Traveling with your pet can be both exciting and stressful – for you and your pet! Many pets are naturally curious animals, and they will likely enjoy the trip as much as you will. Safety is, of course, of paramount importance when traveling with your pet. Ensure you have taken all necessary precautions to keep your pet from becoming lost or injured.
Most pets 
require some form of carrier when they travel. The size and type will depend on your species of pet. Obviously, traveling with your pet kitten is much different than traveling with your pet Great Dane. Your pet carrier needs to be large enough to allow them room to move.
Before you embark on your travels, it is very useful to get your pet accustomed to the carrier. When introducing your pet to the carrier, allow them plenty of time to explore and become acclimated on their own. Do not rush them into the unfamiliar carrier! Instead, leave the door open and allow your pet to hop in and out at will. Be sure the carrier is large enough to comfortably fit your pet, and make appropriate plans to allow them out of the carrier for scheduled “breaks” on your trip.
If you will be taking your pet on a long trip and he is not used to traveling, start by making short trips around town. Get him used to not only being in the carrier, but having the carrier loaded into a moving vehicle.
To minimize some of the stress while traveling with your pet, bring both food and water from home. Unfamiliar water in a new environment can lead to unnecessary additional stress for you pet. Since travel can be dehydrating to pets and humans alike, be sure to bring along plenty of fresh water for the trip. People tend to feel badly for their animals when they are in a different situation and will feed many extra treats. But remember, their convenient bathroom is outside . . . not in your car.
Try to maintain as normal a schedule as possible when traveling with your pet. Keeping meal and bed times fairly consistent will help minimize the stress on your pet. Bring a few of your pet’s favorite toys with you and keep a few suitable toys in the carrier with them. Never hang swinging toys from the top of the carrier, since they could harm your pet during travel.
If traveling with your pet involves driving, never leave your pet unattended in a vehicle. Even if you think it will only be a short stop, bring the pet out of the car in her carrier. When driving, the carrier should always be secured in the back seat if your car has front seat air bags. As with small children, the force of an inflating airbag can harm or kill your pet. 
The safest place for traveling with your pet in the car is in the middle of the backseat, securely tethered.
When traveling with your pet by air, be sure to check with the airline for restrictions. Some airlines have specific limitations on the size of pet and/or size of carrier allowed on the plane. The airlines that do allow pets to travel will usually let animals under 20 lbs fly with their owner, provided they are in their carrier. Larger animals must travel in the luggage compartment.
Traveling with your pet can be entertaining and joyful for both of you. And, as with any shared experience, it is a great opportunity for bonding with your pet. Be sure to plan well and prepare early for traveling with your pet. The planning will pay off when you enjoy a relaxing trip together.
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