A Comprehensive Checklist When Moving with Pets | All You Need to Know
Moving can be stressful, especially for a furry family member. Change may be traumatic for both cats and dogs, whether you’re relocating them across the street or abroad. Pet owners should start preparing for their animals’ possible sensitivity to such a significant change. Residential move is hectic, but with careful planning, you can make the experience as smooth as possible for your pets.
Cats might get particularly uneasy about clutter and new surroundings, and nervous dogs can also get anxious throughout the moving process. Valet Moving Services – Round Rock Movers has put together a comprehensive checklist of everything you need to do to make sure your pet is ready for their big move.
Regardless of how your pets will make the move – usually by car rides or air travel – you need to take the time to prepare when moving with pets, just as you did when you were thinking about hiring professional movers for your home.
The first place you should go is to your vet, especially if your pet will be traveling by plane, as most states and airlines demand a certified health certificate. Check the state’s requirements for importing animals if you’re moving there. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service provides links to the laws of each state and U.S. territory.
It’s essential to get your pet examined by your veterinarian before you leave, even if they are sitting in the car with you. One reason is that the place you’re moving to can have local health risks that call for immunization, including heartworm in mosquito-inhabited areas.
Additionally, it is advised that you get your pet’s identifying chip implanted by a veterinarian. If the pet is flying, many airlines require that they have a chip.
As a professional moving company, we’ll explain how you can make sure your four-legged family members enjoy a secure transition to their new home in this guide on moving with pets.
Write a Plan
The earlier you begin to plan, the better! There is a lot to do when moving with pets.
Pets are sensitive to regular adjustments and will typically notice when things are changing. When you decide to move, it’s normal for your dog or cat to exhibit some worry by acting agitated or clingy, especially when packing and unpacking.
It’s ideal if one family member is in charge of your pet’s care throughout the process to make your pet feel more at ease. Your dog or cat will feel safer if they have a reassuring companion at each rest stop. Additionally, he should try to maintain his normal schedule as much as possible.
Is the New Home Safe for Your Pet?
A pet-friendly neighborhood is an excellent indicator of a pet-friendly property. Observe your neighbors while you examine your new surroundings. Are others out walking animals? Do you see cats in the windows? Do they have animals that wander around their fenced-in yard? Pet owners should think about the following factors when assessing a new home:
Homeowners should make sure that there is space outside where dogs can go potty and exercise. An added benefit is a fenced-in backyard, which keeps strangers out and your dogs in. Even well-mannered dogs can become naturally curious about something outside, especially in a strange location.
It’s not always possible to give your dog its own yard in moving situations. As your dog will need access to fresh air day and night, take neighborhood safety into account if you want to walk your dog often. To ensure your safety and the safety of your pet in your new community, make sure you feel at ease there.
Cat owners should pay extra attention to any spaces in the house that the curious animals could wriggle into. Be wary of homes with open stairs or “catwalks” since cats may mistake them for a dangerous launching pad. Make sure any vents and passageways are sealed off.
You should think about the area needed to accommodate your pet. Cats normally require less room than dogs, but both animals can benefit from having a private, secure area in the house where they can hide out when everything gets too overwhelming.
Prepare Your Pets Ahead of Time
If you have sufficiently prepared your pets, moving day will be much easier on them. This is a gradual process, just like teaching a dog a new trick or crate training.
Get the Boxes out Early: Change is detectable by our dogs. Something as easy as removing a suitcase from the closet can warn them. Early on in the process, get boxes for packing up your house and scatter them all around. Don’t make a big deal out of them and work to connect the boxes with good things. You can give your pet a treat if they begin to sniff the boxes. This might lessen your pet’s nervousness before the move.
Creating a Regular Routine: You’ll be busy packing up your house, so be sure to block off time to spend with your pet while you’re getting ready to move. To maintain your routine and normalcy, keep up with your regular walks, feeding times, and playtime.
Use pheromones or a plug-in diffuser to create a tranquil, happy environment for your pets and to lessen disruptions to their routine that may happen spontaneously.
— Valet Moving Services (@ValetMovingATX) July 28, 2022
Keep Your Pet Occupied While You’re Packing Up
Pets can understandably become anxious while their home is packed away and people enter and exit the property and make noises. Try to keep your animal companion out of the chaos by keeping them in a single room while most of the moving is happening.
Keeping your pet away from the chaos will help prevent them from escaping in fear, especially since the door is likely to remain open for most of the moving day.
Give your pets a treat they enjoy if they are crated or otherwise restrained on moving day to make the experience a little easier. Anything you can do to help your pet foster a positive association with the crate will save your pet a lot of stress on moving day. Your dog can be kept occupied by a chew toy or other goodie that contains peanut butter while you are focused on the entire moving process.
Check Out the Local and State Laws Before Moving
Regarding the importation of dogs, cats, horses, and other pets, the majority of states have laws. Additionally, some states have stricter restrictions than others. As an example, to avoid a protracted kennel quarantine, Hawaii’s pet travel regulations call for weeks of advance planning.
Some states may seek to examine health records or conduct border animal inspections. In order to find out what paperwork you’ll need and to learn more about licensing your pets, get in touch with the animal control commission for the city or municipality where you’ll be living.
Additionally, more than 100 different dog breeds have been prohibited or restricted by local laws around the country. As a result, it’s crucial to check the local regulations before bringing your dog. Your local laws should also be explained to you by the Animal Control Commission.
Preparing for a Long Distance Move with Pets
Interstate or intrastate move, make sure your pet has a travel kit with everything they might need. Depending on the distance and the type, different supplies will be needed, however, the following items should be in every pet travel kit:
Water from your previous home – If your pet is accustomed to drinking from the tap at your previous home, we advise filling up a few jugs for the trip and the move-in. Some animals may reject unusual food and water when under stress. It’s also a good idea to keep the same food and water bowls.
