Traveling with Baja Bound dogs Boomer and Fletch has taught us a lot about what kind of excitement you can anticipate when venturing south of the border with your pets.

For starters, it's never a bad idea to bring along a first aid kit designed for your pet. If your cat or dog gets a tick and you're no-where near a vet, this kind of a kit will help you to remove it yourself. You can typically purchase a first aid kit for your pet at your US vet's office.

Next up, and especially in Mexico, you should seriously think about putting your pet on a medicine that will help prevent heartworms. Dogs in particular pick up heartworms much more quickly and easily than you might imagine when they are running around in rural places.

If you're hoping to keep your pet with you in the hotel or motel, you may also want to consider giving it some flea control medication. This will make your stay (and the stay of future hotel guests) much more pleasant, especially during the warmer months!

Make a list of your pet's favorite (and most needed) things: leash, food dishes, food, water, treats, favorite toys, special blankets or boxes, plastic bags for cleanup, medicines, etc.

Keep your car air-conditioned, and make sure that your pet gets plenty of air. Don't forget to take a break every few hours at rest stops along the side of the highway, so that your pet can have a drink of water and "do its business."

Finally, DON'T leave your pet alone in a hot car - even if you are parked in the shade, with a window open. According to the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), on a hot day your vehicle can heat up to 160 degrees in a matter of minutes, which could have devastating or deadly consequences for your pet.

For further information, please read this article.

Visit Baja Bound's Pet Friendly Hotel Guide, featuring descriptions, photos and contact information for hotels, motels and RV parks from Rosarito to Ensenada that will warmly welcome you AND your favorite furry friends!

Listing of hotels in and around Ensenada compiled by Dr. Eduardo Diaz and Ellen Tousley of the Miramar Veterinary Hospital. (You'll need to scroll through the article to find the listings at the bottom of the web page.)

Pets Welcome offers information about lodging in various parts of Mexico including Cuernavaca, Ixtapa, Juarez, Mexico City, Quintana Roo, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Tijuana, and Veracruz.

There is very little money allocated to animal control in Mexico, which means that a lot of disease carrying stray animals roam freely throughout towns and villages. Try to keep your dog on its leash and away from strays at all times. If your pet comes into contact with (e.g. gets bitten by) a stray, gets a tick, or even eats tainted food which is often purposefully left outside to poison the strays, it can be difficult to find a well-trained veterinarian in some areas outside the cities.

Be sure to visit your vet and ask for travel recommendations and that their vaccinations are up to date before traveling to Mexico. Speaking of strays, though ~ don't forget to make sure that your pet's ID tags are current, so that he/she isn't mistaken for a stray!