On
the Road Again
How
to Keep Your Pets Healthy and Happy While Traveling
by Darrell James
You love your pet, and your pet loves you, so the decision
to take him with you when you travel was an easy one.
Keeping your pet healthy and happy while traveling, however,
may take a bit more thought. A recent study on dogs proved
that they have the same range of emotions that we do (like
we didn’t know that), which is why we should address
not only your pet’s physical health, but his mental
health as well. What about his spiritual health, you say?
Well, let’s face it—cats are about as at peace
with the universe as any creature has a right to be, and
dogs…well, dogs just don’t give a crap about
such things.
Let’s begin at the beginning—a
trip to the doctor. It’s pretty difficult to notice
an adverse change in your pet’s health if you don’t
know what your pet’s “normal” state of
health is. It is therefore essential that, prior to
travel, you take your little friend to your veterinarian
for a thorough exam. Ask your vet to teach you what
your pet’s normal heart and breathing rates are.
Then, if there are any noticeable changes in these norms,
you’ll be able to spot them and get help. Make
sure your pet is current on all his vaccinations and
medications, and tell your vet where you plan to travel,
because “location, location, location” could
be the chant that saves your pet’s life.
For example, if you are taking your
pet to the east coast of the United States, you better
make sure he is up to date on his heartworm, flea and
tick medicine, and possibly even a Lyme disease vaccination.
The tick that carries Lyme disease is tiny, and the
disease so insidious, that many pet lovers get their
pets vaccinated for Lyme in addition to using topical
flea and tick medications. Lyme disease is a common
and nasty disease that affects our pets in many ways…none
of them good. In cats, Lyme disease can cause vision
problems, lameness, and heart problems. In dogs, it
can cause seizures, kidney failure, and neurological
disorders, in addition to the above listed ailments.
It’s bad news; don’t mess around.
Keep your fuzzy buddy well groomed,
and groom him yourself. Grooming is the perfect time
to check your pet for ticks and fleas, as well as a
host of allergic skin reactions. It only takes a few
minutes. If you do find a tick, scream and run for the
hills! I mean, fight the urge to scream and run for
the hills, and go get the tweezers. I know you all travel
with good beauty-salon quality tweezers, and if you
don’t, shame on you. Go buy a pair. Grasp the disgusting
blood-filled parasite firmly, as close to the skin as
possible, and pull it slowly and steadily straight out.
If you leave the creature’s mouthparts behind,
remove them as you would a sliver. Disinfect your hands,
the tweezers, and the bite, then rinse and repeat.
What is the best way to travel with
your pets? Because you can control the environment,
food, bathroom breaks, exercise intervals, temperature,
and many other factors, most experts agree that travel
by car is the least stressful form of travel for your
pet. You can also color coordinate your outfits with
your car’s paint—always a good idea. (This
won’t help your pet, but looking good is half the
battle.)
Planning and packing are the keys to
healthy-pet car travel. Take an old duffle bag, and
make yourself a pet care kit. Include such things as:
a leash and collar; your pet’s favorite toys and
blanket; litter trays and cat litter; plastic bags (for
roadside poop scooping); a lint brush and all grooming
tools and products; a first aid kit (tweezers, medications,
health documents, etc.— ask your vet for ideas);
your pet’s customary food and water bowls; food,
snacks, and bottled water; and anything else you can
bring to make your pet’s trip less stressful. Plan
on your pet traveling in a kennel inside your car. Yes,
I know, you want your kitty to sit on the front seat
next you, but now is not the time to be too clingy.
It is safer for your pet to be properly restrained in
case of an accident, and it is safer for you to eliminate
the risk of him distracting you while you are driving.
I know what I’m talking about.
I recently drove over 1000 miles with my Australian
Shepherd. I removed one of the middle seats of my mini-van
and placed her kennel where I could reach it easily—while
driving and while parked. The whole trip was a joy for
both of us. Use the kennel, people. And remember; get
your pet used to the kennel long before the trip. It
will cause him stress to be kenneled if he has never
been in it before.
