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Taking your pet on holiday with you: planning & tips on pet care

Every year lots of families look forward to a relaxing summer holiday. It is important to think about pet care in advance to ensure that your pets are well looked after whilst you are away. Think about whether you would like to take your pet on holiday with you or if you will need to arrange pet care. You can find tips and information on holidays with and without pets below in this article.

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Going on holiday with your pet: tips and what you should keep in mind

To ensure that all family members can enjoy their holiday, you should carefully think about whether your pet can travel with you or whether it would feel more comfortable staying at home. You as the pet owner will know what is best for your pet. Use the information below as a guide to help you organise your holiday with your pet.

Which pets can you take on holiday with you?

You can divide the different types of pets into two groups. Some types of pets are happiest when they are around people they know and others feel more at ease when they are in a familiar place. This means that some animals are a lot happier when their owner is with them and thus they will not feel too stressed about being somewhere new. Other types of animals feel most at ease in familiar surroundings. A new place will make them feel quite anxious.

Below you will find two examples of the two different pet groups:

  • Around people: dogs

  • In a familiar place: cats & other small pets

It is therefore advisable to leave small pets and cats in their familiar surroundings and look for somebody who can take care of them whilst you are away on holiday. A possible exception to this rule applies if your cat is used to long car journeys or if you always travel to the same holiday destination with your cat. This allows your cat to get to know the surroundings and familiarise itself with the location.

Planning your holiday

If you would like to take your pet on holiday with you, you should first think about whether your pet is fit to travel? Dogs and cats that are used to travelling in the car from an early age generally have no problems going somewhere by car. For their safety you should put them in a sturdy transport box in the boot. Your cat should familiarise itself with its safe transport box in its home environment beforehand.

You can also follow the useful tips below for travelling on holiday with your pet:

  • When travelling, it is important to always make sure that your pet has enough to drink for the duration of the journey.

  • Take frequent breaks during the journey. Your four-legged friend may need to relieve themselves more often than usual due to feeling stressed. Make sure that you keep your pet safe whilst out and about.

  • Four to six weeks before travelling, it is advisable to visit the vet’s with your dog or cat. A general health check-up can be carried out and any important vaccinations can then be administered. In addition, some countries require worming treatments before arriving. There are country-specific diseases that are transmitted by fleas and ticks, therefore, you should seek advice from your vet about possible protective measures and check any necessary information of the country you will be travelling through and to.

  • Attach a tag to your pet's collar with your telephone number and address on it.

Tip

In summer, never leave your pet in the car. Temperatures in the car can quickly soar. Even parking in the shade is not a good idea, as the sun will move throughout the day, therefore, it is recommended to wait somewhere outside together in the shade.

Travelling abroad with your pet

Before booking your holiday, find out about whether pets are allowed in the holiday apartment or hotel. It is also advisable to look for restaurants that you can visit with your dog in advance. Find out beforehand what your pet's liability insurance will cover in case your pet damages anything in the holiday accommodation.

It is also advisable to read up on the entry requirements for animals before travelling. You will need the following when travelling within the European Union:

  • A valid EU pet passport with a description of your pet and information on your pet’s vaccinations

  • An up to date rabies vaccination (at least 21 days old)

  • A readable microchip

Some EU countries have specific entry regulations that you must check in advance. Many countries require dogs to be kept on a lead and muzzled and prohibit the entry of dangerous dog breeds that are used for dog fighting. Therefore, it is advised to get your dog used to wearing a muzzle before going on holiday. This will help ensure that everyone can have a stress-free holiday.

In addition, it is important to make sure that your pet will have everything they will need for the full duration of your holiday. You can find a helpful packing list for your next holiday with your pet in the following PDF:

Holiday checklist for your pet

Tip

In some countries you can register your pet with a pet register. This means their details, including your address, will be saved on a database. If someone finds your pet, they will immediately be able to find out who it belongs to.

Pet care tips and what you need to know

If you decide to leave your four-legged friend at home or somewhere they are familiar with, it is important that you organise pet care early on. There are many options available to you to make sure that your pet is well looked after whilst you are on holiday.

Finding the right pet care

You should always put your pet’s needs first when choosing the right pet sitter. Small animals, for example, need less care in comparison to dogs. Your pet sitter should therefore be flexible and willing to take care of your pet and fulfil the daily tasks conscientiously. Here are some tips on where to find a suitable pet sitter:

  • Family or friends

  • Neighbours or someone who you know well and lives close by

  • Websites for pet sitters

  • Your pet’s breeder

Regardless of whether you ask a friend or a private pet sitter to look after your pet, your pet sitter should take the time to get to know your pet beforehand. Make sure that your chosen pet sitter comes over before you go away or, in the case of dogs and cats, several times to allow your pet sitter to spend timewith your pet and gain their trust.

