{"id":664,"date":"2017-05-16T21:53:50","date_gmt":"2017-05-16T21:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.petmoneysaver.co.uk\/blog\/?p=664"},"modified":"2018-12-06T19:20:54","modified_gmt":"2018-12-06T19:20:54","slug":"travelling-home-abroad-with-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petmoneysaver.co.uk\/blog\/travelling-home-abroad-with-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"Travelling at Home and Abroad with Your Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"last-modified\"><strong>Last updated:<\/strong> December 6th, 2018<\/p><p>Are you one of the 1\/3 of all pet owners in the UK who takes their pet with them on holiday?<\/p>\n<p>If you are, then as summer approaches and thoughts move to going on holiday at home or abroad, now is a good time to think about travelling with your pet. In this blog article, read our advice\u00a0for travelling abroad or within the UK with your pet by road, rail, sea or air;\u00a0which will hopefully help\u00a0make your journey safer and more enjoyable for you and your pet.<!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Travelling abroad with your pet<\/h2>\n<p>You can travel to or from\u00a0the UK with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it meets the following requirements:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>has been\u00a0microchipped<\/li>\n<li>has a\u00a0pet passport or third-country official veterinary certificate<\/li>\n<li>is vaccinated against rabies\u00a0&#8211; it will also need a blood test if you\u2019re travelling from an \u2018unlisted country\u2019<\/li>\n<li>Dogs must also usually have a\u00a0tapeworm treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your pet may be\u00a0put into quarantine\u00a0for up to 4 months if you don\u2019t follow these rules &#8211; or refused entry if you travelled by sea. You will be responsible for any fees or charges (some pet insurance policies will cover this though).<\/p>\n<p>There are different rules for entering other countries from the UK with your pet, and you will also need to use an approved transport company and route. Check the government&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/take-pet-abroad\" target=\"_blank\">website<\/a>\u00a0for more details.<\/p>\n<h3>Pet passport<\/h3>\n<p>A\u00a0Pet Passport is only required for cats, dogs and ferrets, and lists all the treatments and vaccinations your pet has received.\u00a0You can obtain it from certain vets in the EU and other listed countries.<\/p>\n<p>You will need a pet passport if you&#8217;re travelling\u00a0to the UK from an EU country, another country the UK accepts pet passports from, or\u00a0from the UK to a listed or unlisted country and then returning to the UK (although you can\u2019t do this after your pet\u2019s rabies vaccination has expired).<\/p>\n<p>Find out more about pet passports <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/take-pet-abroad\/pet-passport\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>20 Top tips for travelling with your pet<\/h2>\n<h3>Before your journey<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Check with your vet\u00a0to be make\u00a0sure that your pet\u00a0is fit to travel.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure your pet carrier is suitable, and if you&#8217;re flying that it meets the minimum requirements of the airline (most airlines require a carrier\u00a0that is\u00a0IATA compliant).<\/li>\n<li>Purchase your pet carrier in advance of your trip so that your\u00a0pet can get used to it.<\/li>\n<li>If your pet isn&#8217;t used to long car journeys, take them in the car a few times before your holiday so they get used to it.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure you notify the airline or ferry company well in advance, as they often have limits on the number of pets they accept\u00a0on each flight or crossing.<\/li>\n<li>When planning your return journey, give careful consideration to the timing of the tapeworm treatment for dogs.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure you have sufficient prescription medications if required, as it may be hard to obtain them abroad.<\/li>\n<li>Get all your pet\u2019s travel documentation in order, including signatures from the vet as required.<\/li>\n<li>If you have pet insurance, make sure your policy will cover you abroad. If you don&#8217;t have pet insurance, consider taking out a policy (read our <a title=\"Pet Insurance Buying Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.petmoneysaver.co.uk\/blog\/pet-insurance-buying-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\">guide on pet insurance<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>When travelling<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Put\u00a0an unwashed t-shirt with your scent on it in your pet&#8217;s travel carrier\u00a0&#8211; this will comfort your pet.