Leaving behind your pets for long travel plans used to be a common occurrence back in the day. But like many things around us, this too has changed. Most places, including hotels, parks, airports have their own rules and regulations when it comes to traveling with pets, and the details can be easily found online.

While you are packing up your belongings from the places you traveled or traveling to, make sure your pet is not forgotten. In order to do that, research and plan ahead of time so that your little friend has enough time to adjust to their surroundings based on the pet-friendly guidelines of that place. There are some things you should always tick off your pet travel checklist, before you head to your travel destination. Here are some of those things that will help you make your vacation a memorable one with your pet:

Visit your veterinarian

Vaccinations make an important part of your travel plans. You would want to ensure that neither you nor your kids fall prey to an illness while traveling. To make sure that you all have a safe and disease-free vacation, contact your doctor and your vet as soon as possible. Getting your pets vaccinated before you leave for your vacation is equally important.

Your vacation destination might require more than a few vaccinations injected into your pet. These might include some blood tests and microchipping your pet for identification purposes.

Things you should carry

Keeping your pet comfortable while traveling is an important aspect of your vacation. In order to ensure optimum care for your pet from your side, make sure you carry all their necessities and the things they are used to. These might include their food bowl and water dish, ample supply of food and treats, and their toys. Carry mini bags to clean up after them.

You should also carry some basic medications that can come in handy in case of an emergency. Additionally, carry your pet’s name tag, their collar, and leash. You must carry a picture of you and your pet, in case of separation.

Check documents

You cannot travel without ticking this off your pet travel checklist. Before boarding your flight to your destination or back home, you may have to provide documentation of your pet to the officials. These documents will include your pet’s health and vaccination records. You can keep a file in hand with the following documents and information that will allow you to save time.

• Your pet’s picture
• Your contact information
• Your pet’s vaccination record and health history
• A list of vets you can contact in case of emergency

Consider a carrier

This has to be one of the important things mentioned in your pet travel checklist. A carrier will help your pet get adjusted to the change in surroundings without having to be poked and prodded by passers-by. New locations tend to leave your pet on edge, and in such cases, a carrier acts as the perfect protection for them to comfortably sit back and assess their surroundings and be unbothered by others.