Pet Travel Insurance and Other Tips for Traveling with Pets

Today I am super excited to introduce yet another Expert Opinion article on the topic of pet travel insurance. I publish Expert Opinion articles on a regular basis to bring you very useful travel information of a broad spectrum from different experts in their field.

If you are thinking of taking a trip with your pet, this blog post is for you. Everything you need to know before you go in one easy guide including pet insurance information and general tips for traveling with your pet.

Please, note, I am a member of Amazon Associate program and the product links included in the article may be affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I use this money to support the blog and bring more interesting and helpful information to my readers.

There’s nothing better to top off vacation like bringing along your fur baby. But in between daydreams of your pup running up and down the coastline or your cat finding new spaces to climb at a cozy Airbnb, getting your pet to the destination  can be a trip all on its own. 

If you’re ill-prepared, that process will not be a fun one. The fact is that if you’re traveling, whether domestic or abroad, by car or by plane, you should have pet insurance at the top of your traveling checklist.

Traveling with pets can be stressful, and looking for the right insurance should be specific to your pet no matter their size. Just how you’d search for the “best Siberian Husky homeowners insurance” or “best harnesses for brachycephalic pets,” you should also look into the best transportation options and vets near your destination just in case of an emergency.

Luck is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity

The myth behind some people just being lucky travelers is the truth that they come prepared. If you’re not an organized traveler already, traveling with your pet will be sure to make you feel like a midwestern mother planning a summer family road trip to Wisconsin. If you don’t know what that looks like  I’m a kid from Milwaukee, trust me; I have enough road trip nightmares to cover us from coast to coast. 

Your best place to start becoming an expert traveler is by having a checklist. Yes, that means sitting down and writing out exactly what you need. The first place to start is having insurance in place to cover your pets. 

Purchase Pet (Travel) Insurance

Anything can happen on the road, in the air, or on the sea, so having insurance will help you prepare for the unexpected. Even though the chances of your pet getting hurt while traveling are low, insurance will make sure that you are covered for any costs that accumulate from injuries that occur from the time your pet steps paws on a dock or in an airport.

We all know we need insurance, but that doesn’t mean you should just pick any pet travel insurance plan simply for the sake of having coverage. The species, breed, service, and size of your animal should all be reflected in the coverage you choose, and being as transparent as possible with your insurance provider will keep you from finding out what you need only after you’re in need of it.

Only a few companies offer specialized pet travel insurance which usually covers accidents during travel. Typically people purchase pet travel insurance if their pet will travel, i.e. will be “transported” without the owner. For the majority of regular trips regular pet insurance should cover for most unfortunate incidents while travelling with a pet.

Average Cost of Pet Insurance

On average, most households pay anywhere between $30-$50 a month for pet insurance, but it is not irregular to see insurance rates skyrocket in special cases like for service animals and/or for breeds deemed high risk or dangerous. 

At this time, there are no insurance companies that offer specialized coverage for service animals; however, if your animal is a service animal for physical or mental disabilities, most airlines offer discounted pet passenger fees provided you show proper documentation such as your doctor’s notes and registration of your pet. 

It is best to speak directly to your travel transportation provider about what documents will be required at the gate and to give them the necessary information beforehand once you tell them you will be traveling with an animal. 

What Pet Insurance Typically Covers

Most pet insurances do not cover pre-existing conditions or regular wellness check ups, which typically include yearly vaccinations and grooming. However, when you’re traveling, your major concerns will come from potential accidents or injuries to your pet.

Fortunately, the average pet insurance policy covers emergencies for your pet such as accidents or severe injuries. Veterinarian fees can add up, especially if your pet’s injury requires surgery or extended medication after the incident. For pets traveling abroad, the covered veterinarian fees may differ depending on the length of stay in the foreign country.

Having pet travel insurance can help keep those costs from adding up and from really hurting your bank account. 

Have No Fear, Furbabies are Here

Traveling can be scary without pets, and factoring in your animals can be like traveling with a newborn baby. You need to prepare for your traveling plans before arrival, and you should also prepare for once you’re there. 

Insurance comes in handy when something bad happens but hopefully, you won’t need to use your pet travel insurance and will have a great, safe trip. One way that you can ensure safe travel with your pet is to be present and mindful.

Pets Traveling in Cars

If you’re driving with a pet your phone can be the least of your worries. Drive safely on long trips with your pet by getting a car seat or pet seat belt to keep them from distracting you from the road.

