|
 TRAVELING
WITH YOUR PETS,
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Traveling with your pet can be an enjoyable
experience for your family and your pet. There are a few things
to consider long before you head out for vacation or to visit
family or friends or even move your household to another
location.
1. Mode of travel: Car? Air?
2. Are vaccinations and Heartworm prevention current?
3. Do you need flea and/or tick prevention and treatment?
4. Do you have a sufficient supply of food and medication?
5. Will you require a Health Certificate for travel?
6. Are you traveling internationally?
7. Do you have
current identification and contact information for you pet?
Car Travel
Your pet may be accustomed to traveling for short distances by
car. If not, you should take the time to introduce car travel
slowly. All pets should travel in a carrier or crate or wear a
seatbelt made especially for pets. Even on short trips, your pet
is safer if it is confined, and it may prevent injury or loss in
the event of an accident or other emergency. No pet should ever
ride unrestrained in the open bed of a truck. Always have a
suitable collar and leash for each pet, even if they are in a
carrier or crate. If your pet is fearful of the car, start by
having the pet enter the vehicle while it is not in motion and
the engine is off. Offer the pet a treat or a reassuring word if
it is calm and quiet in this situation for a few moments and
then remove the pet from the car. Work up to a short trip in the
moving vehicle, just down the street or around the block at
first. Gradually extend the length of time in the car, and be
sure the pet feels comfortable and does not only
associate car rides to trips to the grooming parlor or
veterinarian! Remember to use the air conditioning in summer so
that your pet does not become overheated.
NEVER leave your pet in a closed vehicle! If your pet is anxious
or becomes carsick, talk to your veterinarian about possible
solutions.
Air Travel
If your pet will be traveling by air, there are special
considerations. Check with the airline your pet will be
traveling on for requirements for vaccinations, Health
Certificate from your veterinarian, airline approved crate and
any other factors related to the flight.
USDA standards for shipping dogs and cats can be found in
Part 3, Standards
of the Animal Welfare Regulations. See sections 3.13 through
3.19.
Airline have various animal transport rules.
If traveling by air, please check
with the airline well in advance of travel. A few airline
Transport website's are
listed below (more later):
Please be aware that each airline is different. Some will refuse
to allow your pet to board under certain temperature extremes.
Ask questions and be prepared, long before your intended
departure. There is no way to truly prepare your pet for the
stressful experience of air travel. Federal law requires you to
feed and offer water to your pet four hours before the flight
(If you have a young pet, a dog that is a
toy breed or a diabetic cat or dog, please talk to your
veterinarian about feeding before the trip). It is best not to
overfeed your pet either, so use common sense. Whatever goes in
will have to come out! Some pet owners would like their pet to
have a sedative for air travel, however, sedation is not
recommended for most pets. Sedatives and tranquilizers cause
heart rate and blood pressure to slow. Since your pet cannot be
monitored, this could have dangerous consequences. Ask your
veterinarian for advice related to air travel and your
individual pet.
Vaccination and Heartworm Prevention
You will want to ensure that your cat or dog is healthy enough
to travel and that it is protected from contracting and
transmitting diseases. Ask your veterinarian what vaccinations
your pet needs. Air travel and the necessity of a Health
Certificate may mean certain requirements must be met before
departure. International destinations may have very strict rules
about vaccination and even even certain blood tests that must be
completed before the government will allow your pet to enter.
Heartworms, transmitted to your dog by the bite of a mosquito,
are very prevalent in some areas. Heartworm disease is a 100%
preventable disease. You can protect your dog from potentially
deadly heartworm disease by using Heartgard Plus.
For more information about
heartworm disease, click here.
Flea and/or Tick Prevention and Treatment
Depending on your destination, you may want to protect your pet
from infestation by fleas and/or ticks. The start and duration
of flea and tick season in most areas of the United States
varies depending on temperature, rainfall and humidity.
Fleas and ticks may transmit diseases to pets and people.
To learn of the prevalence of so called vector borne disease in
the US, visit the website of the Companion Animal Parasite
Council at
www.petsandparasites.org
. For world data on vector borne disease, see the Canine Vector
Borne Disease
World Forum link at
www.cvbd.org .
Brown Road Animal Clinic recommends Frontline Plus, an easy to
use treatment that is proven effective. Frontline Plus breaks
the flea and tick lifecycles to offer continuous protection.
When you apply Frontline Plus, fipronil, the active ingredient,
is stored in the oil glands under your pet's skin. It is then
distributed continuously to the skin and hair of your pet
through the hair follicles. It is waterproof even after
swimming, bathing and grooming. Frontline Plus is applied every
30 days to
puppies and kittens 8 weeks of age and older and is available
without a prescription. It is formulated in 4 weight-based
dosages for dogs and a separate formula for cats.
For more information, visit
http://www.frontline.us.merial.com.
Food and Medication
We recommend that you think ahead about all of the items your
pet may need for the duration of your trip. If your dog or cat
takes prescription medications or dietary supplements, make sure
that you have a supply that is adequate for the
duration of your trip. It may be difficult to locate these
products if you run out while you are away from home. Some items
may require a prescription and may not be easy to obtain. Also
consider the storage of your pet's medication. Does it require
refrigeration? Some products may not be acceptable if traveling
by air, especially liquids. Your pet's food requires your
consideration as well. Will you
take it with you or buy it at your destination? If your pet
requires a special diet or veterinary prescription diet such as
one of the
Royal Canin Veterinary diets, you may need to order a
sufficient supply. Some veterinary diets require a prescription
from your veterinarian. Be careful not to change your pet's diet
abruptly as this can cause gastrointestinal distress. Drinking
water sources also may be a concern depending on your
destination, especially if you will be camping or backpacking
with your dog. All pets must have access to fresh drinking
water.
Health Certificates
Many states require an up-to date Certificate of Veterinary
Inspection or Health Certificate from a licensed, accredited
veterinarian, when traveling. This certificate states that your
pet is healthy enough to travel and is not showing signs of
disease that may be passed to other animals or people. Your pet
will need to be examined within 10 days of travel and must be
current on certain vaccinations. Airlines may also require a
Certificate of Acclimation from the veterinarian, which
indicates that the pet is able to withstand specific temperature
extremes. For state requirements, please contact our office or
The U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Animal & Plant Inspection Service,
Veterinary Services:
www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/sregs
or 800-545-USDA (8732) and press #2 for State Regulations.
International
Travel
Brown Road Animal Clinic's staff and
veterinarians have assisted many clients in their preparation
for international travel. If you are traveling out of the
country or even to Hawaii, there are additional requirements if
you are taking your pet. Please contact the foreign consulate or
appropriate regulatory agency for the country to which you will
be traveling. There may be quarantine or other health
requirements, so please make arrangements several weeks in
advance.
Identification
Proper identification of your pet is essential
when traveling. We recommend that you place two tads o you pet's
collar, one with your home contact information and the other
with information pertaining to your travel destination such as a
call phone number or listing for your hotel or campground. We
strongly recommend that your pet has a microchip and that you
make sure all of the contact information is current with your
microchip registry. It is wise to carry a current photo of your
pet and proof of vaccination should you need it during the trip.
Authorization for Treatment Form This form can be used
to give your pets caretakers authorization to have animals
treated at Brown Road Animal Clinic while you are away
traveling for work or on vacation. |
