Travelling with your pet - Great tips to prepare your pet for travel

Author: Amanda   Date Posted:6 November 2016 

PREPARING YOUR PET FOR TRAVEL

Summer is here and it's a time when many people go on holidays and set out on road trips and travel to various locations around Australia.  If you are taking your pet with you on holidays, it's important to consider a few things before you set off on your journey.

 

RESEARCH YOUR DESTINATION

It's important to be well informed of the potential risks and common parasites to your pet in your travel destination.

If you are heading to an environment that is hot and humid, its important to be aware that these conditions encourage the growth of yeast and bacteria.This can make your pet more susceptible to skin and ear infections.  If your jouney takes you anywhere allong the 20 kilometre stretch of the East Coast of Australia where the Paralysis Tick is usually found, it is essential that you protect your pet against this deadly parasite. 

Paralysis ticks attach to animals and feed on their blood.  As they feed, they secrete a toxin into the animal.  This toxin affects the nervous system of your pet's body and can potentially be fatal to your pet if they are not on effective tick prevention.

Tick prevention should be started a least a week before you reach your destination.  There are many tick prevention products available such as:

 

• Nexgard

• Bravecto

• Tick Collars - Kiltix, Scalibor or Preventic

• Advantix

• Frontline Plus

• Seresto

• Frontline Spray the only product safe for use in cats for tick prevention

​Remeber to always do daily searches of your pet for ticks in conjunction with using a tick preventative product.

Some other risks to your pet are:

• Heartworm - spread by mosquitoes, it is essential to use heartworm prevention for your dog all year round.  Although the incidence of heartworm disease in cats is lower than that of dogs it is still important to use a heartworm preventative such as Revolution or Milbemax monthly. To treat heartworm is very costly and a lengthy process so prevention is always better than cure.  The risk of heartworm disease increases in warmer climates.  There are many products available to use for Heartworm Prevention in dogs.

*Image courtesy of Novartis Animal Health*

Remember that if you have not had your dog on heartworm prevention previously - check with your veterinarian in regards to having your dog tested for heartworm prior to starting any product*.

• Tropical Hookworm - common in warm tropical and sub-tropical regions (for example the Kimberley region and tropical northern Australia)

• Leptospira - transmitted through being in contact with infected animal urine or flesh.  Soil, mud and water contaminated with animal urine can be a source of infection.  Eating or drinking contaminated food or water has occassionally been responsible for transmission. Although leptospirosis is relatively rare in Australia, it is more common in warm and moist regions such as north-eastern NSW and QLD.  If you are undertaking any activities with your pet such as camping, gardening,bushwalking or water sports or visiting the above areas, it is essential that you speak with your pet's veterinarian about how best to protect your pet.

• Fleas - Fleas are found everywhere!  Keep your pet's flea protection up year round. Fleas love our climate - hot and humid!

• Hydatid Tapeworm - Some states such as Tasmania require your dog to be treated for Hydatid tapeworm.  Check with your veterinarian regarding the dose your dog requires.  If you are going to an area where there is potential risk, treat  your pet with the correct dose of a Tapeworm Tablet for your dog.

• Snakes -Each spring sees 100's of snakes come out of hibernation. Be aware of where the highly venemous snakes are and if you are going to be travelling to these areas, it is so important that you know the emergency procedures if you pet is bitten.

• Do not apply a tourniqet or try and remove the venom.  Keep your pet as still as possible until you reach the vet.

 

FIRST AID KIT

Having a first aid kit for your pet is part of being a responsible pet owner.  All pet owners should have a first aid kit in their household. It is especially important when you are travelling and your pet gets injured and immediate veterinary attention is not possible.  Human first aid kits often lack the important items you need to treat your pet. 

We recommend having the appropriate knowledge of how to handle a situation in your possession.

• Pet First Aid Book such as the Pet Lover's Guide to First Aid and Emergency or a great App from Boehringer ingelheim called First Aid for Pets (For Apple phones) or First Aid for Pets (Android) will educate you how to recognise and emergency and the appropriate actions to respond.

• Portable first Aid Kit - We have a great First Aid Kit available for purchase. 

• Emergency numbers - these will include your local veterinarian and ater hours emergency veterinary hosptials, plus your destinations closest veterinarian

• First aid items for Horses - includes a large range of first aid items.  Check out our range of First Aid items for horses.  These are useful in emergencies until you can see a veterinarian.

 

DON'T FORGET THE FISH!

If you are going away for the weekend or a couple of weeks, we stock Holiday feeders for fish and also hermit crabs.

 

FOOD, MEDICATION & PREVENTATIVES

Remember to check that you have enough food for your pet’s over the Holiday Period. 

We are closed:

• Sunday 25th December

• Monday 26th December

• Tuesday 27th December

• Friday 1st January 2017

• Monday 4th January 2017

Dogs and cats can get intestinal upsets if there is a sudden change in their food.  Loose stools or diarrhoea may occur. To prevent this happening purchase enough dog and cat food now to give you peace of mind.

Check the calendar and check when your pet’s are due for their heartworm prevention, intestinal worming and flea and tick control.  There is nothing worse than running out and missing a dose of these important products for your pet’s health and wellbeing. If your pet is boarding at kennel you will need to make sure they are up to date with their preventative health products such as flea and tick control.  If your pet is on a special diet, make sure you purchase enough to last them their entire stay at the boarding kennels.

 

 

Check out our other blogs on Car Safety, Travel Essentials & Summer Safety for more great tips

 

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