Tips for Dog-Friendly Holidays from Travel Vet
June 21, 2025
Planning a summer getaway with your four-legged travel buddy? With a bit of preparation, you and your dog can have a brilliant break together! Here at Travel Vet, our nurses have rounded up some top tips to help your dog have a five-star holiday of their own.
You may also need to book your dog an appointment for a pre-holiday check-up, or rabies jab if you’re travelling abroad.
Book a pre-holiday appointment
Summer getaways, waggy tails and sandy paws
We get it – leaving your dog behind when you go on holiday is hard. Luckily, more UK destinations than ever welcome well-behaved pups. Whether you’re heading for a beach stay, countryside cottage escape or camping trip, taking your dog along can make it even more fun. Here are a few things our team in Staines-upon-Thames recommend you consider, to ensure you all have the best trip:
Plan for the journey
Car trip coming up? Here’s how our nurses at Travel Vet advise making it comfy and cool for your pooch:
- Harness up: Use a seatbelt or crate for safe travels
- Beat the heat: Travel early or late and avoid leaving dogs in parked cars
- Pit stops: Plan plenty of loo breaks and water refills
If your dog gets travel sick, we can help. Our vet nurses in Staines-upon-Thames have put together this download on dog travel sickness tips.
For more tailored dog travel sickness advice or to discuss medication, give us a call on 01753 316081.
Pick the right place to stay
From dog-friendly cottages to glamping sites, there are so many options, but here’s a few things to double-check:
- Is the garden enclosed?
- Are there tricky steps or stairs for older and smaller dogs?
- Where will your dog sleep or go to the toilet?
- Will your pup be tempted to chew fancy furnishings?
Pack like a pro
Travel Vet’s nursing team have put together your dog’s summer essentials checklist to make packing less of a mission:
- Lead, collar and ID tag
- Food, bowls and bedding
- Doggy towels and shampoo
- First aid kit and flea & worm products
- Local vet info for your destination
- Pet-safe sunscreen and a pop-up tent or parasol for shade
Sunshine and sensible safety
It’s easy to get carried away in the sun, but don’t forget your dog’s limits. Avoid long spells in hot sun, always carry water, and check if local beaches allow dogs as many have summer restrictions.
Going abroad?
You’ll need more prep, including a rabies jab, an Animal Health Certificate and a health check with our vets in Staines-upon-Thames. Some countries ask for additional documents or parasite treatments so check well in advance. Give us a call, before you come in to see our vets at Travel Vet so we can confirm what’s needed.
So, whether you’re off on a dog-friendly holiday in Cornwall or the Costa Del Sol, or a staycation in Middlesex, a little prep makes all the difference. And don’t worry, if you forget your dog’s shampoo, they’ll forgive you!
Book a pre-holiday appointment
Before you go, remember to download our dog travel sickness tips.
