June is ending, and school is just about out. It’s summertime, and for those of us fortunate enough to get some time off to enjoy the sun, vacations may be in order. If you plan to take your pet(s) with you, here are a few things to keep in mind when planning your trip.
Speak to your veterinarian! Consultation to go over travel precautions (different vaccines, disease prophylaxis medications/prevention, travel anxiety, travel requirements) is worthwhile!
1) Travelling outside the country: If you are planning an international travel, be sure to look up the travel requirements of the country you are travelling to. Some have stricter requirements than others, and can potentially require weeks to months in advance to prep get all the required treatment and testing done. Often there are specific paperwork and treatments/vaccines that are required, and some require very strict schedules and timelines to be followed.
2) Disease and parasite prevention: Whether it be within the country, or internationally, different diseases and parasites are present in different areas. It is important to talk with your veterinarian and discuss appropriate preventative measures depending on where you are travelling. For example, heartworm prevention may be required if travelling to heartworm endemic regions, tick preventatives, Lyme disease vaccinations, or leptospirosis vaccinations may be recommended depending on where you are travelling to. Having some medications for potential diarrhea cases while abroad may not be a bad thing to have on hand either!
3) Travel stress/anxiety: Vacation is supposed to be a relaxing time for us, but travel can often be a stressful event for our pets. This can be in the pet carrier, in the car, on a plane, boat, or other means of transport. If you know your pet gets stressed while travelling, have a chat with your veterinarian about different management options. This can include things such as pheromone sprays, dietary supplements, and in some cases anti-anxiety medications.
