Vacation season is again upon us, so I’d just like to share a few reminders and tips on how to make the summer better and easier for our pets.
We’ve gone over the concerns for heat, but I did forget the obligatory warning about pets in cars. Do not, ever, leave a pet unattended in a car. Even with windows open and/or the car running with the air conditioning on, the potential for a bad outcome far outweighs the convenience of not taking your pets with you. If you are going somewhere where pets are not allowed, please leave them at home.
OK, on to happier thoughts. Many pets do not like to travel, and motion sickness is not a fun thing to deal with in a pet. At best, the stress can affect their bowel movements, and that’s not fun. At worst, they can vomit or become agitated and either spend the trip howling or trying to get out of their kennels, harnesses, or even out of the vehicle. Should your pet manage to escape at a rest stop, they can get lost very quickly in their agitated state, run the woods or, worse yet, even run into traffic.
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Our pets love to join us on vacation but travel can be stressful. There are many ways to make their journeys more comfortable — for both them and you.
If you really need to take a pet with you that doesn’t travel well, there are different products you can use to help ease their stress, from the Gravol people use (refer to your veterinarian for dosage), to calming treats (there are many, using active ingredients such as chamomile, tryptophan, melatonin or even CBD/THC). It’s always best to do a trial run with any product to make sure it works, and it might take a couple tries to find the right product and dosage. Still, it’s far better to find out before you start a trip.
Fresh food and water are also important. Not changing too much, even their water source, can help reduce stress. If you use shelf-stable foods, those are easy to bring along. However, if you use fresh or frozen foods, it can be a little more difficult. There are the standard portable coolers and even small 12-volt freezers you can buy that will hold fresh foods longer.
Many people will move from frozen to freeze-dried or other low-processed foods that are shelf-stable for trips. These are fairly expensive, but reduce the effects of changing diets. Again, like the calmers, it’s best to do trial runs, and make the changeover before starting the trip. The number of such foods now available is quite extensive, with product available for every special diet out there.
Secure harnesses and screw-in tie-outs can make rest stops and overnights a lot more secure when you don’t have a fenced yard for the pet. Even with a tie-out and harness, though, you still need to be aware of predators, especially with small pets. Hawks, owls, coyotes and even wolves can pose a threat. Make sure your pets are supervised or given protective shelter to which they can retreat.
A little preparation can make a big difference in having both a fun and safe vacation.
Jeff McFarlane
Pets Are People, Too
Jeff McFarlane is the owner of Thrive Pet Food Market. Contact him with your questions or ideas thrivepetfoodmarket@shaw.ca or visit www.thrivepetfoodmarket.com
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