The spring and summer are fast approaching and as much as many of us love the excitement of travel and adventure, be must always be mindful that change can be very stressful for our pets. Whether we choose to take them with us on holiday or leave them in the safe hands of others, it is a change from their normal daily routine. Some animals take this in their stride and for others it can cause a huge amount of anxiety,

With an increased number of us choosing to stay in Britain for our holidays, there is an increasing number of hotels, holiday lets and B&Bs that are dog-friendly. When researching these, it is also a good idea to find the nearest veterinary practice, just in case of an emergency.

If you feel that travelling is not right for your pet, it may be more appropriate to make other arrangements for them. This can vary from friends and family to professional pet-sitters. If neither of these are possible you may choose to book them into a cattery or kennels. If this is the case, I would always advice visiting the premises first and going with a recommendation. Always check with individual kennels on their requirements, as many will request that your dog has not only had routine vaccinations, but they may also need to be vaccinated against kennel cough. This normally needs to be done three weeks prior to your stay but always check with your vet and the individual kennels as their protocols may differ.

Some people choose to travel abroad with their pets. If this is the case, I would always encourage people to give this some thought and ensure it is appropriate for your pet. The rules for pet travel from the UK have no changed post-Brexit and UK-issued pet passports are no longer valid.

Your pet will need a new animal health certificate every time you take a trip to an EU country or Northern Ireland. There is a lot of work behind organising these and hence this can be quite costly.

Your pet will also need to be micro-chipped and have an up-to-date rabies vaccination.

Always research the individual countries requirements before travel and visit www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad for the latest information on pet travel.