BREA, Calif., March 4, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- "No Pets Allowed" signs are becoming a rarity as more and more pet owners have expressed a desire to travel with their pets. According to the Travel Industry Association, 70 percent of pet owners would like to travel with their pets, and the hospitality industry has made great strides in helping to accommodate these members of the family. Traveling with your pet can be fun, but requires attention to a special set of guidelines.
Dr. Peter Weinstein, medical director at Veterinary Pet Insurance, strongly recommends the following when traveling with your pet to ensure that everyone stays happy, healthy and safe:
1. Pets should always have complete vaccinations well before you make a journey. Ensure that you schedule a visit to your veterinarian and allow sufficient time prior to your trip to discuss diseases or problems that might exist where you are traveling and that don't exist at home. For example, Lyme and heartworm diseases are prevalent in certain areas of the U.S.
2. When traveling by car, plan for twice as many rest stops as you would for a small child. Pets need ample time to stretch their legs and to go to the bathroom.
3. Avoid motion sickness by only feeding your pet a small meal a few hours before leaving for your trip. Also, start with short local trips and gradually increase the time before a long trip.
4. Bring plenty of fresh water whenever you travel with your pet and factor in potential emergencies, such as if your vehicle breaks down. Always bring extra food and snacks for the road.
5. Safety belts and harnesses are good for securing small dogs in vehicles, but the safest way for your dog to travel is secured in a crate in your back seat or cargo area in an SUV. Dogs should never travel in the open bed of a pickup truck.
6. If your trip includes an overnight stay, research pet-friendly hotels first and have a full understanding of what accommodations are available for them, as well as any extra charges that may apply.
7. Some airlines require pets to have a health certificate before they can fly - make sure you check first. Each airline's policy differs, so plan accordingly. Also, find out if the airline will fly your pet during weather extremes - hot or cold. Finally, make sure your pet's nails have been recently clipped to prevent them from hooking onto the carrier door or other openings.
8. Make sure your pet has a strong collar and identification tag, and include information about your destination should you get separated. Also, it's a good idea to microchip a pet to aid in re-locating it. Also, remember to carry a current photo of your pet along with the health certificates and inoculation records.
9. Never leave a pet in a car on warm or hot days. Temperatures in cars are at least 20 degrees above the outside temperature and heatstroke or death can result.
10. Prepare for the unexpected and enroll your pet with a Veterinary Pet Insurance policy. VPI policies allow you to go to any licensed veterinarian worldwide, which will give you great peace of mind should an accident or illness occur on the road.
"Knowing how to anticipate your pet's needs is key to happy traveling with your pet, but don't forget that enrolling your pet with pet insurance is the most certain way to plan for the unexpected," said Weinstein.
Dr. Jack Stephens, founder and chief executive officer of VPI has a special appreciation for traveling with pets. His dog, Skeeter, is a constant companion and travels with him regularly.
"Skeeter is an essential member of my family and has traveled with me just about everywhere," said Stephens. "I'm especially careful to ensure that his trips are happy and healthy by following the essential rules of pet travel. Skeeter started traveling when he was only a few months old. Now traveling by car and plane is commonplace. Pets that travel can experience stress, but in Skeeter's case, he actually looks forward to it. Whenever Skeeter sees my suitcase being packed, he will climb into the suitcase and lie on the clothes to tell me he wants to go. As if that weren't enough, when he sees his under seat airline carrier, he gets excited, jumps for joy and goes into it and lies down."
About Veterinary Pet Insurance
Veterinary Pet Insurance is the nation's oldest and largest health insurance plan for pets. The company was founded in 1980 to help end "economic euthanasia" of pets and is committed to making the miracles of veterinary medicine affordable for all pet owners. VPI plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional vaccination and routine care coverage is also available.
Policies are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company, in Madison, Wisconsin and a subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. For more information about VPI policies, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit: www.petinsurance.com . VPI's parent company, Veterinary Pet Services, Inc., is an SEC-reporting company whose stock is not publicly traded.
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