<\/li>\n<li>Put\u00a0familiar toys and\/or bedding inside their carrier, but make sure the toys can&#8217;t injure your pet if they move around. Absorbent pads are also useful in case of any little &#8220;accidents&#8221; that your pet may have while travelling.<\/li>\n<li>Feed your pet at least a few hours before travelling &#8211;\u00a0\u0336 do it later and they may get travel sick.<\/li>\n<li>Always allow time for your pet to go to the toilet before you set off.<\/li>\n<li>Give your pet plenty of exercise before they travel &#8211; they\u2019re likely to be less restless\u00a0on the journey.<\/li>\n<li>Make signs to stick on\u00a0your pet&#8217;s carrier\u00a0if they are flying\u00a0in the cargo hold, such as \u201cMy name is xxx,\u00a0this is my first flight and I\u2019m a bit\u00a0scared \u2013 please talk to me.\u201d They&#8217;ll feel better if someone talks to them and uses their name.<\/li>\n<li>If your pet is flying, consider taping\u00a0a zip-lock storage bag of dry food and a lead\u00a0to the top of the crate. If\u00a0there is a delay, they they can be let out of the crate and fed.<\/li>\n<li>Do NOT give your pet a\u00a0sedative or tranquilliser\u00a0prior to flying. This is because they can create respiratory and cardiovascular problems\u00a0due to the pressure differences at altitude.\u00a0They can also affect\u00a0the animal\u2019s ability to balance, which can be dangerous when the carrier is moved.<\/li>\n<li>Carry a current photograph of your pet. If they become\u00a0lost during your\u00a0trip, a photograph will make it much easier for people to\u00a0search for your pet.<\/li>\n<li>Freeze a bowl of water, or make ice cubes, in advance of travel so that your pet\u00a0can lick the ice as it melts. This also prevents spillage inside the carrier.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Travelling with your pet by car<\/h2>\n<p>If your journey involves driving, then your main priority is keeping your pet comfortable and safe in your car.\u00a0The Highway Code (and common sense) says that dogs or other animals should be restrained so that they don\u2019t distract the driver, or are injured if you have to stop suddenly or are involved in an accident.<\/p>\n<p>Dogs should at the very least be tethered to a seatbelt using an appropriate harness. For additional safety, they can travel inside a crate, anchored using the car\u2019s seat belt. Both soft and hard crates are available, in a variety of sizes, to suit your pet.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also advisable for your pet to travel on the back seat, as in the event of an accident the front airbags could injure\u00a0or even kill your pet.<\/p>\n<p>For your pet\u2019s comfort, it\u2019s good to take more comfort stops that you may usually do. It\u2019s also advisable for your pet to have some ID attached (microchip, collar and an ID tag is ideal) just in case they escape from your car at a stop.<\/p>\n<p>You should also try to avoid leaving them alone in your car. Not only are they at risk from overheating (read about the dangers of dogs in hot cars <a title=\"How to Keep Your Pet Cool on Hot Days\" href=\"https:\/\/www.petmoneysaver.co.uk\/blog\/how-keep-pet-cool-hot-days\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>), but they could also be targeted by thieves.<\/p>\n<h2>Travelling with your pet by air<\/h2>\n<p>If you need to travel further afield with your pet, then you can fly with them and most airlines are happy to carry pets, with certain conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Air travel is particularly risky for brachycephalic pets (those with squashed faces), such as\u00a0Boxers, Bulldogs, Pugs, and Persian cats, so many airlines do not allow them to fly. This is because their short nasal passages mean they are particularly susceptible to oxygen deprivation when at altitude and heat stroke.<\/p>\n<p>Most airlines also don&#8217;t allow you to take dogs listed under the\u00a0Dangerous Dogs Act.<\/p>\n<p>Pets are typically transported in the cargo hold which is pressurised and temperature controlled.<\/p>\n<h3>Age requirements<\/h3>\n<p>The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says that your animal must be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned before traveling with the airlines. Many airlines require that your pet must be at least 15 weeks of age before traveling internationally.<\/p>\n<h3>Pet carrier requirements<\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re flying with your pet, you will need a suitable pet carrier. Most airlines require a carrier that is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.iata.org\/whatwedo\/cargo\/live-animals\/Documents\/pet-container-requirements.