How to Move to a New Home With a Pet

Moving with a pet can be tricky if you don’t know what to do. Learn more about some ways pet owners can prepare for their move and help their pets adapt.

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How to Move to a New Home With a Pet

Posted by Gary Ashton on Monday, May 25th, 2020 at 10:00am.

4 Tips For Moving to a New Home With a PetMoving to a new home can be a stressful time, and it can be even more stressful for pets who don’t understand what is happening. Pet owners need to know the best ways to move with their pets in order to help prevent unwanted stress and make the move as smooth as possible. Here is some advice that can be helpful for keeping pets happy and healthy during any move.

Visit the Vet One Last Time

When moving long distance, cross country or to an area where the pet’s normal veterinarian will be too far away to visit, homeowners need to make one last visit to their vet before the move. While at the vet, the pet owner should ask their vet for copies of their pet’s medical history. This way, if anyone requests to see them, the pet’s owner will have them on hand and readily available instead of having to call their vet and wait for them to be faxed or e-mailed over. While at the vet, the pet’s owner should also get refills of all the pet’s medications, if they’re taking any. Pet owners should make sure to get enough medication to last until the next time they can see a vet. If your pet has pet insurance, remember to keep copies of that policy as well just in case. 

Transport the Pet in a Car

If possible, the pet owner should do whatever they can in order to transport the pet on their own. Under no circumstances should a pet ever be transported in the back of a moving truck, because this can be life-threatening for the pet. Moving trucks typically aren’t air conditioned, and they’re full of loose furniture and boxes that can fall and injure a pet. It’s best to transport pets in a car, even when compared to alternative modes of transportation such as air travel. If the pet needs to be taken cross country,  and the owner just can’t commit to a days-long road trip with their furry friend, there are some alternatives. There are companies that specialize in transporting pets in unique trucks that have individual compartments that keep pets safe and comfortable during the journey.

Isolate the Pet While Unloading

While movers are coming in and out of the home, it’s a hectic time. In order to protect the pet and ensure the pet stays out of stressful situations and isn’t at risk of getting hurt or running out of the home, keep the pet enclosed in a small room such as a bathroom. It can also be a good idea to put some of the pet’s things, such as a bed or favorite toys, in the room with them. Familiar things like these can help keep the pet calm despite all the noise and chaos in the home.

Let the Pet Adapt Slowly

When introducing the pet to the apartment or house, try not to let them have free run of the entire home all at once, as this can be overwhelming for the pet and stress them out. Once the commotion in the home has died down, introduce the pet to the rest of their new home slowly. It can help to put them on a leash and let them explore at their own pace in order to make them comfortable. If the pet seems to be giving off signs that they’re getting anxious or overwhelmed, confine them to a single space and try again when they’ve calmed down.

Moving can be a stressful time for pets, but their owners can make it easier for them just by doing these simple things. The pet’s comfort should be their owner’s number-one priority, and following these tips can help with that.

 

Gary Ashton

The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage

The #1 RE/MAX team in the World!

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