One week out is the paperwork cross-check: confirm the microchip number matches exactly across the pet passport or health certificate, the vaccination record, and any PPP licence paperwork. A mismatch is one of the more common, entirely avoidable reasons pets get held up at a border or Traveler's Point of Entry check.

Pack any regular medication in its original packaging along with a letter from your vet confirming what it is, the dosage, and that it's for your named pet โ€” this resolves most questions at a check without further discussion. Pack enough to cover the trip comfortably plus a few extra days.

If your dog needed a PPP municipal licence, confirm it's actually been issued and that you have it, along with the civil liability insurance certificate, ready to produce if asked โ€” not still in process. Pack the breed-appropriate muzzle and a non-extendable leash under two metres now, rather than leaving it for the day you arrive.