First, consider whether your pet is comfortable when traveling. Some animals, like some people, function better in familiar surroundings. A car-sick animal can make a trip miserable for everyone. Some ill or physically impaired dogs and cats cannot withstand the rigors of travel. If this is the case, discuss options such as using a reliable pet-sitter or a clean, well-managed boarding facility with your veterinarian.

If you will be staying with friends along the way, be considerate. Find out in advance if the pet is welcome. The same goes for hotels, motels, parks, and campgrounds. Always check whether pets are allowed or kennel facilities are available. Bring along a portable kennel for use in hotel rooms or the homes of friends or relatives who are not comfortable with your pet loose when no one is home. And, have plenty of plastic bags to pick up pet waste!

Be sure your pet is properly identified with a current tag and a microchip. In addition to a standard identification tag (which should be labeled with your name, home address and phone number), your pet's collar should include a travel tag with information on where you are staying while away from home. Should your pet become lost, this will allow you to be contacted locally.

Grooming (bathing, combing, trimming nails) before a trip, plus having your pet's favorite food, toys, bottled water and dishes available will make him/her more comfortable. Have both proof of rabies vaccination and a current health certificate, if necessary, and make sure your pet's vaccinations are up-to-date.

Bring two leashes. That way you'll have a spare when you misplace one. Your dog MUST be on a leash whenever you are in unfamiliar surroundings. All it takes is a split second for a disaster to start a tragic chain of events.

When traveling by car, pack a simple pet first-aid kit that includes assorted bandages, antiseptic cream, an antidiarrheal medication that is safe for pets (ask your veterinarian to suggest a product), gauze squares, and the phone numbers of your veterinarian, a national poison control hotline, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital.

Perform a daily "health check" on your pet when away from home. In unfamiliar surroundings, your pet's appetite, energy, and disposition may change. Watch for unusual discharges from the nose and eyes, excessive scratching or biting of any body part, unusual lumps, limping, loss of appetite, abnormal elimination, or excessive water consumption. Visit a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.

The AVMA has more tips on traveling with your pet.

DogFriendly.com publishes U.S. and Canadian pet travel guides for dogs of ALL sizes and breeds.

If you can't bring your pet with you, the Humane Society of the United States has online tips for choosing a boarding kennel or choosing a pet sitter.