Toys,
a leash, important medication—these are no-brainers when you’re
preparing to vacation with your dog or cat. Because such a vacation
takes so much preparation—especially if you’re traveling with a
pet for the first time—it’s virtually impossible to leave these
essentials at home.
Other
items? They might not even cross your mind. But without them, your
vacation may get derailed before you even reach your destination.
Add
these to your next travel checklist to ensure a happy and safe
getaway for you and your furry friend.
A
lot of travelers clear their photos off their phones before they go
on vacation in order to leave as much space as possible for new
memories. That’s fine, but leave at least a couple of pictures of
your pet. Many shelters require visual confirmation of ownership in
the event that your pet gets lost and you need to pick him up
somewhere.
A Copy of Your Pet's Medical Records
You
should know where the nearest veterinarian or emergency pet health
facility is at all times.
Sheets or
Blankets
Laying
your own sheets and blankets out in a rental car or on hotel
furniture is one way to make sure your pet doesn’t leave his or her
hair everywhere. If [the sheets] haven’t been washed immediately
before your trip, they have the added bonus of smelling like home,
which ought to keep your pet calm in an unfamiliar place.
Ziploc
Bags
Ziploc
bags are basically a pet parent’s Swiss army knife. You can use
them to pick up poop if necessary. You can also carry food in them if
you’re going on a day trip and need to pack a backpack.
Tap Water From Home
The
quality of tap water changes from city to city (sometimes
drastically), and for pets who are accustomed to drinking from just
one water source for their entire lives, even a slight change in
quality for short period of time can upset their stomach.