Depending on the type of animal, a pet sitter will have different tasks to do:

Care tips and tasks for pet sitters

Pet

Type of care

Tasks for pet sitters

Cats

Cats prefer to stay somewhere they are familiar with. They are also not as dependent on their owner in comparison to other types of pets.

Your pet sitter should either feed and care for your cat at home every day or ideally they should stay at your home whilst you are away.

Dogs

Dogs do not like being left on their own at home for long periods of time. It is a good idea to ask friends or family if they can look after your dog.

Your pet sitter should be willing and able to look after your dog for the duration of your holiday.

Other small pets

Small pets can quickly get stressed if they are in an unfamiliar environment. They should therefore stay in their home environment. In exceptional cases, however, your pet sitter can also take your small animal and its cage with them.

Your chosen pet sitter should check in everyday to see how your pet is and they should also give your pet fresh food and water every day. The cage will also need to be cleaned if you are going to be away for a long period of time.

Private pet care at home

If you would like someone to look after your pet at home, there are a few things to organise in advance so that your pet sitter can easily carry out their tasks. Firstly, you should allow enough time to inform your pet sitter about what needs to be done whilst you are away. It is also advisable to write everything down on a list so that your pet sitter can check in case they have forgotten something. You should include the following details on your list:

  • Information on when and how to feed your pet, this should include quantity, time and any other important information

  • Note any important information about doors, windows or your pet’s cage to make sure that your pet and home stay safe and secure

  • Emergency contacts such as your mobile phone number, number from the holiday accommodation where you will be staying and your vet’s phone number

  • Any important information concerning your pet such as their character traits, illnesses or health conditions

  • Dosage and any important information for medication that your pet needs

So that you can start your holiday stress-free, it is advisable to take your pet to the vet’s beforehand. They can check if everything is alright with your pet and update any necessary vaccinations. By doing so, you will have peace of mind that your pet will be fine whilst you are away on holiday.

Have a look at our helpful PDF checklist, which will help you keep track of everything you need to buy for your pet sitter. This way, your pet sitter will have everything they will need whilst you are away:

Checklist for your pet sitter

Tip

It is recommended that you organise a replacement for your pet sitter in case they become ill. This will help to ensure you can have a stress-free holiday, as it is guaranteed that someone will be able to look after your pet whilst you are away.

Pet boarding

In addition to private pet care at home, you can also opt for pet boarding. You can choose boarding kennels or catteries to look after your pet whilst you are on holiday. Dogs and cats in particular, who are sociable and like to play with other animals will feel more at ease here. You can also have peace of mind that your pet is being well looked after by qualified members of staff.

Before choosing a pet boarding establishment, it is a good idea to visit the boarding kennel or pet hotel to get an overall impression of the place and onsite facilities. Awards and certificates on good pet care are not the only important criteria when choosing the right boarding kennel or pet hotel. Below you will find some helpful tips on what you should keep in mind when visiting a pet hotel:

  • Cleanliness

  • Open areas for dogs and cats to run about and exercise in

  • Dedicated areas for cats where they can relax and enjoy time by themselves

  • Regular walks for dogs

  • Appropriate housing for small animals

  • Enough food and water for the animals

  • Well cared for and happy animals

  • A detailed and legitimate pet care contract

In addition, dogs and cats should be kept in small groups if possible. However, they should be fed separately to avoid any problems.

Good pet boarding establishments will strive to make sure that all pets in their centres are well cared for. You should therefore always keep your pet's vaccination record up to date and have information on any illnesses they may have. Some pet hotels will ask you to provide up to date health certificates from your vet’s about vaccinations and any health conditions your pet may have.

A good pet sitter will also show an interest in your pet and make sure to find out more about them and check if there is anything important they should know. This enables them to take care of your pet and to ensure they offer the best care possible.

Conclusion: going on holiday with your pet or organising pet care for whilst you are away

Careful planning is important to ensure that your pet is well looked after whilst you are on holiday. It is a great idea to organise everything in advance, regardless of whether you are taking your pet on holiday with you or they are being looked after at home by a pet sitter. Start preparing several weeks in advance and don't forget to take your pet to the vet’s. This will help you to relax and you will be able to enjoy your holiday.

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References and further information

https://be.chewy.com/pet-parenting-travel-choosing-a-dog-hotel-7-things-to-look-for/
(Last accessed on 16.02.2024)

https://be.chewy.com/pet-parenting-travel-8-surefire-signs-of-a-trustworthy-pet-sitter/
(Last accessed on 16.02.2024)

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/consumer-advice/consumer-rights/a39367946/take-your-pet-abroad/
(Last accessed on 16.02.2024)

https://www.pawsandstay.co.uk/blog/beginners-guide-to-taking-your-dog-on-holiday/
(Last accessed on 16.02.2024)

The image sources in this text are in chronological order

Cover photo: iStock.com/Pekic
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3. Image in text: iStock.com/Group4 Studio