Traveling abroad with your dog is the promise of a wonderful experience to share. However, it requires a little organization and anticipation so that everything goes smoothly. What steps should be taken? What should not be forgotten? How to adapt it smoothly to this trip? In this article, I share with you all our advice for a successful and stress-free trip with your dog!
A trip is necessarily a highly anticipated moment for you. It is an opportunity to rest and enjoy. However, this is not always experienced in the same way for your pet. Indeed, during a trip, your dog will undergo many changes in a short time and will have to get used to a different environment. So, let’s find out how to prepare him to experience this moment serenely.
Get him used to transportation
Traveling abroad with your dog often means taking a plane. Depending on the airline and its weight, your pet will therefore have to be placed in the hold in a transport crate or in the cabin. In both cases, this will often be a first for him and a stressful moment. It is therefore advisable to gently accustom him to this change. To do this, show him his transport crate before his departure and place reassuring objects in it.
In addition, if your dog is taking a new means of transport , he may be subject to motion sickness. It is therefore advisable not to feed him for at least two hours before the trip. In addition, if he has already been sick in the past, your veterinarian will be able to prescribe an effective treatment to relieve him.
Finally, the recommendations may change depending on the means of transport planned for your trip. I therefore recommend that you consult specialized blogs on the animal theme in order to find more advice. For example, the blog toutoupourlechien.com references many guides for traveling abroad with your dog: first trip, travel by boat, train, bike, hot or cold destination. You will find all the useful information there before your departure.
Avoid travel stress
It is essential to gently accustom your dog to this future trip. Indeed, a change of environment can be a source of anxiety for him . To do this, it is advisable to take with you his sleeping space or a simple blanket that will remind him of “his home”. He will be able to find familiar smells there that will reassure him. Likewise, you can take toys or stuffed animals that he likes.
Finally, if your dog is having a hard time traveling, you can help him feel better with Bach flowers. A little before your trip, you can also put a pheromone collar on him to calm him down.
Hot destination: warn him about the heat
Are you planning to travel during the summer or to a hot country? However, it is good to remember that the heat can affect your dog as much (if not more) than you. Don’t panic, however, a few tips can help you have a great stay.
Temperature regulation in dogs is more difficult in hot weather . Thus, the main risk with high temperatures is heatstroke . An incident that can be fatal to your pet. The symptoms that should alert you are rapid and noisy panting , a hot nose, tremors, vomiting or even dizziness. In case of signs, place your dog directly in a cool and shaded place and wet him with a damp cloth (warm water and not cold). Then take him quickly to a veterinarian…
On the other hand, here are our tips to avoid these symptoms:
- Offer to hydrate your dog regularly while walking
- Always have fresh water available when you are stopped.
- Do not go out during the hottest hours (between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.)
- Moisten your dog with a cloth soaked in water (not too cold) in case of high heat.
- Reduce his physical activity to a minimum: don’t make him run unnecessarily
- Never leave your dog locked in a car, even for a short period of time.
Finally, it should be noted that sunburn is not just for humans. It is therefore important to protect your dog from UV rays, especially in the ear and muzzle area. Suitable sunscreens are available. They can be particularly useful for short-haired breeds, which are more at risk of skin cancer.
What to pack for traveling abroad with your dog
Worried about forgetting an essential item for your dog’s trip? Here is a list of essential equipment to take with you on your trip:
- Travel documents: we will come back to this in the sections below
- His health record
- His leash, his collar or harness, a line if necessary
- Their kibble : indeed, changing kibble abruptly can cause digestive problems. It is therefore advisable to have your usual brand with you
- His sleeping space and toys
- His brushes and his bowls
- A first aid kit containing disinfectant, saline solution, compresses, a small hook for removing ticks.
- Water
If he gets sick? If he runs away? Our advice in case of emergency
A third of animals that go missing do so during the summer holidays. Even if you don’t think this could happen to your dog today, it’s best to take some precautions in view of a trip abroad. For example, it’s advisable to review the contact details you gave when identifying him. If necessary, update your address or telephone number with i-cad so that we can contact you easily.
Similarly, in case of a problem at your holiday destination, it is better to be able to identify the veterinarian closest to you quickly. To do this, you can download an application that will be able to locate you and give you the contact details of a veterinarian nearby.
Traveling with your dog by plane and train in practice
Traveling by plane with my dog
Traveling with your pet by plane is above all about planning . The access conditions for your dog in the cabin or in the hold (heated and pressurized) are quite different depending on the airlines. It is essential when booking your flight to inquire with the airline about the prerequisites for taking your dog.
