Your
worst nightmare whenever traveling with your dogs is losing
them. That’s why a functioning microchip is so
valuable. Your dog or cat has a greater chance of
being returned to you than a pet without this modern
identifier. Ask your veterinarian about utilizing this
state-of-the-art identification implant; it is inexpensive,
stays with the dog for life, and can be an instantaneous
rescue device if you and your dog ever become separated.
Additionally,
you should affix to the dog’s collar some sort of current
contact information relative to the trip. If the ID tag
provides only a Rabies vaccination number, or even your home
information, anyone calling your residence may reach a dead
end… after all, you aren’t going to be there!
Make sure you provide a cell phone number or email contact
information for your destination address in addition to your
home info. This way, anyone finding your dog will make a
call where you can be contacted immediately. The best
method to insure against losing your dog is the simplest and
oldest method ever devised… the leash.
Rest Stops:
My
suggestion is to not stop at designated rest stops. Imagine
how many dogs have visited those rest stops and baptized the
terrain as their personal territory. Why not pull off on
some quiet road away from other people, dogs and traffic and
allow a little exercise and “relief”? There’s less chance
of unwanted canine encounters and less opportunity for
disease transmission.
First Aid Kit:
Just in case a minor medical problem arises, you and your
dog will benefit from having a first aid kit handy. These
are easy to put together and you will surely derive some
peace of mind even if you never have to use it.
A few common and useful items can include a
thermometer, elastic and adhesive tape, an Ace bandage,
scissors, tick removal forceps, antiseptic, sterile eyewash,
cotton, cortisone cream and an antibacterial cream such as
Bacitracin. Hydrogen peroxide makes an excellent skin wash
and helps reduce bacteria in any abrasion or minor cut. Hot
spots, skin abrasions, ticks and thorns, itchy paws from
grasses, dust and debris all are common causes of minor
irritation for your dog.
Be mindful, though, that if your
dog squints or paws at his eye, you do need to have a
veterinarian check that out right away. A mildly irritated
eye may clear with simple eyewash; but a painful eye demands
veterinary attention.
Location:
Call
an animal hospital at your destination for an update of any
current health issues facing dogs in that area. Be mindful
that dogs walked on super heated pavement can develop
blisters or pad separation. In your hometown this issue may
not even be a consideration… but it sure can be at your
destination.
Some areas of the country are “hot spots” for
unfriendly health threats such as fleas, ticks, Lyme
Disease, Heartworm, poisonous snakes, thorny plants, car
traffic, and even predatory animals. Animal hospital staff
are always helpful in updating the traveler on local canine
health topics.
Medications:
If your dog has a stress-inducing aversion to confinement
and travel, veterinary prescribed medications can save the
day. You must take a few trial trips well ahead of your
planned excursion, though, to see how your dog reacts to
being medicated while traveling.
Your veterinarian can
prescribe anti-motion sickness medication, usually an
antihistamine such as Dramamine, if your dog simply gets
“car sick” while on the road.
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On the other hand, if anxiety or hyperexcitability are
present, sedation will make the trip safer and more pleasant
for the dog and for you! Your attention needs to be tuned
in to the driving, not to trying to control a barking,
slobbering, excited and hyperactive distraction.
Tranquilizer or sedative doses need to be fine-tuned to each
individual dog.
Some dogs need twice the usual dose to
overcome travel-mania and you don’t want to discover that
during your trip! The most common mistake is to medicate
the dog too near the time of departure and before the
medication has reached its peak effect. Driving is
inherently hazardous; so do not tolerate distraction by an
anxious, unhappy dog. Medication for the dog may make the
trip 100% more enjoyable for both of you.
Most healthy dogs do not require food and water during
trips of less than six hours. Older dogs or those with
diabetes, heart, kidney, respiratory compromise or other
disorders may need special surroundings while traveling; if
you have any doubt about your dog’s health status be certain
to have a good physical exam and blood and urine tests
evaluated well ahead of your planned excursion.
Remind
yourself about the dangers of taking a casual attitude
toward heat stroke, too. Ten minutes in an
unventilated car or crate in a hot and humid environment is
a recipe for disaster. The potential for life threatening
overheating, especially with the small, full-coated breeds
such as the Pekingese and Schipperkes and the brachycephalic
breeds such as Bulldogs and Boston terriers should not be
underestimated. Older dogs are much less tolerant to heat
and stress and any dog with heart or obesity problems are at
considerable risk when overheating occurs.
Air Travel:
Proper prior planning is the key ingredient! Woe to the dog
owner-traveler who has not done the homework necessary prior
to check-in at the terminal. Most breeders are keenly aware
of the diverse regulations each airline imposes on pet air
travel. These regulations frequently change, too, so
today's regs may be entirely different from the last time
you used air travel with a pet. If you aren’t comfortable
contacting your airline about the regulation, hire a travel
agent. Special handling services may allow you to drop off
and pickup your dog at the passenger area rather than the
cargo area. It may be best to ship in the early morning so
the dog travels during the cooler part of the day. Each
airline has protocols for shipping dogs so do the homework
well before your trip.
The
size of the dog and even the construction and dimensions of
the travel crate are priority considerations. Current
Rabies vaccination status, a current health certificate from
a veterinarian, and other issues need to be analyzed and
addressed well prior to any trip across state lines. And
travel to other countries entails strict, detailed, time
sensitive and strictly enforced
regulations.
Most airlines have a policy not to ship a dog if
the outside temperature will reach 85˚ that day in either the city
of origin or destination. In some situations a letter from a
veterinarian stating that the dog is acclimatized to cold or
hot weather will allow you to have the dog shipped.
When overseas travel is considered it
is even more important to check all regulations and
protocols well in advance of your trip. The AKC’s website
has useful information on nine airlines regarding shipping a
dog but be sure to directly contact your airline for current
requirements.
Active people and their
dogs know how to have fun. But do your travel research
far ahead of any travel plans and you and your dog will
have a far better experience than if you just “wing it”.
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