Checklist for going on holiday with your pet

A successful trip with your pet relies on careful preparation several weeks before departure. Forgetting a health document or essential equipment can turn your vacation into a logistical headache. Here is the complete checklist of items to verify.

1. Administrative and medical section (3 weeks before)

  • European Passport & Health Record: Mandatory for travel, especially if crossing a border.

  • Identification (Microchip): Check the I-CAD database to ensure your contact details (vacation address and mobile phone number) are up to date.

  • Vaccines: Ensure the rabies vaccination is up to date (21-day waiting period after the primary injection).

  • Preventive treatments: Administer a flea/tick treatment suitable for the destination region (be aware of ticks in forests and sandflies in the South of France).

2. Veterinary first-aid kit

Bring a dedicated kit containing:

  • A tick remover (or tick hook).

  • Sterile gauze pads and veterinary antiseptic (e.g., diluted Betadine).

  • Saline solution to rinse eyes in case of dust or seawater.

  • Self-adhesive bandages and blunt-tipped scissors.

  • The animal's regular medication in sufficient quantity for the entire stay.

3. Comfort items

  • Their regular food in sufficient quantity to avoid a sudden digestive transition.

  • Their bowls, their mat or bed carrying their scent.

  • Their leash, long lead, harness, and an engraved tag with your mobile number.

Sources: Ordre National des Vétérinaires (Regulations on animal travel), Anivétaguid' (Animal health while traveling).

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