Pet seatbelts and car seats are comfortable for your pet and will keep them from falling if you get into a collision. Here are different types of pet car seats that you may consider (elevated – for small pets to view the window, attached to the main seat or on the armrest):

Pet seat belts also come in various designs (belts and harnesses):

Camping With Pets

There are several things that you need to keep in mind when going on a camping trip with pets. A guide created by Parts Via bellow summarizes what you need to keep in mind when you plan RV camping with your pet:

Pets Traveling Near or Abroad

Look up local markets of where you’ll be staying and see if they carry your pet food brands. Traveling can cause a lot of emotional stress on animals, and keeping their food consistent is one way to try to prevent any stomach issues. 

If you are traveling abroad, it’s important that you look up what pet regulations that the country has and even consider getting your pet vaccinated for what is problematic in that area. Chances are that you’re going somewhere that differs from your home so ensuring they are protected from any local wildlife or viruses can save you and them a world of troubles.

Also, check you pet insurance policy for foreign travel provisions. Some pet insurances cover travel abroad with a pet for only a certain amount of days: it can be 30, 60, 90, etc. And in some cases such coverage comes with additional costs, not standard. In addition to that, for pets traveling abroad, the total covered veterinarian fees may differ depending on the length of stay in the foreign country.

Lastly, if the country you’re visiting speaks another language, get a second pair of pet tags made in that language just in case your pet happens to get lost. Doing this will help provide a way for locals to be able to help find your fur baby.

Now that you have an idea what your pet insurance covers and once you have secured your tickets and your confirmation, you can start on making your travel checklist of what things to bring. 

Pack the Necessary Pet Supplies

There are some specific supplies you need to make sure you have when you’re traveling with your pet. Make sure you are adequately prepared by packing these things ahead of time.

Pet Crate

Double-check with your transportation company about what kind of crates are allowed and pick one according to the correct ventilation and weight. Many airline costs will vary on the combined weight of your pet and the crate, so choosing a lighter carrier can help you save.

Collar and Pet Identification Tags

Does your dog’s chain hang low? If it does, get a new one. Collars and tags can get caught on holes in crates which can be extremely dangerous for your pet while traveling. Using a temporary one that’s short will be your best bet. 

Pet identification tags are always good to have, and even more so when you’re traveling out of your hometown.

Comfort Items

Some air companies will not accept pets that have been medically sedated because of the risks medicines can have on your pet’s health. To make sure they are comfortable, be sure to pack blankets, toys, and a worn item of your clothing to help soothe their anxiety. There are also “relax” collars and CBD options that are safer than using pills.

Here are some examples of calming devices for cats and dogs:

This following collar for dogs is not a calming device but information for surrounding people that your dog may be nervous, in training, deaf, etc. – depending on the message you choose – in order to avoid accidents with strangers while traveling:

Food and Water

Make sure the containers are secure so you won’t end up with a soggy sticky mess of water and dog food. Some crates come with feeding containers built-in which makes it easy, but if you need to self-install make sure that each bowl is reachable while the crate door is shut. The best way to ensure your pet has enough water is to freeze water in the dish the night before travel which will keep the water from spilling and as it melts your pet can hydrate as they need.

Medications/ Emergency Kit

You should always travel with a copy of your pet’s vet records and a first aid emergency kit just in case they need immediate attention. Anything can happen while traveling from bug bites to broken bones, so making sure you have vet information handy can keep an emergency from escalating. 

Disposable Potty

You can’t always stop to allow your pet to handle their business especially on a plane or boat, so if you’re going to be prepared for anything this should be where you pay the most attention. 

Training pads at the bottom of your crate or carrier is the best way to keep any messes from getting out of control. You can change them out as needed, and if you have a large pet, the pads will help the inside of the crate stay as clean as possible. 

The training pads will not only keep your fur baby comfortable while traveling but also keep them from getting any infections due to bodily waste contamination.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go

All of this planning can seem like it’s sucking the life out of a vacation, but once you get in the habit of making these tasks a part of your travel routine, you’ll wonder how you functioned without them. 

Insurance is meant to cover you from the many wrenches life can throw at you, and by taking just a few precautions, hopefully you’ll never have to worry about a vacation being put on pause because of your animal’s well being. 

Our pets are our babies; they are a part of the family. And the family that travels together stays together.

If you found this article about pet travel insurance and tips for traveling with pets useful ,please, be so kind and share it with others as there is a high chance it will help them in planning their trip.

Have you traveled with a pet before? Purchased pet travel insurance? Share your experience and tips in the comments below!

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About the Author

Danielle Beck-Hunter writes and researches for USInsuranceAgents.com. Danielle travels for her career and managing a full-time career while being a dog mom has been filled with lessons from trial and error.