If you’re lucky enough to have picked a pet-friendly accommodation so you can bring your beloved, four-legged family member with you for your holiday, congratulations, you’re both in for a fun vacation!

However, if you’ve never traveled long distance with your pet before, there are a few things you should be aware of before you load up and ship out, for your dual vacation. We’ve put together a quick checklist for you to use, and would love to add more suggestions from folks who’ve already vacationed with their furry friends:

• Before you even consider bringing your pet with on holiday, you need to ensure that it is well behaved. In the event something happens (fire, accident, other dogs, children), you need to know it will listen to you above it’s own instincts.

• Ensure that your pet is up-to-date with its vaccinations. Take them to your vet to get an over-all health check, as well as get their claws trimmed to prevent any chance of them snagging or breaking their claws, on the upholstery in your vehicle.

• You will need to make certain your pet has an I.D tag which reflects all your current information such as your cellphone number and address, as well as their name. You can also get them chipped, so if they do pull a disappearing trick while you’re on holiday, you can track them down fairly quickly.It’s a good move to keep copies of paperwork with their information such as up-to-date shots, medication (if they use it), as well as a few recent photographs to aid in identification once they are found.

• Pets can also get car-sick if they’re not used to that mode of transportation – some ways you can avoid this are to take them for a short drive daily for a week before you leave, feed them about four hours before the departure time and lastly, getting your vet to recommend and/or prescribe some natural calmatives for them.

• With regard to the above point, bring a clean-up kit just in case, despite your best efforts, they get motion-sickness. Usually a clean-up kit will contain some paper towels, a leather/upholstery cleaner and a few small plastic bags – air freshener is optional.

• Bring your pet’s bedding/blanket with – and if possible, put it in their carry-case or on the seat they’re harnessed to. The bedding will retain the scent of them (and you), which will create memories of home and comfort, so they’re less likely to be stressed. If you’re traveling with a cat, placing catnip in the carrier can help to calm them.

• When driving in a bakkie, never ever let your pet travel in the open truck bed – likewise with any vehicle, never let your pet loose, and never let them sit on your lap or near your feet when driving. Should you be in an accident, they will thrown from the vehicle or into the windscreen – so invest in a proper pet carrier, seat-belt harness or other restraining device for their safety, and your peace of mind.

• Get the numbers and addresses of vets in the different areas you’ll be traveling through. Just in case something happens, you will at least have an idea of where you’ll be taking your pet, and not end up rushing around frantically trying to figure out where to go for help.

• Don’t put a choke-chain on your pet, rather stick to a nylon or natural stretchy fiber collar. The choke-chain could get stuck in the carry-case, and Fido or Fluffy could choke to death before you realise what’s wrong.

• Always bring a large bottle of water and some food or treats for your four-legged friend, so they don’t dehydrate or go hungry while you’re on the road – you can also use the treats to reward them for good behavior. A good investment to make would be in a durable, and collapsible dish.

• When traveling by road, stop every 3 – 4 hours to let your pet stretch their legs, drink some water and go to the bathroom – just remember to pack their lead and secure it on them before letting them out the vehicle. These breaks will also gives you the chance to stretch out your muscles and relax your eyes.

• Don’t forget to bring some kind of flea/tick poison with if you are staying near the bush, as it may be hard to get in rural areas, and you certainly don’t want Fido getting irritated or irrational from the constant itching. Ensure that their blanket / bed is thoroughly checked out as well if they do get those little pests on them.

• If for any reason you need to leave your pet in the car, make sure the window is cracked open and you take no longer than twenty minutes – shorter on really hot days. Heat stroke is no laughing matter, and it can occur on humid days even without sunshine – it will cause multi system and organ failure in your pet, with signs such as heavy panting, wheezing, coughing, drooling, shaking, lethargy, and seizures. The best thing you can do is try to cool them down with a wet towel draped over their body, getting them to try and drink some water, before taking them to a vet as fast as possible. Do not use ice water or ice in any form, as the sudden shock can kill them.

These tips should make traveling with your pet a lot safer and let you both enjoy your vacation together. Just ensure that your pet is looked after, much in the same way you would with a child, with constant monitoring of their hydration levels, checking their paws to prevent them getting burnt on hot ground/tarmac, and ensuring that they receive the right amount of exercise each day. Most pet-friendly accommodations have certain rules you will need to abide by, such as picking up after your pet. Should you wish to add anything further to this list to make it more comprehensive, please let us know in the comment section below.

Main image credited to DogSpelledForward (Creative Commons)