7 Pet Travel Mistakes to Avoid This Holiday Season

More than half of American pet owners will bring their cats and dogs along when they travel for the holidays this year. That's according to research from Kinship, which found that 54% of U.S. pet owners plan to take their animals with them during the season. For many people, pets are family—so leaving them behind feels wrong. But moving a pet across state lines or into an unfamiliar house, especially during the chaos of the holidays, introduces real risks: injury, illness, anxiety, and the possibility of getting lost in an unfamiliar place. Michael Q. Bailey, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, has spent his career watching what goes wrong when people travel with animals without thinking it through. He offers a straightforward remedy: plan ahead.

The first mistake is one Bailey sees constantly: pets traveling unsecured in cars. A dog loose in the back seat or, worse, standing in an open pickup bed has no protection if the driver brakes hard or gets into an accident. The solution is simple—use a harness that clips to a seat belt, a car seat designed for pets, or a carrier. It's the same principle that keeps human passengers safe, and it works.

The second mistake happens in the weeks before departure. People call their veterinarian days before flying with a pet and expect to get a health certificate by Friday. International air travel requires one, and it takes time to arrange. But there's a deeper issue: vaccinations need two weeks or so to build immunity in the animal's system. If your pet's shots aren't current, or if you're trying a new anti-anxiety medication for the first time, you need to test it at home several days before the trip. A bad reaction on an airplane is far worse than discovering it in your living room. Bailey also notes that vets can recommend other tools—pheromone sprays, calming supplements, even portable speakers that play music designed to soothe animals. The key is doing this work early.

The third mistake is assuming. You think your sister's house is pet-friendly, or that the hotel will take your cat. Some hotels have weight limits or caps on the number of animals per room. Some relatives have allergies or simply don't want a dog in their home. Bailey's advice is direct: don't assume. Confirm it before you book or pack.

Once you arrive, the fourth mistake is failing to pet-proof the space. Holiday homes are full of hazards. Poinsettias and mistletoe are toxic to pets and can cause vomiting. Chocolate and other treats need to be locked away. Cabinets, garbage cans, and open staircases all pose risks. Family members, well-meaning but uninformed, might feed your dog table scraps without knowing that certain foods can trigger pancreatitis—a serious condition that could land your pet in an emergency vet clinic on Christmas Day. A conversation with everyone in the house about your pet's dietary restrictions can prevent that.

The fifth mistake is breaking routine. If your dog walks at seven in the morning at home, walk it at seven in the morning on vacation. Keep feeding times the same. When a pet's schedule falls apart, anxiety follows. Bailey recommends creating a safe zone in one room—a bed, water bowl, toys, comfort items—away from holiday lights and decorations. This gives the animal a place to retreat when the house gets loud and strange.

The sixth mistake is bringing a pet that would rather stay home. Not every animal enjoys travel. Some are calmer, less stressed, and happier in a boarding facility or with a pet sitter than they would be in a car or a new house. Bailey encourages owners to honestly assess whether their pet is a traveler or whether leaving it behind would actually be kinder.

The seventh mistake is overlooking microchips. A microchip is a device the size of a grain of rice implanted between a pet's shoulder blades. It's the most reliable way to reunite a lost or stolen pet with its owner—but only if the chip number is registered with a microchip registry like PetLink or AKC Reunite, along with your name, phone number, and email. Shelters, animal hospitals, police and fire stations all have scanners. A lost pet found by a stranger and brought to any of these places can be identified and returned home within hours. But the chip only works if it's registered, and registration only works if your contact information is current. Beyond that, Bailey's final piece of advice is simple: keep your pet on a leash whenever you're outside in an unfamiliar place.

Traveling with a pet, Bailey says, is like traveling with a child. It requires thought, preparation, and attention to detail. Do that work, and the holidays can be safe and happy for everyone.