Paws on Board: Quirky International Travel Tips for your Pets

Flying with your furry companion to an international destination is never an easy job. It requires lots of effort and work which can really be stressful for both you and your pet. Different airlines have different sets of requirements for pet travel. But the most important thing that needs to be taken into consideration is to ensure that he is safe and comfortable. Remember, you do not want him to be introduced to any turbulence in the in-flight experience.

Let us now look at some of the tips for hassle-free international journey with your pet:

Get Your Pet Thoroughly Examined By The Veterinarian for Any Health Issues

Get your veterinarian visits sorted out and booked one month prior to flying. Microchips are also required if you are travelling from North America. If you are travelling to Europe get the furry pal prepared for an extra rabies shot because in this part of the world they do not consider anything that happened before a microchip was implanted to be valid. Especially in North America, it is common to wait for neutering/spaying to do the implant as it is very painful. The rabies vaccine needs to be completed at least 21 days before they fly. Then immediately before you fly about 5 to 10 days depending on the country you are travelling you need to get your pet tapeworm treatment along with full body check-up and health certificates filled by the veterinarian. Then you need to take it to a fancy national veterinarian to finish it up and officially stamp it.

Country Requirements

There are specific requirements of different countries when you are taking your furry pal on an international travel. Let us look at the requirements of some of the countries:

• Blood titer test in certain countries

• Government Export Paperwork from the country of origin

• Health certificates of the pet administered by the veterinarian not more than 10 days before the entry to

• that country

• ISO microchip

• Pet passport or paper certificates

• Recent rabies vaccination (While in USA, rabies vaccination lasts for 3 years, there are certain countries

• that need annual shots)

• Tick and tapeworm treatments that need to be administered certain hours prior to entry

This seems a lot, but once you have gone through the process once you will have all the documentations ready to take your furry pal to other countries. They will give you a phone and fax number where you need to notify them about your entry to the airport veterinarians. They will then scrutinise the credentials of your doggy after the flight. Make this phone call a day prior to your landing in that country.

Contact The Airline Before Booking The Flight

It is very important to understand the rules of the airline and whether the pet will be allowed on the flight. Note that airlines can accommodate only a few animals per flight so you need to make the request quite early. Inquire whether the cargo is air-conditioned as it is very important for the health of your pet. Ask the individual airline for their rules about pets and layovers. Also, once the tickets have been booked, call them again and making them aware that you will bringing the doggy on board.

Food & Water

It is not advisable to let your pet travel on a full stomach as it can cause upset. Hence, it is recommended to feed him at least 4 hours before the flight. But continue giving the pet water leading to the take-off. Also ensure that he gets adequate walk outside the terminal before heading through security so that he is able to eliminate as much as possible.

So, what tips are you planning to take for hassle-free international journey of your pet?