You are finally taking the summer trip and bringing Ruby along! Planning for a humans-only summer trip is not so much of a hassle, you just have to bring along the regulars. But if you’re going with your pet, then you need to be certain that you’ve made adequate preparation for them. Here are some things to know before beginning the trip:
- A Visit to the Vet!
A big summer trip or any one for that matter calls for a visit to the vet first off. The main purpose is to check that they’re healthy enough to undertake the journey. It wouldn’t be ideal for a pet who’s facing a series of health or nutrition problems to embark on a big trip. Similarly, a thorough checkup and getting up-to-date vaccination are vet activities, so you shouldn’t be skipping this step.
- A Trip Calls for a Carrier
It would have been a nice idea for your pup to sit up in front, seat belt all tucked in and looking pretty. However, if you would be going on a major trip, whether via land or air, you would need a carrier to guarantee a positive trip experience. You need to size up your crate to supply your pet with more room to move around and great ventilation. It is advisable to purchase the crate in advance so that your pet can get acclimated to it.
- Aim for Cool Weather
For air travel, some airlines only permit pet cargo travel in the mornings or evenings when the weather would be cool. A pet-safe airline like Lufthansa only allows for snub-nosed pet travel when it is guaranteed that both departure and arrival locations would have temperatures under 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Pups are unable to regulate their body temperature as we do, so you would need to look out for cool weather. This applies to road trips too, ensuring that the air conditioning works just great.
- Get Their ‘Groom’ On!
Some pre-travel summer grooming might not be a bad idea for your pet. Depending on the breed, they might stand to benefit beyond just looking great. You would need to be careful with the length of their coat. This is because your pup’s hair serves as a cooling system for her and a measure of hair left on could help prevent the skin from experiencing sun damage. So, cutting hair short or giving them a buzz cut could be exposing them to a lot of discomforts during the trip.
- Tire Them Out
Plenty of exercise before departure time is bound to have your pet snoozing or lying around passively during the trip. Not exercising Ruby can cause her to experience anxiety all through the trip, something you want to avoid. Before heading out to the airport or starting the car, get some quick exercises because a tired pup is a calm pup.
