Labor Day Weekend Pet Checklist: 7 Ways to Prepare for Travel, Guests and Schedule Changes

As families throughout Cincinnati make plans for Labor Day weekend, veterinarians at My Pet's Vet Group are reminding pet owners to include their dogs and cats in those preparations. Whether a pet will be traveling, staying with a caregiver or remaining home during a gathering, planning ahead can help prevent last minute complications.

Here are seven things pet owners should address before the holiday arrives.

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1. Confirm Vaccination and Boarding Requirements

If your pet will be boarded or attending daycare, verify the facility's vaccination and health requirements in advance. Do not wait until the last minute, since some vaccinations may need to be administered before a facility will accept your pet.

This is also a good time to make sure your pet's routine veterinary care is current.

2. Refill Medications and Preventives

Check that you have enough prescription medication to last through the weekend, including extra doses in case travel plans change. Medications should remain in their original, clearly labeled containers.

Pet owners should also stay on schedule with flea, tick and heartworm prevention. A holiday weekend spent outdoors can increase a pet's exposure to parasites.

3. Update Identification Information

Make sure your pet is wearing a secure collar with a readable identification tag. If your pet is microchipped, confirm that the registration includes your current phone number and address.

A microchip is only useful when registered and is most useful when its registration information is accurate and up to date.

4. Pack a Pet Travel Kit

Avoid relying on stores at your destination to carry your pet's usual products. Pack enough of your pet's regular food to avoid a sudden dietary change, along with:

·Fresh water and portable bowls

·Prescription medications

·A leash, harness or secure carrier

·Waste bags or litter supplies

·Bedding or another familiar comfort item

·Vaccination and medical records

·A recent photograph of your pet

Keeping familiar food, supplies and routines in place can also make travel less stressful.

5. Prepare for the Trip and Your Destination

Help your pet become comfortable with a carrier, crate or vehicle restraint before the day of travel. Do not introduce an unfamiliar calming product or medication without first consulting your veterinarian.

Research veterinary hospitals near your destination and save their contact information. Pets should never be left unattended in a parked vehicle, even during a quick stop.

6. Create a Plan for Parties and Guests

Holiday gatherings can be exciting or overwhelming for pets. Give your pet access to a quiet room or familiar retreat away from doors, crowds and noise.

Keep alcohol, chocolate, products containing xylitol, fatty table scraps, bones and unsecured trash out of reach. Remind guests not to feed your pet without permission, and watch exterior doors carefully when people are arriving or leaving.

7. Leave Detailed Instructions for Caregivers

If your pet is staying home with a sitter or family member, provide written instructions covering feeding, medication, exercise and any behavioral or medical concerns.

Include your regular veterinarian's information, the nearest emergency veterinary hospital and clear instructions about whom to contact if your pet becomes ill.

A little planning can help pets and their people enjoy a safer, less stressful holiday weekend. Pet owners throughout Cincinnati and nearby communities can contact their local My Pet's Vet if their pet needs vaccinations, medication refills, travel documentation or help managing travel anxiety before Labor Day. Visit mypetsvetgroup.com for more information.