Often access to the cabin for dogs is limited to a maximum weight, up to 5 kg with Air France. Beyond this weight, it will travel in the hold and in all cases it will need a suitable transport crate. For very large dogs over 75 kg (including the weight of the cage), it is necessary to consider transport by freight. Finally, certain types of aircraft and certain destinations may limit you from transporting your dog by plane, or even prohibit it. To be admitted, dogs must have their papers and vaccinations up to date as well as a means of identification. We recommend that you securely tape, on and in the transport crate, a sign with your name and address, the destination and your telephone number.
Taking the train with my dog, with the SNCF it’s possible
You can travel with your dog by train . Check with the SNCF, or with the company of the destination country, when booking your ticket. If your animal weighs less than 6 kg, it must travel in a bag or a transport crate (maximum dimensions 45cmx30cmx25cm). If it weighs more than 6 kg, it travels muzzled and its seat will cost you 50% of the full price of a second class ticket, even if you travel in first class. On certain types of trains other rates apply (TGV, Eurostar, Intercités). Your blind guide dog accompanies you, its journey is free and without a ticket on board. http://www.sncf.com/fr/services/animaux
Traveling abroad with your dog: what formalities are required for leaving the country?
And Europe
Before crossing a border with your pet, there are documents and formalities to be prepared. In Europe, your dog will have to travel with:
- a European passport
- a means of identification (chip or tattoo) with an alphanumeric code similar to that of the European passport.
- an up-to-date vaccination record : the rabies vaccine is mandatory in the EU and other vaccinations are sometimes required when travelling elsewhere in the world.
Additionally, some additional recommendations apply for Ireland, Malta, Finland and the United Kingdom:
- A deworming treatment must be given between 24 and 120 hours before arrival in the country. It will then be certified on the passport by a veterinarian.
- your dog must be over 3 months old for its trip
Furthermore, the recommendations for a trip to Europe are often the basic formalities in a more distant country. However, there may be other requests depending on the states, age and category of your dog . It is therefore useful to inquire a few months before your stay. Indeed, in the case of a vaccination to be done, this will often have to be anticipated.
The DOM TOM with his dog
Traveling with your dog in the overseas departments is considered as travel within the national territory. Rabies vaccination is required for Guyana, Guadeloupe, and Martinique, presentation of the health record and an up-to-date anti-rabies certificate of more than 21 days is necessary. In Réunion, the movement of dogs classified in category 2 (dangerous dogs), the conditions of access are subject to the provisions of an order (DSV n° 2010/1721 of 25/04/2005). Mayotte requires in addition to official documents a certificate of good health to be completed less than five days before departure.
Please note: New Caledonia and French Polynesia have slightly more restrictive regulations. Find out more before you leave.
Other countries of the world:
- In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand , dogs are subject to a quarantine period and certain dog species are prohibited from entry.
- In Africa, in the Maghreb countries , Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco:
- A rabies certificate, a certificate of good health, and up-to-date vaccinations against hepatitis, distemper and parvovirus are recommended in these three countries. For other African countries: scc.asso.fr/Afrique
- In the USA: Rabies certificate of +30 days and -1 year, certificate of good health of -10 days, documents must be translated into English. Identification chip or legible tattoo with number identical to that on the animal’s passport. No quarantine except for the islands.
- Canada: Rabies certificate + 30 days, international certificate of good health issued by a veterinarian if the dog is not accompanied. All vaccinations up to date. Certain dangerous species are prohibited in the province of Ontario. (Pit-bulls, Staffordshire- terrier)
- Argentina and Brazil: Anti-rabies certificate and certificate of good health issued by a legalized veterinarian. Information from the Animal Protection and Health Service 20 rue de Bellevue Paris 75019
- Asia: Several countries in this region require a quarantine period , such as China, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan. Access is prohibited for dogs in the Maldives and very difficult in Saudi Arabia. www. Scc.asso.fr Asia-Middle East
Traveling abroad with your dog: what about when you return?
The trip is over, are you returning to France? But here too, precautions will need to be taken for a proper return. For example, after a trip to certain countries, you may be asked to have a serum titer of rabies antibodies (blood test to be done after a rabies vaccination). It must be done 3 months before its introduction and must be greater than or equal to 0.5 IU/ml. However, the 3-month period does not apply if the animal is reintroduced into France and the titer was done before leaving the EU territory.
Granted, it can be a bit confusing to navigate all the rules and exceptions. So, to make sure you follow the formalities, don’t hesitate to check the customs precautions on the government website and ask your veterinarian for advice.
You now know what precautions to take when traveling abroad with your dog and also what habits to anticipate in order to prepare him for this adventure. Once the administrative procedures are understood, it’s time for the experience, which will often be an excellent way to strengthen your relationship with your dog.
