Ten Tips for Holiday Pet Travel

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The holidays are stressful on all of us, and that includes your pet as well. Whether you are having visiting pets to your house or you are traveling with them to somewhere new, know that Fluffy and Fido are going to feel the stress as well as you.

Here are some great tips for your pooch and puss for the Holidays:

Call Ahead

Make sure to call ahead to verify the hotel's pet policy as the websites are not always correct. Pet fees, left alone pet policies and other restrictions all vary from hotel to hotel. It doesn't hurt to have this information in writing. Many companies that do all of their booking from one central location can normally do the search for you on the phone to find the hotel with the best pet fit.

Keep your pets close, and their potty area closer

Most humans don't want to have to walk any farther to the toilet than one room and it is definitely the same for your pooch. If your dog is used to going right outside the back door, then getting on an elevator to go down 20 floors may mean they might not make it.

Keep the kids locked up while you are away

Once you have figured out how long the hotel will allow you to leave the pet alone in the room, make sure that when you go, you crate the animal. You don't want your cat to have found that spot that 15 other cats have been in and decide they are going to mark their turf as well. This is a foreign place to them and even the animals that are awesome at home, might freak out when left alone in a strange new place. Here is a recommendation: Order in food.

Pre-flight Checklist

If you are forced to fly with your pet, remember to do your homework here, too. Not just on the airline's policies but also everything else: airplane-approved pet carrier, food, medicine, treats, toys, waste bags, leash, water bowl, pet identification tags and a bed or blanket. Carry a photo of your pet with you should you happen to get separated or lost even.

No cuddling on the road

First and foremost, this is for the safety of the pet. Make sure your pet is secured in a harness, crate or behind a barrier. Second of all, in some states, secured animals are the law and you can get up to a $1,000 fine just by having your dog on your lap. If you don't take your animal in the car often, work them up to it. Take them for some laps around the block a couple of times and maybe on longer trips of about an hour.

That way when they are in the car for a lot longer, they will become more used to it. Crystallized ginger is said to help settle your dogs stomach if they get car sick but remember, your animal is precious cargo! Drive slow and remember the extra passenger is back there.

RELATED: Delta Air Lines Loses Passenger's Dog

Christmas Tree water

When you get to the destination or if you are expecting guest pets, make sure there is a tight fitting tree skirt around the bottom of the Christmas Tree. If you are using additives to the water make sure they are pet safe.

Tinsel

Even though it may be funny to imagine shiny stuff coming from the back end of your pet, most of those decorations are non-digestible by animals and possibly cause serious intestinal obstructions. The same goes for candy, especially chocolate; these are not things that are good for the sensitive digestive tracts of our animals.

Ornaments

We learned this at a young age and it applies to the handles of 2 year olds now, too: keep the plastic and wooden ornaments low and the glass and fragile ornaments out of the reach of a tail, mouth, paw or baby hand. Enough said.

Pine needles

Real trees smell good but the pine needles don't digest too well. Keep the area around the tree free of needles. While you are down there cleaning up smell around for wrapped gifts that might have an enticing scent.

Strings of lights

Have you ever seen the Aunt Bethany's cat in Christmas Vacation?

Special thanks to the folks at Trupanion, a medical insurance provider for cats and dogs and is offering up free enrollment for the holidays. For more tips and information on caring for your pet, visit Trupanion's Pet Care page. And remember, pets are people, too. Meowy Christmas and a Yappy New Year!

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