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">IATA compliant<\/a>, and some of the requirements are as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The pet crate must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably (brachycephalic breeds will require one size larger than normal for those\u00a0airlines that permit them to fly in cargo).<\/li>\n<li>The crate must be sturdy and made of fiberglass, metal, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood (not all airlines will allow wooden carriers)<\/li>\n<li>The floor must be solid and leakproof.<\/li>\n<li>The container door must have a secure, spring loaded, all-around locking system. Many airlines will also require that the door be further secured with cable ties at each corner.<\/li>\n<li>Your pet&#8217;s nose and paws should not be able to fit through any ventilation opening or door mesh.<\/li>\n<li>Both water and food bowls must be attached to the inside of the front door and be refillable from the outside without opening the door.<\/li>\n<li>The container must have ventilation on all\u00a04 sides.<\/li>\n<li>The container must have LIVE ANIMAL STICKERS on the top and sides.<\/li>\n<li>If the container has wheels, they should be removed or taped securely so that the carrier\u00a0cannot roll.<\/li>\n<li>The container should\u00a0be identified with you pet&#8217;s name and your\u00a0contact information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You should always check with your airline though in case they have any additional requirements.<\/p>\n<h3>Assistance dogs<\/h3>\n<p>UK, European and most international air carriers will provide floor space in an adjoining seat or across the bulkhead (usually at no additional charge) to guide and assistance dog owners. However, you should check with your airline as some will charge a reduced fee for additional floor space.<\/p>\n<h2>Travelling with your pet by\u00a0train<\/h2>\n<p>Most national train companies allow you to take up to 2 pets (dogs, cats or other small animals) with you free of charge. Dogs will need to be on a lead or in a basket, and other animals will need to be in a rigid carrier. If you transport your pet in a carrier, it should be big enough for them to be able to stand up and lie down in comfort.<\/p>\n<p>Animals and containers must not occupy seats, otherwise a charge will be made.<\/p>\n<h2>Travelling with your pet by sea<\/h2>\n<h3>Eurotunnel<\/h3>\n<p>One of the most popular ways to cross the English Channel and travel to Europe is to book with\u00a0Eurotunnel. The main advantage if you&#8217;re travelling with your pet is that your pet stays with you in the comfort of your own car, and the journey time is much faster than with a ferry.<\/p>\n<p>Eurotunnel charge an extra \u00a318 for pet dogs, cats and ferrets (each way). Other smaller animals such as pet rabbits, rodents, birds and reptiles all travel free of charge.<\/p>\n<p>Another advantage of using Eurotunnel is that they have a dedicated pet exercise area at each of their terminals.<\/p>\n<h3>Ferries<\/h3>\n<p>Taking your pet abroad if you travel by ferry will cost you a varying amount\u00a0depending on the route and operator. For example, P&amp;O Ferries charge an additional \u00a315 per pet each way (Dover to Calais) or \u00a317 (Hull to Rotterdam).<\/p>\n<p>You will have to leave your pet in your car, or in the on-board kennels depending on the operator and ship, so it&#8217;s always best to check before booking. If you have to leave your pet in your car, some ferry companies will let you visit your pet\u00a0at certain times (accompanied by a member of staff), however this is not usually permitted on overnight sailings.<\/p>\n<p>Some ferry companies also insist that your dog must wear a muzzle at all times during the short transfer between your vehicle and your pet&#8217;s accommodation and also at any time whilst out in exercise areas. It&#8217;s also typical that your pet will not be allowed in your cabin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last updated: December 6th, 2018Are you one of the 1\/3 of all pet owners in the UK who takes their pet with them on holiday? If you are, then as summer approaches and thoughts move to going on holiday at home or abroad, now is a good time to think about travelling with your pet. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":671,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[9,3,4,16],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Advice for travelling abroad or within the UK with your pet by road, rail, sea or air; to make your journey safer and more enjoyable for you and your pet.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.petmoneysaver.co.uk\/blog\/travelling-home-abroad-with-pet\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Travelling at Home and Abroad with Your Pet | PetMoneySaver\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Advice for travelling abroad or within the UK with your pet by road, rail, sea or air; 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