This all falls under the category of
your friend’s mental health. Our animals like routine…the
familiar. Changes in locale, diet, and schedule can
really upset them, and it can make them ill. Traveling
is no time to switch things up on Fido and make him
try new food, toys, and routines. Simple things you
can do, like carrying bottled water for the whole trip,
will help insure your friend does not get sick and,
in doing so, give you both a bad vacation. What does
a stressed out pet look like? Look for excessive yawning,
scratching, licking, drooling, or panting. Some pets
will avoid eye contact when they are stressed out. If
you see signs of stress, make sure your little friend
is cool and hydrated, and then take a little pause in
the driving. Put him on a leash and take him for a little
walk. Keep him away from other people and animals until
he has calmed down sufficiently to resume the trip.
A few more things to think about. Pets
need to take more frequent potty breaks when traveling
by car. Don’t force them to “hold it.”
This is not good for their tiny bladders. And don’t
withhold water in an effort to reduce potty breaks—again,
not good for them.
When you arrive at your destination,
ask the hotel (or friend, or whomever) about any poisons
or pesticides they may be using in and around the place.
Many common lawn and rodent pesticides are just as deadly
to dogs and cats. Keeping your pet on a leash at all
times is a good way to keep an eye on them while in
an unfamiliar place. If you have to leave your pet alone
in the hotel room, make sure the air conditioning is
on and the window is closed. Many cats fall to their
deaths from hotel windows. The nine lives thing just
isn’t true, friends. Is there a swimming pool at
your destination? Take special care to keep an eye on
your pet around these cement ponds. Not all domesticated
animals can swim, and pools are very difficult for a
dog or cat to crawl out of once they become exhausted.
Prevent it.
Somewhere around 1860, Ralph Waldo Emerson
wrote, “We must leave our pets at home, when we
go into the street.” That kooky Emerson! Take your
pets along, but plan ahead for happy and healthy travel.
ASPCA Travel Tips for Pets in Airline
Cargo Holds
The
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(ASPCA) recommends these safety guidelines to pet owners
whose pets have to travel in the cargo hold of an airplane:
• Make an appointment with your pet’s veterinarian
for a checkup and make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date.
• Obtain a health certificate from
your veterinarian within 10 days of departure.
• Make sure your pet is wearing
a collar and an identification tag. Breakaway collars
are best for cats. The collar should also include destination
information in case your pet escapes.
• Book a direct flight whenever
possible. This will decrease the likelihood of your
pet being left on the tarmac during extreme weather
conditions or mishandling by baggage personnel.
• Purchase a USDA-approved shipping
crate that is large enough for your pet to stand, sit,
and change position comfortably. Shipping crates can
be purchased from many pet supply stores and airlines.
• Write the words “Live Animal”
in letters at least one inch tall on the top of the
crate and on at least one side. Use arrows to prominently
show the upright position of the crate.
• On the top of the crate, write
the name, address and telephone number of your pet’s
destination point, whether you are traveling with them
or someone else is picking up the animal.
• Affix a photograph of your pet
to the top of the crate for identification purposes
if the animal should escape from the carrier. Also carry
a photograph of your pet.
• Line the crate bottom with some
type of bedding - shredded paper or towels - to absorb
accidents.
• Freeze water provided for your
pet so that it will not spill during loading, and will
melt by the time the animal is thirsty. Tape a small
pouch (preferably made of cloth) of dried food outside
the crate. This enables airline personnel to feed your
pet in case it gets hungry on long-distance flights
or a layover.
• Do not lock the door of the crate.
Make sure it is securely closed, but not locked, so
that airline personnel can open it in case of an emergency.
• Tranquilizing your pet is not
generally recommended as it could hamper their breathing.
Check with your veterinarian first.
• Tell every airline employee you
encounter, on the ground and in the air, that you are
traveling with a pet in the cargo hold so that any additional
considerations or attention can be provided. If the
plane is delayed, or you have any concerns about the
welfare of your pet, insist that airline personnel check
the animal when feasible. In certain situations removing
the animal from the cargo hold and deplaning may be
warranted.
• Be proactive in monitoring the
welfare of your pet. Ask to watch your pet being loaded
on and off the plane. Keep a watchful eye on your animal
during unavoidable layovers, particularly if the weather
is extremely hot or cold. Your active involvement could
mean the difference between life or death for your pet.
[Updated:
April, 2008]
|
On
the Road, A Mini Gay Film Fest