Are you planning on taking your pet with you for your summer vacation this year? Pets are part of the family and will have a fantastic time with you! Tokeep your pet healthy, happy and comfortable during the heat of the season, here are five summer travel tips to keep in mind.
1. Avoid Cargo Travel
If you are traveling by plane, try to ensure that your pet can remain in the cabin with you. The cargo hold of an aircraft can be unbearably hot for a pet in the summer months. Some airlines have summer embargoes in place. This means that they limit pet travel in cargo during the summer, due to the heat. However, the weather is continually changing. Even with a restricted schedule, a cargo hold can be quite dangerous for some pets in the summer, so this is something to avoid at all costs if possible. There are alternative ways to fly with your pets. Consider private jet cards programs where you have access to fixed rates, guaranteed availability, seamless booking, and more.
2. Choose a Well-Ventilated Crate or Carrier
If your pet needs to travel in a crate or a carrier, you need to make sure that it is well-ventilated. This is important in the winter months too, but even more so in the heat of the summer. You may be best off opting for a size larger than what you would usually go for, as this will help to encourage airflow in the crate or carrier.
3. Keep Your Pet Hydrated
This can be a tricky one in the summertime as your pet is much more susceptible to dehydration because of the heat. However, you also need to be careful about how much water you give to your pet while traveling, especially if your pet is going to have to wait for a while before his next toilet break.
The priority is keeping your pet hydrated, even if this means that you will have to go out of your way to schedule in more toilet breaks. One tip to help with this is to freeze your pet’s water before you travel. This will help to keep your pet cooled down, while still limiting water consumption.
4. Don’t Over-Groom Your Pet
It may be tempting to clip your pet short before traveling in the summer. You would think that all of that hair will make your pet feel hotter. But, not necessarily. For the majority of animals, their coat acts as a cooling system, helping to expel heat from the body. Cutting this away can actually cause your pet to overheat more quickly.
5. Don’t Leave Your Pet Alone in a Hot Car
If you are taking your pet on a road trip, you may be tempted to leave your pet in the car for short periods of time. This is a definite no in the summer months even if you leave the windows down and keep your pet restrained so he can’t jump out. The temperature in your car can still reach 120 degrees in just a few minutes, even with your windows down. This can cause health problems for your pet, and could also be fatal. Plus, you don’t want to attract thieves either.
Summer travel with a pet does require more planning and organization. However, once you have all of that taken care of, you and your pet will be free to thoroughly enjoy your summer vacation together.
As always, thank you for reading!
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