Many doting pet owners are not happy to leave their pets behind with family or in kennels when they go away on holiday. Travelling with pets is now far easier than in the past, whether you are visiting locally or flying further afield.

Packing for your pet is even more important than packing for yourself. Start a list of essentials early to make sure you have food bowls, water, a lead, can opener, spoon and other essentials with you on the journey. To avoid a change of diet, if practical, it is a good idea to take pet food with you. If your pet is on medication, this is even more important. It is advisable to take flea and tick control and heartworm pills with you for longer stays as familiar brands may not be available abroad.

It is essential to have a secure carrier or crate to transport your pet by car, bus, train or airplane. Travelling loose in the car is not a safe option, for either yourself or your pet. Leave the crate open in the home before travelling and try to get your pet to sleep in it during the day, or at least to be familiar with it. If you are travelling by car it is wise to have an old towel on hand to dry muddy paws after comfort stops. If your pet has a microchip or tattoo number, be sure to carry the details with you in case the worst happens. Make sure that your contact information is up-to-date and a photo of your pet may be handy for identification.

Always choose pet friendly holiday rentals to make sure that your pet is as welcome as you are. Some holiday rentals offer pets packs with welcome toys, treats and bedding and a map of dog-friendly walks. Some holiday rentals do charge a fee for pets to cover cleaning, but trying to sneak past the owner with an "extra" guest is not a good idea. It may mean that you both have to sleep in the car!

The pet passport scheme in the UK makes taking your pet abroad possible, but early preparation is required as the process takes a minimum of seven months to obtain the passport. A local vet will be required to organize the paperwork, inject the microchip and administer the vaccinations. A government vet will then verify all the steps have been satisfactorily completed and will issue the passport six months after the rabies blood test has been taken. Booster treatments are required every year so it pays to be organised. You will also need to arrange a vet visit no less than 24 hours and no more than 48 hours before re-entry into the UK. This can be very difficult in the event of strikes or port delays but no exceptions can be made.    

So whether you are taking your dog, cat, bird, bunny, hamster or other four-legged friend on holiday with you, be sure to go fully prepared so you can all enjoy a stress-free vacation.

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