Pet Forum

Travelling with Pets

Taking your pet on the road with you requires advance planning. A vehicle or a plane is not your dog or cat's natural habitat and it is your responsibility to ensure that your animal's trip is as pleasant as it can be. Travelling with your pet can be a rewarding experience if the pet is physically and psychologically healthy and you have anticipated his needs in advance.

The factors that should be taken into consideration can be grouped into four categories:

• the safety of your pet when in the vehicle
• the safety of your pet if travelling by air
• the safety of your pet outside the vehicle
• the health and well being of your pet

Pet Safety In the Vehicle

Your pet should be safely restrained while in your vehicle. Small dogs and cats should be placed in a carrier. Cats in particular love to roam, snuggle and perch- always in the most awkward places- on your shoulder or under the gas pedal. Larger dogs should be placed in a fenced off cargo area. In a crash occurring while your car is going 30 miles an hour, a 60 pound dog will hit either the back seat, the windshield or another passenger with a force of 1,200 pounds.

In the State of California if you do not adhere to the "tether law" and allow your pet to travel unrestrained you are fined not less than $50. And in certain states- Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island dogs are banned from pickup trucks.

Pet Safety In the Airplane

Make sure that your pet has a clean bill of health before planning air travel. If you have a pet small enough to stand up and turn around in a carrier that complies with the airline's carry on size restrictions, most airlines will allow you to carry it on. Otherwise your animal will have to travel in the cargo section in a large sturdy carrier. Determine in advance if the cargo compartment is climate controlled and try to avoid layovers and trips to tropical climates.

Pet Safety Outside the Vehicle

Make sure that your pet is wearing a current ID tag. The ID tag should provide information on the animal and a COLLECT telephone contact number that can be used should the animal get parted from you. A friend or relative back home will be more than happy to act as a contact person while you are on the road. If you travel frequently with your pet, you should consider having a microchip implanted in your animal.

Only take a spayed or neutered pet on a road trip. Keep your dog on a leash and do not let him run loose in an unfamiliar area. Even the best trained dog will not always return on command. Cats should also be kept on a harness attached to a leash- cats do not travel as well as dogs and may bolt when the car door is opened.

Pet Health and Well Being

Before leaving home make sure that your pet's vaccinations are up to date. Bring this documentation with you and, depending on where you are travelling, you may need a certification of health from the veterinarian.

To make your pet feel more comfortable and more at ease, bring some of your pet's favourite toys and bedding from home.

While on the road, never leave a pet in a sealed car on a hot day. Heat prostration can result, which can lead to brain injury and even death.

Animals experience the same health problems that we do while travelling, such as

• constipation- commonly caused by lack of exercise or water, infrequent stops or anxiety. Dogs respond well to preventive foods such as figs, prunes, raisins, berries and fresh fruit. Cats respond well to psyllium husks.
• nausea- our pets suffer from the same motion sickness that we do and the effects- excessive salivation and vomiting are the same. Encourage your pet to lie down. Some dogs respond well to peppermint tea or capsules but this is not recommended for cats. It may be wise to fast your cat the day before or the first day of the trip.
• anxiety- the homeopathic remedy Aconitum napellus 30C is very effective in minimizing fear and anxiety before travelling. Give one pellet an hour before you leave home, and another pellet before leaving the house. Should nervousness return, give the pet another pellet during the trip itself. This remedy often functions better than a tranquilizer and is very safe to use.
• eye discomfort- eye irritation may occur in a dog that rides with his head out the window. Bathe the eyes with a saline solution at room temperature- one teaspoon sea salt to one cup of water. Then restrain your dog to prevent further irritation.

And a few additional hints-

• take your dog on a short walk on a leash at least twice a day; and be sure to carry a pooper scooper and plastic bags to clean up any messes
• have plenty of fresh cat litter and a familiar litter box for your cat

HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU......

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