Published: September 16, 2008 07:07 pm            

Road trip time

Make sure your pet is safe while traveling

FAIRMONT — There’s nothing like the excitement of a road trip.

If your outing includes little Kitty or Spot, some common sense and planning will help make the trip enjoyable for everyone.

“First thing, if you’re traveling out of state, most states require a health certificate when you’re traveling from one state to another, even by car,” said Dr. Audra Henderson, veterinarian with the Middletown Animal Clinic.

“Every state has different regulations, whether it’s an exam by a vet in the past 30 days or accurate vaccination records. They’re not as strict when you’re traveling by car, but when you’re flying, a health certificate is a must.”

Whether you’re driving or flying, Kitty or Spot will need to be restrained.

The type and size of carrier will be determined by whether Spot is a Chihuahua or mastiff.

“Dogs need enough room to stand up and turn around but not much more room than that,” said Dr. Scott Moore, veterinarian with Fairmont Veterinary Hospital.

“The traditional cat carrier is good for most cats. Most can move around in them.”

Don’t wait until the day before the trip to introduce your pet to the carrier, he cautioned.

“You want them to see and be around the carrier before the trip. If you place your pet in a stressful situation, this will make the trip rougher.”

Now that you’re on the road, make sure Spot gets that all-important rest room break.

“If you stop at rest areas, a nice healthy, good-sized dog should be able to do more trip in one day,” he said. For Kitty, a portable litter box will do nicely.

If your pet is stressed out, you might need to get some sedatives from your vet.

“If there is a pattern of anxiety induced with travel, then absolutely talk with your vet about reducing the stress,” he said. “That is the key component to all these things you plan.”

In the well-planned vacation car, everything from luggage to snack bag has its place. In this case, for your pet, it’s in that carrier ... or in a chest harness with seat belt attachment.

“It goes back to the idea that we wear a seat belt to protect ourselves,” Moore said. “Your animal needs to be restrained in case of an accident.

“If your pet is roaming around the car, it could cause an accident if it gets under your feet and the brakes or gas, or gets in the way of steering or shifting gears. It should be isolated and contained.”

If your pet is an easy rider, you could allow it to sit free, Henderson said.

“Some pets get stressed out, so they should be kept in a crate or carrier, or confined, in an environment where they can hide from the stress.”

Riding in the open back of a truck is never safe for your pet.

“This is probably one of the most dangerous things you can expose your pet to in traveling,” Moore said.

“If the pet is untethered and it jumps out while the truck is moving, it can incur severe injuries. If it is tethered and jumps out and can’t reach the ground, it will be hanging and traumatized. If the leash is long enough for the pet to reach the ground, you could have severe drag injuries. And this is very, very frightening.”

Spot may love to ride with his sticking out the window, his ears flying in the breeze, but this isn’t safe, either, Henderson said.

“It could get clipped by a car” passing too closely, she said.

“If your pet is prone to getting carsick, see your vet for medications and other therapies to alleviate the symptoms and make the trip as comfortable as you can. Offer food and water if your pet is able to handle it,” she said.

If you stop for your lunch, have one family member walk the dog at a rest stop while someone else goes for the food, Moore advised.

“Personally, when I traveled with my cats, I’d go through the drive-thru only,” he said.

Leaving your pet in a car even with the window cracked “could lead to severe heat stress,” he said. “Even if the window is cracked, the temperature can really spike.”

Leaving the window down any farther could allow your pet to escape.

“Now your pet is loose in a city it does not know. That can be a frightening experience for pet and owner.”

If you’re flying, check your airline for its health requirements and travel regulations on pets. Some allow pets in the cabin with passengers. Others are strictly cargo area-only.

Pack a simple pet first-aid kit that includes assorted bandages, antiseptic cream, an anti-diarrheal medication for pets, gauze squares, phone numbers for your veterinarian, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital at your destination, as well as a national poison control hotline.

In addition to a standard identification tag (which should be labeled with your name, home address, and phone number), your pet’s collar should include a travel tag with information on where you are staying while away from home. Should your pet become lost, this will allow you to be contacted locally.

Perform a daily “health check” on your pet when away from home. In unfamiliar surroundings, your pet’s appetite, energy and disposition may change. Watch for unusual discharges from the nose and eyes, excessive scratching or biting of any body part, abnormal elimination, or excessive water consumption. Visit a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.

E-mail Debra Minor Wilson at dwilson@timeswv.com.

        

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