In semi-aquatic animals like turtles, the pH balance of the skin may even become unbalanced as a result of stress and a change in the water’s composition. Don’t put a water dish in their carrier to avoid spills; instead, carry one with you to fill up when you take breaks.
All vaccination and medical records – Keep a folder with all of your pet’s paperwork close at hand.
Toys and blankets you are familiar with — The more they smell like you, your pet, and your previous home, the better.
Bathroom supplies – If your trip will last more than a few hours, you should think about how your pet will go potty. Use the same litter and pan as you used in your previous residence if at all possible, to try to recreate the same conditions. Different species can use portable litter box solutions, but you should always accustom your pet to this bathroom setup before you leave.
Leash and harness – Have a reliable harness and leash ready in case your pet needs to exit the vehicle during stops. A startled animal could be able to escape from a simple neck collar and leash attachment.
Meals and favorite snacks – It may be best for animals who are prone to motion sickness to travel on an empty stomach. If, however, your pet travels nicely, give them occasional treats as a reward.
Cleaning products – Mistakes do happen. Should your pet unintentionally make a mess, be prepared with puppy pads, towels, and an interior car cleaner.
Keep Your Pet Comfortable
It can take some time for a pet to feel safe in its new home, even after all the moving has been completed. We advise keeping your pet in a box or restricted to a single room for the first few days or weeks whenever you need to leave the house. Your pet could become overwhelmed by all the different odors and frightened about your return if left to wander unattended.
Think about boarding your pet when you get there: As you set up your new house, your pet might be on edge, especially after a long journey. Consequently, when you get to your destination, you might want to think about dropping your pet off at a dog daycare facility.
You might look at boarding houses close to your new home a few weeks before you move. Your pet could feel anxious in such a new environment, but many boarding facilities offer lots of playtime to help distract your pet from what has already been a stressful situation. This gives you time to organize your home so that when your pet returns home, they will feel comfortable in their surroundings.
Stick to the Schedule
Following a move, it will be easier for both you and your pet to quickly get back into your normal routine and feel at home. As soon as you get there, resume your pet’s regular feeding, playing, exercising, and sleeping schedule. An animal may be able to adapt to changes more rapidly if it has a routine it can rely on.
Bring Your Pet to the Veterinarian
Visit the vet for a checkup and get your pet’s health record: You must end your contact with your current veterinarian if you’re relocating across the country with your pets. It’s a good idea to get a thorough examination and any necessary vaccines for your pet a few weeks before your move to ensure that they will be in good health.
Additionally, make sure your pet is examined for fleas at their final exam because the last thing you want on moving day is fleas getting inside your brand-new house. Lastly, get a copy of your pet’s medical history, so you can email it to your new doctor.
Find a new veterinarian & transfer records: It’s a good idea to start planning where you will be taking your pets in the future after your pet’s last appointment with your previous vet. You might not need to make an appointment right away after arriving because your pet should be up to date on their vaccinations and have a clean bill of health.
However, it’s crucial to be informed of the emergency clinics in your new neighborhood in case anything happens. To obtain a sense of who is in your new neighborhood, look for recommendations from new neighbors, on social media, or online.
Make a Schedule for Stops
Do not move your pet in enclosed spaces or areas that might be deemed hazardous, such as the van or truck bed. Make sure your pet is comfortable the entire trip, whether they are traveling in a big crate or a small carrier. Some animals might do better in their carriers while they are being transported if a blanket is placed over them to maintain a stable and secure environment.
As you continue on your journey, be sure to make scheduled stops for your pet to go potty and stop for breaks in secure places. Aside from the leash breaking, think about keeping your pet in their crate until you get there. To get a sense of how your pet will behave, you might wish to make a few practice trips before the actual trip.
Set Up the House and Get Settled in Your New Routine
It’s time to assist your animal partner with settling in once you and your pet have reached your new residence safely. We advise locating a compact, quiet, and remote area apart from the noise before you start unpacking all of your furniture. All of your pet’s stuff should be set up here first. Spend some time in this room with your pet to help them get adjusted to the new surroundings.
Before allowing your pet to explore the rest of the house, wait until all the movers have gone and all of your large furniture is set up. Keep up with your former routine, such as daily walks and scheduled feedings, by taking breaks from moving.
When relocating to a new home, dogs and cats have the same period of adjustment that people do. Make sure they don’t become scared and try not to flee until they are comfortable in their new home and area.
Place toys and goodies inside new rooms to entice your pet to explore them. Also, for the first two weeks, use bedding, toys, and blankets that have their scent on them.
Feeding them every day at the same time and place will help you establish a new routine. Within a few weeks, they would have to be adapted and comfortable in their new surroundings.
Choose a Pet-Friendly Moving Company
All of the U.S’s top movers provide pet moving services.
A pet transportation company that transfers pets both domestically and abroad is contracted to provide this service.
They concentrate on locating the shortest routes so that your pet can be carried to its destination in safety and comfort. There is also an option to let them stay at pet-friendly hotels.
Valet Moving Service is aware that the relationship between a pet owner and a pet is unique, regardless of where you are moving or the kind of pets you need to bring. The team is dedicated to moving pets safely, and they understand your desire to feel safe knowing that your animals are in capable hands. Valet Moving Services is prepared to help you and your four-legged companions so that you won’t have to worry about moving them.
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Moving with Pets? Move with Valet Moving Services
Moving with dogs may be difficult, and Valet Moving Services is aware of this. We make it a point to take care of a lot of the little things related to the human side of your move, so you can focus more on helping your animal friends adjust to their new homes. Ask for a quote right away, and we’ll help you organize your move!
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