{"id":1557,"date":"2017-01-05T04:10:17","date_gmt":"2017-01-05T04:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/?p=1557"},"modified":"2022-02-23T12:45:02","modified_gmt":"2022-02-23T18:45:02","slug":"dos-and-donts-winter-pet-vacations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/pet-news\/dos-and-donts-winter-pet-vacations\/","title":{"rendered":"Dos and Don\u2019ts of Winter Pet Vacations"},"content":{"rendered":"\"White\n

Let\u2019s face it: there\u2019s only so much shoveling you can do before your arms go on strike and demand a winter vacation. Whether you want to surf the waves at the beach or rip through the moguls at a ski resort, your dog or cat shouldn\u2019t always have to stay behind. Why not consider a winter vacation with your pet?<\/p>\n

To help with your pet travel plans, we\u2019ve created a simple checklist of pet-centric things to consider before you hit the road.<\/p>\n

GET OUTTA TOWN<\/h3>\n

Have a destination in mind? It\u2019s easy to find pet-friendly hotels<\/a> in just about any location. Some even offer concierge pet services<\/a>, including walks and \u201cpawdicures\u201d for when pet parents are out and about, as well as a special room-service menu just for the canine or feline palate. Check to see if there are size or weight restrictions and refundable damage deposits. It also doesn\u2019t hurt to make sure the room is pet-proofed before you give your dog or cat free range over the king-size bed and couch.<\/p>\n

SCHEDULE A VETERINARY APPOINTMENT<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re traveling by plane, you\u2019ll need a health certificate<\/a> for your pet completed by your veterinarian within 10 days of your domestic flight (for international travel, you should start planning six months in advance). Your veterinarian will need to examine your pet and certify that he or she is not only healthy but also current on his or her vaccines.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to tell your veterinarian where you\u2019ll be taking your pet. He or she can determine if there are any health risks in that part of the country and provide vaccinations or other medications if needed. Plus, when you\u2019re abandoning the snowdrifts for the beaches, it can be easy to forget flea preventives and other pet health care items, such as prescription medications, where you\u2019re going. Your veterinarian will no doubt remind you.<\/p>\n

TALK TO THE AIRLINE<\/h3>\n

Before you go, find out whether your pet can travel in the cabin or in cargo. Ask about kennel requirements. Be aware there may be weather restrictions; many airlines won\u2019t accept pets in cargo during warm or cold temperature extremes, for the safety of your pet.<\/p>\n

Certain brachycephalic, or flat-faced dogs<\/a> (like pugs or shih tzus) or cats may not be able to fly in cargo. In general, it\u2019s not recommended to sedate or tranquilize your pet for the flight, as these medications can be unpredictable at high altitudes.<\/p>\n

CHECK IDENTIFICATION TAGS<\/h3>\n

If your pet accidentally slips out the door when you\u2019re out of town, it may feel disoriented by the new location and not know how to make it back to you. That\u2019s why, before you leave, you should make sure your pet has a current ID tag on its collar, including your cell phone number, and do the same thing on its pet carrier. If your winter vacation will stretch over a month or longer, consider getting temporary ID tags bearing your vacation address and phone number.<\/p>\n

You should also call the microchip company to make sure they have your most current contact information.<\/p>\n

PACK THE COMFORTS OF HOME<\/h3>\n

Part of a great vacation is seeing new sights, but that can be overwhelming for some pets. Make sure to bring the familiar comforts of home, such as your pet\u2019s own bedding, food and water bowls, toys and litter box. (And, of course, don\u2019t forget the fecal waste bags.)<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to keep your pet\u2019s diet as consistent as possible. No one wants to deal with vomiting and diarrhea when you\u2019re on the road, least of all your pet. So make sure to pack your dog or cat\u2019s regular diet and treats with you.<\/p>\n

CONSIDER A PET STAYCATION<\/h3>\n

Lastly, if your pet is shy or uneasy in new situations, traveling may be too stressful on him or her. In those cases, it may be best to set your pet up at a local boarding kennel or leave your pet at home with a pet sitter you trust. There are new gadgets that let you talk remotely with your pet and dispense treats, even when you\u2019re away. That way, your pet is sure to welcome you with a happy dance on your return.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

RELATED POST: Vacation With Your Best Friend<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s face it: there\u2019s only so much shoveling you can do before your arms go on strike and demand a winter vacation. Whether you want to surf the waves at the beach or rip through the moguls at a ski resort, your dog or cat shouldn\u2019t always have to stay behind. Why not consider a … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8051,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Winter Pet Vacations | Taste of the Wild","_seopress_titles_desc":"Considering a winter vacation with your pet? To help with your pet travel plans, we\u2019ve created a simple checklist of pet-centric things to consider before you hit the road.","_seopress_robots_index":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[60,59,90,58,357],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1557"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1557"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8054,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1557\/revisions\/8054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}