Whether you are taking your dog on vacation or shipping your pets to a new home, it helps if you know how to prepare them for that move. These guidelines apply to warm-blooded animals. Check with specific carriers for their rules and regulations for shipping an animal.
Prepare your pet for travel. Take your animal for short rides in the car. If it gets nauseous or really nervous, you may need to get some medication from your veterinarian before the animal is ready to travel.
Crate train your animal. This helps to make sure it knows how to behave while it's in the crate. It's less likely to have an "accident" as well.
Find out what the rules are for shipping an animal for the carrier you plan to use. If you are flying with your animal, the rules are different for animals sent as cargo versus those who fly in the plane's cabin.
Get all of the health and vaccination papers in order for the animal you are shipping. Some airlines require the papers to be no less than ten days old.
Purchase a crate large enough for the animal to travel in comfortably. Prepare the food container with food and a bottle of frozen water. Label the crate with your name as well as the animal's. Place a picture of the animal on the crate as well.
Arrive early enough at the airport to leave the animal at the cargo terminal. If you're on the same flight, sit in the first couple of rows so you can get off the plane in good time to pick the animal up at the end of your journey.
