Dogs generally adjust well during moves so long as they are with their owners.

Moving to a new home is one of life’s most stressful moments. This is true not only for people, but also for pets. How do you help make the move easier?

As moving day approaches, the best way to keep your pet’s stress level low is by sticking as much as possible to the pet’s daily routine.

Another good idea is to take the pet for a check-up. Make sure all vaccinations are up to date. If the move is across state lines, get a health certificate from the vet and check out what vaccines are necessary in the new state. Dog owners should also check to be sure the pet breed is not banned in the new home area.

For a pet who is truly suffering from the stress, ask a vet about tranquilizers to help calm them. The vet can also provide medication for motion sickness.

Perhaps the most important step is to make sure your pet has proper identification. The most common is a collar with an ID tag. It is also a good idea to write your cell phone number on the actual collar material with a permanent marker in case the tag comes off.

While at the vet, consider having a microchip inserted into your pet. This small radio-frequency chip is the size of a grain of rice and injected just under the skin between the shoulder blades. Most shelters and veterinarians have scanners that can read the chip, which directs them to a central registry with the pet’s contact information. Microchip insertion is a relatively pain-free, five-minute procedure.

If the pet is not accustomed to riding in a car, drive them around town in the weeks before the move. Some may settle down after 10 to 20 minutes of driving, but others will continue to be agitated. Medication will help deal with the problem.

On moving day, confine the pet to a quiet room in the house or inside a kennel at home to help them stay calm and keep them out from underfoot. The bathroom is a good choice since not much stuff needs to be moved out of that room. Place a sign on the door to remind everyone to keep the door closed. Another option is boarding the pet for a time at a kennel.

Bring along the pet’s regular food and water, the litter box for cats and favorite blankets and toys. For long-distance moves, look for pet-friendly hotels along the way, and check out the room before turning the animal loose. A frightened pet can crawl into the smallest space. The bathroom is often the best place to keep your pet for the night.

Once you arrive at the new home, continue to follow your pet’s normal routine as much as possible. Dogs usually adjust well as long as they are with their owners, but unfamiliar noises or dogs in the new neighborhood may stress them. Cats adjust better if they are housed in a room all their own until they become familiar with the new space and sounds.