

If boarding your pet for Thanksgiving, make sure it is at a kennel they are familiar with. It’s usually not a good idea to put them in a carrier for the first time right before takeoff. A good way to prepare for long-term confinement in a plane is working with your pets ahead of time to help them get accustomed positively to a carrier required by airlines.

If you’re flying, check in advance with your carrier airlines have regulations for traveling with pets.

Consult with your primary care veterinarian about your pet’s specific travel needs. Bring along plenty of water, as well as food and treats.Ĭats must be in carriers to travel safely in a car, though carriers may not be necessary for dogs. Make sure dogs can use the bathroom while on a leash at areas such as rest stops. Take breaks and check on them periodically. Most Thanksgiving travel is by car and if your pet is typically fine riding for short distances it does not necessarily mean long trips will be comfortable. The holidays are a great time to make sure identification tags and microchips are updated. Make sure to keep a close eye on pets, especially as guests enter and exit, so they aren’t able to make a break for it through the door. If your pet typically handles new people and crowds well, it still pays to help them get used to the new sights and smells. This may influence how your pet behaves around them as well, especially if they have never met them.Īnother option is creating a pet “safe room,” an area of the home they are familiar with, comfortable in and a place guests are unlikely to wander into. The first step: Make sure pets see you interacting positively with guests and show that they aren’t threats. If you’re hosting a large Thanksgiving dinner, pets may be confused or scared by the slightest hint of the unfamiliar.

If the wonderful aroma of a Thanksgiving feast being prepared makes you salivate, just imagine what it does to your dog. Here are some tips to make sure everyone is happy on turkey day. Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with close friends and family - and that typically means pets, too.īut with an overabundance of enticing food, busy schedules and perhaps a lot of unfamiliar guests, pet health and safety risks abound during the holiday.Īnd with more people sharing Thanksgiving with others in person this year as well as traveling for the holiday, it’s more important than ever for pet owners to be vigilant.
