Moving Houses with Your Pets
Often times when we are busy with our preparation for our moving in, we unintentionally neglect to see the effects of it on our pets. It’s stressful enough for us who can speak and do whatever we want, but how about our pets? They can’t even tell you directly if they are comfortable with the move or if they ready to leave their territories.
We tend to put them and their needs at the bottom of the list especially if you have lots of kids to worry about. Remember, they have lives too and we can’t just disregard them and how they are feeling. Whenever we move, we have to make sure that they are moving along with us just fine.
What to do before the move:
If the new house is nearby, take your pet for a visit and let them run around and inspect the place. Give them time to be familiar with the place,
If you are moving far, chances are you have to switch veterinarians, so ask for your pet’s health and shot records which you can
present to your new vet. Also, consult with your vet what to do if your pets have travel sickness.
Do not pack your pet’s belongings right away, leave it be until the day of the move. Also, don’t clean or wash their bedding after you move, give it at least 2 to 3 weeks before you clean it so they will still have something familiar with them in the new place.
Make a checklist of all the things that you need to bring on the day of the move like their vet records, foods, water, toys, leashes, beds, plastic bags, cages or litter box and everything essential for your pets.
What to do during the move:
The most important thing that you should have prepared for your pet is an Identity Tag, include your new address and contact details.
Give them regular breaks for peeing and water breaks especially if the travel time is too long.
Before travelling, make sure that your pet is secured on their crates or cages or leashes. Check if they will be comfortable on the way or if they might feel too restraint.
What to do when you get there:
Check your area, is the fence secured? Does it have holes? Is it of the appropriate height for your pet? If everything is OK, then you may let your dog run around the garden or your backyard and make themselves at home.
Unpack your pet’s belongings before you let them out, in that way when you let them in the house, they’ll see familiar things right away and won’t feel too unacquainted.
It is advisable if you will place your pet inside a safeguarded area while you finish unpacking your belongings, so they won’t get in the way and they too won’t feel stressed with all the commotion.
Stick to their usual routines and let them drink water from your previous house for the first few days as this will help them settle.
Take them to a lot of walks so they will become familiar with their new surroundings and neighborhood. Take them out on a leash for a few days and make sure that if they are micro chipped, the records are already updated.
If they seem to act differently, don’t punish them or scold them, it might be because they are still adjusting to the new house. If you suspect that they are ill, bring them to the new vet right away and bring his health records from the old vet.
Hopefully these few tips will help you and your pets have a smooth and relaxed move. Our pets are just like us, they need room to adjust and they need to feel that they are still protected with the people they love the most.