Travel Tips

 Planning and preparation area necessity when traveling with pets.  Most animals, like humans, function better in familiar surroundings. If your pet is prone to car-sickness, extreme nervousness, or other conditions that would be uncomfortable for both you and your pet, discuss options such as using a reliable pet-sitter or a clean, well-managed boarding facility with your veterinarian. If you will be staying with friends on your trip, be considerate. Find out in advance if the pet is welcome. The same goes for hotels, motels, parks, and campgrounds. Below you will find a list of pet friendly hotels in each area. Always check whether pets are allowed or kennel facilities are available. If the pet must be left alone in a hotel room, place a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door and inform the maid and the front desk. Consider bringing along a portable kennel for use in hotel rooms or the homes of friends or relatives who are not comfortable with your pet loose when no one is home.      

If your pet is not accustomed to car travel, take it for a few short rides before your trip. Cats should be confined to a cage or crate to allow them to feel secure and to avoid having a pet under your feet while driving.

Stick to your regular feeding routine and give the main meal at the end of the day or when you reach your destination. Feeding dry food will be more convenient, assuming your pet readily consumes it. Dispose of unused canned food unless it can be refrigerated. Take along a plastic jug of cold water in case other reliable water sources are not available. Give small portions of food and water and plan to stop every two hours for exercise. Remember to include a leash with your pet's traveling supplies.

Pets should not be allowed to ride with their heads outside car windows. Particles of dirt can enter the eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infection.

If you must leave your pet in a parked car, be sure to lock all doors, park in a shady area, and open windows wide enough to provide ventilation without enabling your pet to jump out or get its head caught. Be aware of weather conditions. You should not leave your pet in a parked car when the temperature and/or humidity are high or when temperatures are near or below freezing.

• When traveling by car, pack a simple pet first-aid kit that includes assorted bandages, antiseptic cream, an anti- diarrhea medication that is safe for pets (ask your veterinarian to suggest a product), gauze squares, and the phone numbers of your veterinarian, a national poison control hotline, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital.
• In addition to a identification tag , your pet's collar should include a travel tag with information on where you are staying while away from home. Should your pet become lost, this will allow you to be contacted locally.
• Perform a daily "health check" on your pet when away from home. In unfamiliar surroundings, your pet's appetite, energy, and disposition may change. Watch for unusual discharges from the nose and eyes, excessive scratching or biting of any body part, unusual lumps, limping, loss of appetite, abnormal elimination, or excessive water consumption. Visit a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.

                                                                Traveling by Plane

Regulations state that dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old and weaned at least five days before flying. The pet should also be exercised, placed in the cage with complete identification and a license tag by the owner and picked up promptly upon arrival.

The proper cage, available from most airlines or pet shops, should have the following features:

• Large enough to allow the animal to stand, turn and lie down
• Strong, free of interior protrusions, with handles or grips
• Leak-proof bottom covered with plenty of absorbent material
• Ventilation on opposite sides, with exterior rims or knobs to prevent blocked airflow
• Label with "Live Animals," including arrows indicating upright position and the owner's name, address and phone number

Travelers should also be aware that if the final destination is a foreign country or even Hawaii, there may be a quarantine or other health requirements to consider. A full-service travel agency should be able to provide this information. Travelers may need to contact the appropriate embassy or consulate at least four weeks in advance.

                                                              List of pet friendly hotels coming SOON!!!