and you need to see a vet while you are away.
You should prepare an appropriate first aid kit, be knowledgeable on the various Australian insects or creatures your pet may encounter – this allows you to calmly approach an emergency.
It is a good idea take towels or some spare sheets with you for your pet, even if you are not expecting to be near water during the holiday. You can use this if they get wet, require a bath, or get sick.
Make sure they always have a collar on them and that attached is an ID tag with their name, your name, address and phone number. You might find it useful to use editable tags so that they can record the address of their accommodation whilst on holiday.
Most importantly it’s a good idea to make sure your fur baby has been microchipped and that your details are up to date. Just in case little Fido manages to wander off!
With the proper preparation and planning you can take your Paws On Board.