Traveling with your Dog or Cat

As we wind down the summer, there are still many humans who are planning trips...yes, trips where you will be driving (we will cover flying in a later post) with your dog or cat. Or Dogs. As someone who has traveled with my dogs, cats and iguana (It wasn't pretty) in addition to dealing with clients every day who ask me for advice on traveling with their dog or cats (no iguanas), I feel that I something of value to pass along.

Always, always have Identification. Not just for yourself, but for Mr. Barkie Vonn Schnauser (hereafter "your dog or cat"). I'm not just talking about a tag on their dog or cat collar, I'm also talking about having them microchipped if they are not already. Why you ask? Well, with some collars that are not as well made or simply worn...they can break off or get snagged on a branch or some other object...and voila! Whose dog is this? And some dogs clearly have a Houdini like knack for shimmying out of their collars like an Emerald Green Boa shedding its skin.

In the case of losing a dog or cat collar, you must have a back up plan. And that is your micro chip. You hope that whomever finds your dog or cat will bring them to the veterinarian and have them checked (the dog, not the vet) for a micro chip. You can never be too safe.

Secondly, you will want to make sure your dog or cat is up to date on vaccines - and have proof that they are. Why? When driving from state to state, you can be pulled over and an Officer of the Law may want to see a health certificate for your dog or cat. Sometimes you can usually get away with your vaccine records. Don't have those records handy? Well, let me tell you a little story. You've probably heard about the couple from Racine, Wisconsin traveling to Boca Raton, Florida to see family and yes, they brought Derrick, their Dog, (cute little boxer - bulldog mix). Stop me if you've heard this one before. No? Okay. Predictably, worst case scenario follows. The couple is pulled over in South Carolina, which, unbeknowst to them happens to have the most stringent pet vaccine documentation laws on the books in the United States. The flustered, disbelieving couple could not produce any evidence that their dog Derrick had been vaccinated nor that they even owned (I hate that word) him. In a fit of anger, one owner who will go unnamed raised his voice and wackiness ensues. Bottom line, aforementioned owner spends two days in jail, Derrick spends 5 days in a gulag like kennel until things are straightened out. The couple, vacation ruined, never complete the trip to see the in laws and end up getting divorced two months later from the lingering he said/she said resentment over the incident. Okay, so this event never occurred but you get the point. Being asked for documentation is rare but it has been known to happen.

Carsickness - you will know your pet best: do they like traveling in a car? If they tend to get stressed out, chances are that they will get an upset stomach and, yes, vomit. Or at the very least foam at the mouth a bit. So, do them and you a favor. If you're going to take your dog with you, talk to your vet about something that you can give them to calm them down. There are even natural remedies that you can pursue to help calm your dog. I have no experience with the holistic remedies for treating stressed dogs and cats but I have heard about the use of ginger or a botanical supplement known as "five-flower remedy" that is a synergistic blend of flower essences. This blend is marketed under a number of brand names but it was first developed in the 1930's by one Dr. Edward Bach. You can find this at many natural food and herbal supplement stores. As with any medication or treatment, please consult your vet before making any decisions.

Remember, when traveling with your dog or cat, the more prepared you are, the less you will have to deal with unpleasant surprises. Talk to you soon!