Ready to Hit the Road with your Pet?

The sun is shining and the wind is blowing in all kinds of possibilities! Now that the province is starting to re-open you may be considering loading up the family - 4 legged members too - and heading to your favourite home away from home. Whether it be the lake, campsite, sports arena or wherever your favourite not-so-far-away getaway may be, here are a few tips for preparing to vacation with your pets:

Whenever possible, it's beneficial to do a little pre-planning before heading out the door on vacation with Fido or Ms Kitty. Does your pet have a form of permanent identification? If a thunder storm rolls through your campsite and Fido bolts will the good Samaritans who find him be able to track you down? Having identification on his/her collar with a contact number can be very helpful and is probably the fastest route to connecting pup with pup's family, but what if the collar is missing or falls off? Ear tattoos and microchips are very effective, permanent means of identification that can connect you with your pet no matter what the situation. Even if you aren't planning on travelling, microchips just make sense and our veterinarians recommend them for all pets!  

It never hurts to do a little research before you leave home. Where are you heading to? What kinds of diseases and parasites do they have there? Do they differ from what we have in Saskatchewan? Not sure where to begin said research? Ask a member of our veterinary team! Certain regions may require specific vaccines or parasite preventatives.  Heartworm and Lyme disease come to mind right away, but there are many examples of region-specific pathogens that your veterinary team can inform you about. Together, we can develop a protocol specific to your pets' needs to keep everyone as protected as possible while you are enjoying your holiday.

Do your pets require any medications or supplements? Are they on specific diets? These are things to think about before you're packed and ready to hit the open road.  Refill any prescriptions or special diets at our veterinary hospital well in advance of the day you plan to leave. Veterinary clinics at your destination may or may not carry the same products as your home clinic and will also require a physical exam and/or diagnostics prior to filling any medication or food orders as they are not familiar with your pet's previous health history.  Speaking of prescriptions… how will you be transporting them? Always leave medications in their original packaging and keep them out of reach of both children and pets. Be sure to read the labels carefully as some medications have special storage requirements; they may be temperature sensitive - so the dashboard of a parked car may not be an ideal storage location! Medications can also be light sensitive and need to be stored in cool, dark locations. 

We hope you found these pre-travel tips helpful as you prepare for your next getaway- stay tuned for our next segment on what to do if the unexpected happens with your pet while you are away from home!  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, our Fear Free Certified veterinary team is here to help!