If you’re travelling with your pet this summer, here are a few tips that will help things run smoothly.

Please be aware that these rules are likely to change once the UK leaves the European Union.  Speak to your vet about the most recent recommendations

  • Ensure your pet is microchipped and the contact details are up-to-date – microchipping is FREE with the Healthy Pet Club.
  • Check that there is secure fencing at your accommodation, as well as access to dog-friendly areas such as beaches and parks.
  • If your pet requires a specific diet or medication, take enough for the holiday and a little bit extra, just in case.
  • Keep up-to-date with the worm and tick prevention treatments that you’re using. Pets can easily pick these up when interacting with unknown dogs and in unfamiliar places.
  • Keep pets amused with toys and little treats on long car journeys.

Motion sickness

If your pet is prone to motion sickness:

  • Don’t feed them for four to six hours before travelling.
  • Schedule short breaks to allow pets to have a stretch.
  • Open a window to ensure fresh air in the car.
  • Be mindful of loud music – what’s loud to them is not necessarily loud to us.
  • Try to get your pet used to being in a car before the trip. Anxiety is one of the main causes of car sickness in pets. Symptoms include drooling, panting, yawning and trembling. If your pet displays these signs when in the car, allow them to become familiar with their surroundings and spend time with them inside the vehicle while it’s stationary. Once they feel relaxed, take them on short trips before the main journey, rewarding them for calm, relaxed behaviour.
  • Make sure your pet is restrained while you’re driving. Cats and small dogs should be in cages, while medium- and large-breed dogs should have a secure harness.

If these suggestions don’t work or your pet is extremely sensitive to motion sickness, effective medication is available from your vet.

Remember – your Healthy Pet Club package includes 20% off all Adaptil and Feliway calming products!

Travelling abroad

The rules for taking your cat or dog abroad changed as of 2012. To bring your pet into the UK from the EU and selected non-EU countries – including the US and Switzerland – you no longer need to get a rabies serology blood test. However there are still strict rules in place.

If you are considering taking your pet abroad with you, check the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website and speak to your vet.

There are a few standard factors to consider:

  • Your pet must have had a rabies vaccination at least three weeks prior to your trip.
  • You must have a pet passport for your pet.
  • For your dog to re-enter the UK, you must ensure that it is given a worm treatment by a vet between one and five days before entering the UK. The vet must sign your dog’s passport to show that this has been done.
  • Although it is no longer a legal requirement, we strongly recommend that pets are protected against ticks and other parasites while they are abroad. There are tick-borne diseases present in other countries that we do not have here in the UK, and we do not want these infections entering our pet population. You should check your pet daily for ticks and remove them quickly if you do find any.
  • If you do not have the valid paperwork for your pet when trying to enter the UK, your pet may have to enter quarantine.
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