Moving with pets can be a stressful event, especially if your pet strongly dislikes uncertainty and change. The best way to deal with it is by coming up with a moving schedule.
Talk to Your Vet About Moving With Pets
Some pets find travelling more traumatic than others. Some make perfect passengers, choosing to sit quietly and enjoy the view, whilst others voice their suffering and make a show of their uneasiness. If your pet is a reluctant traveler, talk to your vet about moving with a pet. Your vet may be able to prescribe a drug to help your pet relax.
Stick to Your Usual Routine
While sticking to your usual routine may seem like an impossible task, it will help your pet to feel more at ease. If you suddenly change your routine, your pet will start to realize that all is not well, resulting in stress and anxiety.
Keep Calm When Moving With Pets
To ease the stress of moving with your pet, stay as calm as you can. Once the truck arrives, it may be best for you to confine your pet to a single room and place a notice on the door so that everyone is aware of the importance of keeping your pet safe inside. If your pet senses something different is happening, he may be tempted to run and hide.
Ease Him Into Your New Home
Once you arrive at your new home, put your pet’s belongings in a quiet room so that he can take comfort in the familiar scent of your old home. Before you allow your pet the chance to explore the rest of the house, grant him the time he needs to settle into one room and become accustomed to his surroundings. However, try not to leave him on his own for too long as this may lead to anxiety.
Be Patient
A house move is one of life’s most hectic events, so it is usual for your pet to feel slightly out of sorts. The most important thing to remember is to be patient and follow your pet’s lead. Your pet will not adjust to your new home overnight, so let him settle into your new home at his own pace. Although you may have a lengthy to-do list, follow your usual routine and offer him the reassurance he needs to adjust to his new surroundings. If he becomes excessively subdued and does not revert to his usual self after a couple of days, speak to your vet.
If, after reading these tips, you feel concerned about your pet’s ability to cope with the transition from one home to another, it may be advisable to place him in an animal boarding facility before the move and collect him once you have settled into your new home. Moving with pets can be a challenge, but if you take the time to consider your pet’s needs and wants, you will make the transition as stress free and as safe as it can possibly be.
