Moving with Small Pets: Tips and Advice

In a nutshell, moving involves placing all of your belongings into boxes, handing those boxes over to long distance movers and then meeting your belongings into your new house or apartment.

Moving with small pets, however, requires a few extra procedures. Interestingly, many people who own small pets actually don't think about how they are going to move their small pets until the last moment. For example, say you have a pet parrot. For weeks and even months you dedicate your time to moving, packing, marking and taping boxes, and looking for moving companies. On the last day, you finally think about your parrot and the long  journey to your new home, which is why planning for moving your pets is very important.

First, make sure your pets vaccinations or treatment doses are up-to-date. It is always better to get an early dose as it may take time for you to take your pet to a vet in your new city. You should also ask your veterinarian for reputable vets in the city you are going to. It always helps to have references.

Road travel can be very stressful on small pets. Some people consider using sedation to allow their pet to travel comfortably. Ask your veterinarian for the most suitable sedative for your need. This basically means a light dose that just takes the edge off. If you are traveling by air or train, and your pet will have to travel in the cargo area, you should not get him sedated. However, make sure the pet carrier is comfortable and ventilated. If your pet is aggressive or gets frustrated easily, take extra care and make sure the carrier is securely closed. For aggressive dogs, sedation is recommended. 

Birds can usually travel in the same cages that are used at home. Cover the cage with a cloth - making a small hole for ventilation. Also, get replace the water basin with a water bottle and the grain bowl with a grain dispenser. This will prevent food and water from spilling and making a mess.

Having your pet washed and groomed also makes the journey more comfortable for your animal. This is very important for dogs with long hair. Cats and dogs with trimmed nails and groomed hair are more comfortable to travel with and will not ruin the car interior.

If you are traveling in your own car, it is important to plan a route. With dogs, always plan stops after every 45 minutes during daytime. While travelling at night, frequent stopping isn’t necessary. Stopping eases the stress on dogs and helps to keep them manageable throughout the journey.

Keeping these few tips in mind can make your travel a lot easier and will give you a cool mind to deal when you move to your new place.