GETTING AWAY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?

Many holiday destinations have altered their policies to welcome family pets.

So, why not take your pet with you?!

• Consider taking your pets’ registration papers, vaccination card and your current veterinarians phone number in case a visit to a local vet is required at your travel destination.
• Make a mental note of where the nearest veterinarian is to your holiday site (in case of an emergency).
• Long road trips can be just as tiresome for pets as they are on us. Regular breaks for food, water, toileting and leg stretching will make the journey less stressful.
• Use the correct flea/tick control and heartworm prevention for the region you are travelling in. If your pet has not been using heartworm protection then we will perform a blood test prior to recommending the best prevention method. Find out if your holiday destination is a paralysis tick area or is home to venomous snakes.
• Ensure that your pet has a collar on him/her at all times and that attached is an ID tag with your pets’ name, your name, address and phone number.
• Ensure your pet’s microchip details are up to date.
• Be sure to bring your pet’s regular diet with you, and chopping and changing foods could upset his/her tummy!
• Animals can easily become stressed in a new environment and this can affect their behaviour, digestive patterns and thus affect you and your pet’s enjoyment of the holiday. Little things like a familiar blanket, toy or bed can help ease your pet into new surroundings.
• Some pets may require anti-anxiety remedies to assist with travel or settling into a new environment.