During the holidays, pet owners can not always leave their pets at home under the care of relatives or arrange them in a hotel.
Cats and dogs hit the road with their owners.
How best to travel with pets?
Englishmen joined the recommendations on this subject in the book (“Travel tips for dogs and cats”, David Prydie BVMS, CertSAO, MRCVS), which is popular with owners of four-footed animals.
Something of these tips can be useful for our dog and cat lovers.
The publishers have presented this book to our editorial staff because they really liked our magazine.
- Before you hit the road with your pet, think again whether it will cope with the difficulties of the road. If the animal is not healthy, not yet recovered from the surgery, then do not take it with you, better ask your friends to watch over it, or leave in a trustworthy hotel.
- If a dog or cat go with you for the first time, then begin with a small “trial” trip.
- Before the trip you must show your pet to the veterinarian. Required immunizations must be made in advance.
The animal must not be vaccinated the day before the trip – because robust immune system must be developed.
- In the warm season, the main problem is fleas and ticks. Save your pet from these parasites.
- During the trip, the dog may get lost, so the identity disc must be attached to a collar or microchip, the information of which can be read by the scanner, is implanted in the neck. Microchips are required for export of dogs abroad.
- Take a spare leash and collar, bedding and blanket in the car. On the road, it is desirable to feed your pet with usual food and give it fresh water.
By car
Dogs
Place the dog in the car so that it would not bother the driver.
Best of all, when there is a grating in the car behind or free space for transportation – this would protect the dog when the driver braked abruptly.
If the dog travels in the back seat, then fasten it with the seat belt.
It is best to teach your dog to car travel, when it is a puppy.
The puppy, of course, will be confused in an unusual place, so at first take it for a short while in the car (without driving) and treat it with a delicacy.
When the dog gets used, it is possible to make a small “trip” to any place interesting for the dog.
Unfortunately, the puppy’s first trip is usually to the vet, that completely discourages your four-footed animal to go somewhere in the future.
A cage in the car for nervous dogs is a necessity.
To ventilate the car is very important. Dogs’ thermo-regulation comes only through the foot pads and nose.
Dogs endure heat much harder than people.
During the movement, make sure that the dog does not put out its head out the window – it can be dangerous.
Furthermore, if the dog often observes the surroundings through the open window, it can cause conjunctivitis.
Remember that the sun strikes down most of all in the rear car window.
You can comfortably seat behind the wheel, and your dog in the backseat will languish in the heat.
Try not to leave pet alone in the car.
On the way, stop every 2 hours to give the dog to limber up and drink.
In particularly hot weather, it’s better to hit the road early in the morning or late at night.
Before you travel, give your pet a little meat. If the trip is long, then feed it with dog food. Do not forget to give water.
Some dogs heavily tend to feel car sick. Special medicines can help your pet.
ACP (Acepromazine) is a calming drug that is most often prescribed for dogs.
He has a very strong effect, so be prepared to see your pet hitting the sidewalks, like a drunk.
Immediately before the trip, give the dog half a pill, which has effect for about 8 hours.
АСР should not be given to dogs with heart failure, or epilepsy.
Valium-Diazepam has different effect, but when used together with propanal, has good effect on nervous dogs. Valium is often prescribed for cats.
This drug does not have such a strong action, like АСР, the animal feels relaxed. Effective for several hours.
By train
Try to select your travel time, when there are not so many people in the train. Small dogs can sit on the knees of the owner, big dogs are prohibited to climb onto the seat. If the trip is very long, then the owner should take into account the station time to walk the dog.
By plane
Travel by plane only with healthy animals. If your pet’s heart failure, then flights are contraindicated. Breeds with short snout (like Bulldogs) may become ill. Consult with your veterinarian.
In the airplane it is allowed to transport pets older than 8 weeks, but even better if the animal is at least 12 weeks.
It is important that the animal was a normal condition, because dogs and cats which are overweight may come across with heart problems.
Some airlines request a certificate of health, before the registration of an animal.
Inquire everything about the documentation required for the flight in advance, especially if you fly to another country.
If your pet travels in the container, then make sure it is sturdy, well-ventilated, of sufficient size.
So that your pet could stand in it, turn around and lie comfortably.
Edge, projecting at least 2 cm, protects during air holes from overloading.
Container and cage must comply with the international standard IATA.
Airlines can not take on board the containers that do not conform to this standard.
The container should have catchy words: “A live animal”. Write also your name, address, phone number.
Some airlines allow to take small dogs or cats in the cabin as hand luggage.
Before the flight, (2,5 hours), give the animal half of the usual food. Put things with your scent in the cage so that the dog was comfortable, but do not put toys, which can cause jamming of the door.
Only one adult animal or two puppies or kittens under six months are allowed in one cell.
Sedative medicine such as АСР, is not recommended because it may cause a significant lowering of blood pressure, which is dangerous during the flight. For very nervous animal diazepam can be used.
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