Travel With Dogs

Although it takes more work than traveling alone, taking one's dog on a trip can add a whole new dimension of fun to a vacation. Enjoying the great outdoors is mandatory when traveling with a dog, so those of us who have a propensity to get sucked into our hotel room's cable TV have a ready-made excuse to get outside. I know that my own vacations often include less-than-healthy eating habits, so when I have my dog along I can easily counteract the extra calories with a couple of good walks every day.

Car travel with dogs can also be more enjoyable than driving alone. People can go all day in a car without taking an exercise break. But a dog really needs at least one good walk in the middle of a long day of driving. Even if one's dog isn't getting antsy in the car, a long walk can still be necessary to get him or her to "take care of business." (When dogs are anxious they take longer to relieve themselves, and most dogs are anxious when being walked in unfamiliar environments.)

Books on Travel with Dogs
One of the best ways to prepare for taking one's dog on a trip is to read a pet travel book. There are so many little details that one might not think of when it comes to traveling with a pet that are all covered in a pet travel book. Some states, for instance, require health certificates for pets that are visiting. Because some animal diseases are highly contagious (from one animal to another, not from animal to human) some states require proof of current vaccines for visiting dogs and cats.

Some areas of the country are more at risk for tick-related illnesses such as lyme disease, and a good pet travel book will list the states in which ticks are more prevalent. Heartworm is also a serious concern in some states so it's a good idea to research such topics before taking one's pet on the road. If one is planning to visit a high-risk state such as Texas, for instance, one can simply start one's dog or cat on heartworm prevention pills well in advance of the trip.

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