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Packing and Preparing to Leave
Give your pet a bath. Whether you travel by car or plane, a clean pet will be more pleasant to share travel accommodations with. Start with a good brushing to remove all mats and loose hair. We've already discussed fleas, etc in section one - Take your pet to the vet. Make sure the nails are freshly clipped to prevent damage to the car upholstery, your clothes, and motel furnishings.
A packing list:
- crate, kennel, or seat belt harness
- any regular medications - heartworm pills, thyroid pills, arthritis medication, etc
- proof of vaccinations, health certificate and license and a temporary tag. Luggage tags are excellent for this purpose. You can write on both sides and fasten them to a collar if necessary, or make one from heavy paper and be sure to include all of the information from the original tags. Rabies #s, microchip registration #s, cell phone #, their favorite call name. - anything you can think of that might be pertinent if your pet becomes lost. Laminate it. You can buy lamination sheets that you can slip your paper between and close up.
- A sturdy leash and an extra collar with your name, address and emergency phone numbers on them - maybe two leashes
- a recent picture of your pet
- Some of your pet's clean bedding, favorite toys and chew treats
- several days of your pet's food.( We pre-measure it into Ziplocs™. That way, we feed the dog and have a baggie right there to clean up the feces for that all-important after dinner walk.) If you feed canned food, don't forget the can opener, and plan to dispose of unrefrigerated food.
- dog bowl and a water bucket
- Tip - in the spring get several of those children's sand pails or plastic hardware store paint buckets. They make great water buckets and are cheaper than metal buckets and bowls, and if you forget to pick them up and take them when you leave a motel, no huge loss.
- extra drinking water from home. When you are down to a day or two's supply, start mixing equal parts of local water with it to convert your pet over. If you're concerned, by a couple of gallons of distilled water to finish your trip
- A first aid kit with:
- tweezers to remove burrs or thorns from feet
- a topical antibiotic for small cuts and scrapes
- buffered aspirin for aches and sprains from muscle overexertion -(not ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
- gauze and wrapping tape to keep wounds clean until you can reach a local veterinary
- Pepto Bismol™, Immodium™ or a prescription for diarrhea
- the national poison control hotline number
- a 24 hour emergency veterinary number
- baby wipes and other grooming supplies - combs, lint pick-ups, etc - for quick clean-ups
- flashlight for nighttime walks
- carpet cleaner, disinfectant sprays and old towels. You may be billed if you use the motel's towels to clean up a mess. A couple of old sheets to cover car seats or motel bedding and chairs. Dish soap to clean their water and food dishes. Paper towels and maybe some of those baby clean-up sheets.
- windshield and side window shades, spare car keys
- extra supplies for cats
- plastic bags to get rid of waste
- fresh litter pan with extra liners and their favorite litter. Some newspaper to place underneath
Traveling by car?
Did you remember to get your pet used to the car over the last several weeks?
Feed your pet lightly a few hours before leaving and be sure they have ample opportunity to relieve themselves. Make sure there's a water bucket clipped to the inside of their crate with water in it. We frequently put some of the ice from our cooler in their water buckets to be sure theirs stays cool. Check it periodically to be sure they're not out of water. Clean their food and water dishes regularly.
Make sure they are wearing those properly labeled collars.
If your pet needs an anti-motion sickness medication, follow your veterinarian's advice as to when to give it. Some pets are helped by a piece of sugar candy to calm an upset tummy. (One piece,- not two, three or more! No chocolate!) The same advice goes for sedatives, etc.
Make sure your car's air-conditioning is working before you leave. Many pets die each year from heatstroke. Your pet should be riding in the same climate controlled conditions that you are. Don't leave them in a hot car during the summer. Even in cool conditions, leave the windows ajar for ventilation. It's amazing how quickly a car can heat up, even when temperatures outside don't seem that bad. Try to find a shaded area to leave the car. If it's too hot for you to wait in the car, don't leave your pet there. If you're traveling in a van, be careful of the temperature at the back. Sometimes it's much hotter in the back than it is near the air conditioner in the front.
Hot weather isn't the only time to worry about leaving a pet in the car. Winter conditions can quickly turn a car into an icebox. Be sure your pet has warm bedding if you're leaving it for a short time.
Stop frequently at rest stops for exercise. Always fasten the leash on your pet before they get out of their kennel. Don't allow your pet to ride loose in the car. It isn't safe for them to be jumping around and over the seats. Place them in their kennel or in a proper seat belt or carrier. Don't give your pet a chance to jump from the vehicle without a leash. They could bolt in front of oncoming traffic or run into the woods and be lost.
Do not ever let your dog ride with its head out of a window or in the back of open truck. Flying bugs can penetrate the cornea of the eye and blind them. Strong winds can cause inner ear problems and ear hematomas. Restrained animals that ride in the back of an open truck are also exposed to flying bugs and debris. Sudden stops can throw them out onto the pavement. If they manage to reach the side of the truck and fall over, they'll strangle before you can stop to free them. If the restraint is long enough for them to reach the ground, the fall at highway speeds and being dragged behind a vehicle is too horrible to consider. Unrestrained pets that ride in open trucks face the same dangers if they jump out. Skidding along a highway after jumping will kill or severely injure your pet.
If you are planning to stop for an attraction (amusement rides, museum, zoo anyone?), check with a local veterinary or boarding kennel for their rates for a day. You may need to check on this in advance. Some amusement parks have kennels that you can use for a small fee. Don't count on finding a shady place to park the car. (When have you Ever seen any shade in one of those giant parking lots? Much less shade that would be there 3 hours later!) If it's after dark and the temperature is below 60º, you can crack the windows an inch or two and leave him in his crate.
When you and your pet arrive at your destination, you will find that your pet has the same problems adjusting as you do. It must learn where it's food and water will be, and it's wandering limits.
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