What to Do If Your Pet Becomes Unwell on Holiday?

Being able to travel with your pet is an amazing luxury that we can now easily take advantage of with the many pet travel options available. Although, travelling with your pooch or kitty is an amazing opportunity it doesn’t come without responsibilities and complications at times.

If you’re planning to take your dog or cat on holiday, then you need to make sure you’re properly prepared. This means completing all the necessary vet checks and vaccinations before departure but also means making a plan of action for when you’ve arrived including what to do if your pet becomes unwell whilst on your travels.

If you’re not sure what you can do if your pet does become unexpectedly poorly whilst on holiday here are a few tips.

Before your trip

Firstly, before embarking on your trip you must make sure that your pet is microchipped, vaccinated for diseases such as rabies, treated for tapeworm and you take the necessary documentation with you. In addition to this travel insurance is essential for your pet. Many people overlook this and think that it’s not as important, but it is. This will cover the expenses should your pet get ill while you’re away.

During your trip

If your pet falls ill while you are on holiday there’s no need to panic. Just because you’re miles away from home doesn’t mean you can’t get help. There are more households with pets in Europe and North America than there are in the UK and therefore there are veterinary practices in most towns and cities across both continents.

The first thing to do if your pet becomes ill is to find the nearest vets to your location. There are a number of apps you can use including VetFinder and BringFido.

You then need to contact your pet’s insurance company as soon as possible to inform them of the claim. Make sure you keep all receipts, invoices and any other evidence of the expenses for your pets’ treatment. Your insurance company will ask for this proof to support your claim.

You may need to inform your tour operator if any transport arrangements need to be changed. It’s also important that you make your pet travel specialists aware that your dog has been poorly whilst you’ve been away so that when it comes to transporting your pet home, they can make sure that they are safe and comfortable.

For the rest of the holiday just ensure that your pet is as comfortable and happy as possible. Keep them hydrated and cool and make sure you pay special attention to them.

After your trip

When you returned home, keep a close eye on your pet for the following week so that you can notice if there’s any change in their behaviour. Their familiar home environment should perk them up a bit.

You may want to take your pet to your registered vet to get them checked over to ensure they’re on the mend and so that your vet is informed of what happened while you were away.