If you are planning a trip with your best nonhuman friend, there are a number of actions you can take to make sure that the trip goes well for the both of you. Consider these tips for safe travel with your buddy.
Bring enough food to last the vacation or plan to shop for the same brand during your trip so the diet does not suddenly change. A change in food can cause digestive upsets. Bring any medications your pet is on so there is no disruption in the schedule. For your bird, bunny, guinea pig or reptile, bring the vegetables and hay they love.
If traveling by car or RV, make sure you have a good enclosure for your pet that is stable if you have to brake hard. Bring a collapsible water bowl for hikes and a dish to hold water in the car or RV. Have a source of water in the vehicle. A cooler is essential to keep fruits and vegetables fresh.
Never leave your pet in the car if the temperature is over 60 degrees. The car heats up and can kill your pet in 10 minutes. A freezing temperature for more than 10 minutes is also life-threatening.
If you have an animal in the vehicle, some states require that you carry proof of the pet's rabies vaccination and a health certificate to cross state lines. It is up to you to look into these laws and have your pet examined by your veterinarian. Request a signed health certificate from your vet that includes dates of all the vaccinations, and travel with it.
If traveling by plane, it is safer to not sedate your pet. Sedation is the No. 1 cause of death for pets on airplanes. If your pet panics and you know sedation is needed, consult your veterinarian about the safest one to use. Test the sedative a few days before to make sure it does not over sedate your pet. If over sedation occurs, you are present with your pet and can get her to the veterinarian. You can also try a homeopathic remedy. It may be a suitable alternative to a pharmaceutical sedative.
Air travel with a pet always requires a health certificate. Check out the exact specifications your airline requires for carrier type, size and construction. Airlines do not allow snakes in the cabin. Sometimes they allow a small dog or cat under the seat. We once travelled on a flight with a baby kangaroo from a rescue organization.
If you are traveling internationally, find a veterinarian who is U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service accredited for an international health certificate. Some islands such as Hawaii, Australia and Japan require a rabies titer instead of rabies vaccines. A titer is a blood test that measures the number of antibodies that fight the virus in the pets system.
All countries require microchip identification. Your USDA-accredited vet will fill out forms in great detail. Usually you then need to send these forms to New York offices of APHIS, with payment to have them stamped. Many times this has to be done within four to 10 days of your flight. Contact your vet well in advance of the flight, and let her know the country you and your pet are traveling to so she can look up that countrys requirements and forms.
If your pet is not a good traveler and panics, it may be better to hire a pet sitter and let him stay at home where he is comfortable. This is the case with elderly pets as well. Sometimes traveling just upsets their equilibrium and they get sick.
Have a veterinarian picked out at your destination in case you need one in an emergency. Your veterinarian may have a colleague they can refer you to. You can also look for certified cat-friendly practices or American Animal Hospital Association-accredited practices at your destination.
Dr. Elizabeth Bradt is a veterinarian and owner of a veterinary hospital on the North Shore. Email your pet questions to docliz@creaturehealth.com, with "Vet Connection" in the subject line.
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VET CONNECTION: Traveling with your pet takes planning, preparation - The Salem News
