A Vet’s Guide to Travelling with your Pet
By Dr Ellie Merritt
As we near the end of the year, the holiday planning begins and it’s only natural that we consider taking our furry friends along for the adventure too! There are a few things you should consider when preparing for a trip with your ultiMUTT friend.
A RUFF holiday
If your pet is new to the family, or not an experienced traveller, consider starting with short trips away to gain their confidence and comfort in the car and with new experiences.
Like us, some pets don’t enjoy adventures, and that’s okay. If you think your pet will be anxious or stressed on a holiday, consider leaving them at home and having a friend or family member take care of them.
Put the car in bark
For their safety and yours, and because it’s a legal requirement, you must have your pet restrained while in a moving vehicle. There are some very nifty harness seat-belt combinations available from pet stores which work well to keep your furry friend restrained. A crate can also be utilized but should be small enough to prevent the dog from being injured if an accident were to occur.
Before you emBARK on your journey
Your pet is likely to encounter lots of other furry friends while out and about, and also the fun bugs they leave behind! Ensure your pet is up to date with their vaccinations at least one month prior to heading off on your holiday. This is important not only to offer them the protection they need, but also if you need to put your dog into a boarding facility while away.
Parasite Prevention Dogs can play host to a number of intestinal parasites, and they don’t even have to meet another dog to pick them up. We recommend administering a de-worming treatment to your pet prior to your departure to ensure they remain in good health and to reduce the spread of intestinal parasites. Tasmania require dogs to have been administered a hydatid treatment at least 14 days prior to entry to the state.
Paralysis ticks are commonly found in coastal areas and some bushland and their toxin cause life threatening paralysis of the respiratory and skeletal muscles. Fortunately, parasite prevention such as Bravecto or Nexgard Spectra are effective in producing long lasting protection against ticks. Some ticks can carry blood borne parasites, therefore we recommend the use of a tick repellent collar such as a Soresto collar, in addition to Bravecto or Nexgard Spectra.
Heartworm is a worm that is spread by mosquitoes and causes potentially fatal disease. Many people incorrectly assume that an intestinal worming treatment will also protect against heartworm, but not all parasite prevention products offer heartworm prevention. Heartworm prevention can be administered as a monthly treatment or annual injection. If administering a monthly treatment, it is important to read the directions closely, as most ‘monthly’ preventions need to be given every 28 days.
Plan your adventure to a new LEASH on life!
Your pet will require frequent stops to stretch, toilet and relax a little. Plan your trip to include frequent, pet friendly stops and stay overs.
Remember, never leave your pet unattended at a camp site or in the car, even for a few minutes. Dogs and cats can overheat in a very short period of time, and get nervous in a new environment.
Happy Howlidays!