More pet owners are packing their bags and hitting the road with their four-legged friends this summer. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, pet travel is a growing trend with 14 percent of all U.S. adults saying they have traveled with a pet on a trip of 50 miles or more, one-way, in the past three years.

"Traveling with your pet has become more accepted and feasible for pet parents as more hotels and airlines are accommodating pet-friendly policies to meet the needs of today's traveler," said Dr. Marty Becker, nationally-renowned veterinarian and popular animal health columnist. "While bringing a furry companion with you on a trip can be a memorable experience, careful planning is important to ensure your pet's health and safety. It's important to protect pets, prior to vacation, from parasites including fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, which can cause harmful diseases. The last thing you want is to bring critters home with you."

Whether on a road trip or flying the friendly skies, when a pet joins the vacation, pet parents need to know some essential tips to ensure their pet's health. According to American Humane:

• Visit a vet before vacation - Talk to a veterinarian before leaving to verify all vaccinations and discuss any health concerns that might inhibit traveling.
  
  
• Parasite patrol - Safeguard pets from the parasites they might encounter away from home. Before traveling, protect pets from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes with products such as Advantage^® flea control for cats and dogs or K9 Advantix^®, flea, tick and mosquito control for dogs only.
  
  
• Important doguments - Don't forget to bring copies of vaccination records, health certificates and a current photograph of the pet in case they are lost.
  
  
• Forget me not - Don't leave home without a pet's collar, first-aid kit, any necessary medications, water bowl and food, favorite toy, litter and litter box, and emergency phone numbers.
  
  
• Kennel comfort - If your pet requires travel in a kennel, train them a month before the trip. Make sure it's large enough for the pet to stand and turn around, and always label the kennel with "This end up" and "Live animal" stickers if traveling by plane.
  
  
• Are we there yet? - Book non-stop airline flights and inform flight attendants of pets in cargo if they are unable to travel in the cabin.

Planning ahead is essential to any successful vacation, especially when traveling with a pet. Contacting the hotel or airline in advance for specific regulations or visiting a veterinarian to protect pets from parasites, will help make the vacation a more memorable experience.