Car trips with dogs and cats — what you should know

For many pet visitors, a vacation without the four-legged family members is no longer an option. However, thorough preparation is required if a dog or cat is to accompany their owners on a trip. In addition to a relaxed travel atmosphere, legal regulations and vaccination deadlines, for example, must also be observed. In this article, we explain what pet owners should pay attention to before they leave.

Preparing for the trip

Longer travel times mean a lot of stress for animals. This is even greater when the first trip of several hours is pending. In this case, it makes sense to gradually accustom the animal to longer travel times. As a result, the pet is not exposed to such enormous stress when the actual trip is about to take place.

The adequate protection of the animal while driving should also not be neglected. Ideally, the dog or cat is in a transport box that is adequately secured while driving. For dogs that don't like a transport box, special harnesses that can be used to strap the dog on or larger cages with a comfortable dog bed may also be a good alternative.

Plan for sufficient interruptions

Journeys lasting several hours are also a major challenge for people. In order to ensure concentration and performance, regular interruptions should be included. If there are animals in the car, it is all the more important to reduce stress by taking short breaks.

In the best case scenario, quiet, remote and rural areas should be targeted as places to stay. Motorway service areas, on the other hand, are usually not ideal places for pets, as they can cause additional stress due to the high noise level. During breaks, animals should be given the opportunity to exercise and meet their most urgent needs. It is also useful to offer food and especially water during breaks.

These rules apply within the EU

Pet owners traveling within the EU must carry an EU pet passport. By means of this document, prescribed treatments, vaccinations and the identity of the animal can be clearly proven.

When leaving Germany, it is also important that your own pet has a unique identification in the form of a micro-chip or a tattoo. The respective chip number must also be entered in the EU pet passport in order to be able to prove the identity of the animal. To travel within the EU, pets must also have adequate rabies protection, which has been vaccinated for the first time at least 21 days before departure.

In addition, dogs in Ireland, Malta and Finland must have received parasite treatment (echinococcus) at least 120 hours or at least 24 hours before departure. Otherwise, they will be denied entry. In general, before entering another country, it makes sense to check the website of the respective embassy about the rules and regulations there regarding pets.

Road trips to countries outside the EU

Even when traveling outside the EU, pet owners must find out more about the relevant regulations in the destination country. However, the conditions set by the EU upon re-entry from third countries are also particularly important in this case.

In countries with rabies prevalence or where the rabies situation is unknown, antibody evidence for rabies must be provided. This applies, for example, to countries such as Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Thailand and India. This blood test must have been carried out by a laboratory that has been approved by the EU. This blood test can be carried out no earlier than 30 days after the rabies vaccination has been carried out.

conclusion

If you want to take your pet with you on vacation, you must not only take certain preparatory measures regarding the trip, but should also obtain detailed information about the applicable entry and exit regulations in the home and destination country. At the Rödiger Veterinary Practice, we are happy to help you medically prepare your dog or cat for a possible trip and are available 365 days a year.

‍