Travel With Your Dog
Include your dog in your vacation plans. You need to take a few precautions after which he too can have a good holiday with you and the family. First of all inquire at your holiday destination whether pets are allowed and the status of the facilities they provide for the same.
Just in case you plan to leave your dog behind, make sure he is in safe hands. Conduct a mini survey of kennels offering boarding facilities and locate a comfortable one to leave him behind.
Pay a couple of visits to the kennel and ensure that the pets here are well cared for and appear to be happy. Also ask people who have left their pets in the same kennel about their level of satisfaction with the food and boarding facilities in the kennel. Check in your dog in the kennel that has your wholesome approval.
If you take him with you:
Before the trip (if you are planning to motor), ensure that the dog is comfortable traveling in a car. If he shows signs that he is not, take him on very short trips in the beginning and gradually increase the duration of the time he spends in the car, every day, until he can withstand a longer journey without discomfort.
Take care to see that you do not leave the dog in the car for hours on end. Besides creating a premise for a possible heat stroke, this may also lead to your dog being stolen.
Ensure that your pet has been micro-chipped. This helps trace him, should he go astray. Rabies, Bordetella and Lyme vaccines should be administered to the dog, well in advance of the journey, preferably a month before.
You need to pack the dog’s bag with the following essential items
- Certificates that profile his health status and vaccines administered
- A good stock of dog food, in case the specific brand is unavailable during the journey
- Clean safe drinking water, his food and and water bowls
- An extra collar, leash and id tag
- His bedding
- His toys
The first aid kit you carry for him, in case of any emergency should include
- The vet’s contact numbers
- A poison treatment clinic hot-line number
- A vet approved list of poisonous plants that may include poinsettias, Japanese yew, oleander, dumb cane, rhododendrons, English ivy and azalea
- His regular and prescribed medication
- Disinfectant and antiseptic lotions
- Bandage material and gauze pads
- A cloth strip that can be used as an emergency muzzle
- An extra blanket and his towel
- Old newspapers and disposable absorbent paper for cleaning up “accidents”
Following these guidelines will ensure that you can undertake a hassle free journey with your dog and help both of you enjoy every moment of the holiday.
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