Anyone who has moved before knows that moving day is a very stressful time. With all the organizing, packing, and planning, there is already enough to think about, but when you have pets, there is much more to consider. Our pets are a part of our family, and we want to give them the proper care needed while maintaining their safety during a move. However, the truth is that relocating with your pets brings a completely different set of questions and challenges. Check out a few tips on how to care for your furry family members before, during, and after a move.
Before a move
When you’re packing for a move, it is common to have a sense of stress and urgency upon your household. This stage of moving can cause a lot of commotion, and when you have pets getting involved in the middle of everything, it not only adds more stress for you, but for your pet as well. When you are in the packing stage of a move, give yourself some time and space by placing your pet on the opposite side of your home or apartment, separating them from all the chaos taking place. Also, to benefit you and your furry friend, begin packing months before the move in small increments. This will reduce the disorder that comes with moving day, along with yours and your pet’s stress level. Pets, dogs especially, can feel stress like humans. What may be a normal activity or event may be perceived as stressful to an animal. Sudden changes, like the ones that occur with moving, can cause a lot of stress in animals because they cannot comprehend what is happening.
If your move is going to require you to find a new veterinarian, make sure to get your pet’s vet records and any other things they may need, like prescriptions and flea medication, at least a few days before your moving day. Speaking of vets, you will also want to start researching a new clinic near your new home. If you have friends or family with pets in the area you are relocating to, reach out to them and see if they have any good recommendations for vets. You’ll want to ensure you find a reputable vet office to ensure that you are prepared if an emergency were to happen to your pet.
You can also try getting your pet comfortable with the carrier or cage — or whatever method you prefer — you plan to use when moving. Not giving your pet enough time to adjust to a confined space can end up causing a lot of anxiety and stress for them. Giving your pets time to get acclimated to a cage or a carrier will make moving day much easier for both you and your pet.
During a move
Moving day can bring a lot of commotion with all the things going on at once. And, if you hired a professional moving company to load all of your belongings, or even pack it for you, you are going to have a moving crew going in and out of your home. Having new faces in your home may cause your pet to get worked up, potentially slowing down the moving process. Plus, with the doors always opening, pets could escape, which would make your moving much more of a hassle. When moving day comes, find a safe place to keep your pet so that they are out of their way. This could be a bathroom, bedroom, or the backyard. Make sure they have food and water dishes, and maybe a few toys. Once everything is packed and loaded up, you can place your pet in their carrier or cage and place them in the car.
Depending on what area you’re moving to, it is a good idea to check on your pet consistently, about every hour or so. Make sure they have plenty of food and water accessible. Moving and traveling with pets can be a fun experience, as long as they are cared for properly and kept safe. When you have a pet in a car, it is important to remember to:
- Keep pets in the back seat. Pets should be placed in a carrier or cage, and kept in the back seat during travel so that they can’t move around. Animals that sit freely in the front have a much greater risk of being seriously injured or killed if an accident were to happen. If you are not a fan of crates, you can find car harnesses for pets that will keep them safe.
- Keep them comfortable. During the move, especially if you’re moving long distance, you will want to make sure that your pet remains comfortable. This can be done in many ways, including giving them attention, feeding them treats once in a while, keeping the music volume down, and by maintaining a consistent temperature inside the car.
- Stop for breaks. Pets need breaks. Depending on how far you are relocating, try to stop every three to four hours to let your furry companion go to the bathroom and burn some energy. Trust us, the last thing you want on moving day is an accident!
After the move
Once you arrive at your new home and get things going, allow your pet to run around and use the bathroom. If time allows, let your pet get familiar with your new home before you start unloading furniture and unpacking. Again, you will want to separate your pet from all of the hustle and bustle that is going on during the loading process. During this time, you’ll first want to make sure your furniture is placed in the proper spot, and then start bringing in boxes. It is not only easier to move furniture into an empty house, but also, ensuring that the larger items in your home are in place will help re-create an environment that is familiar to your pet.
After your move is successful, keep an eye on your furry loved-one and ensure they are eating and drinking water on a regular basis. A big change, like moving, can influence their eating and drinking habits. If they seem to have a noticeable diet change, you may want to consider bringing them into the vet for a check-up.
Moving can be exhausting and stressful for both you and your pets. Before the moving date, you should do everything you can to minimize the effect that moving has on your pets. By ensuring you are prepared early, have a comfortable transportation method, and are providing a safe new home, pet owners can help reduce the stress in animals that is brought on by a move.
If you are going to be moving with pets and are looking for moving companies in Columbus, GA, contact Helping Hands Moving Service. As one of Columbus’ top moving companies, we take the stress out of moving, allowing you to focus more of your time on your pet or pets. At Helping Hands Moving Service, we reduce the chaos of moving by specializing in sorting, packing, and protecting belongings, disassembling and setting up furniture, disconnecting and connecting appliances, and more! To receive a free moving estimate, or for more information on how we can make residential moving less stressful for both you and your furry friends, contact our experienced moving professionals today!
