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| If you're gonna ride a motorcycle, you've gotta wear shades! |
Pets (especially dogs) love cars, the open road and adventures that might include the opportunity to chase a squirrel up a tree. To ensure your trip goes smoothly we would like to offer up the following tips:
Make sure your pet is fully vaccinated — boarding kennels need bordetella (kennel cough) vaccines to be up to date — usually given within the past six months. Airlines will want to see proof of rabies. If you are traveling back east where there are unfamiliar diseases such as Leptospirosis and Lyme you may want to consider getting these vaccines before you leave (we carry Lyme but not lepto). If you have any questions about where these diseases lurk, you can consult the CAPC for Lyme info as for leptospirosis, the information is spotty and you should discuss it with a veterinary staff member who works in the location you are visiting.
Parts of Tucson have nasty tick populations. The Northeast side and Tanque Verde Valley seems to be largely immune to this, with very sporadic tick issues. Other parts of town, the valley and the state have varying problems with ticks. Because of this we recommend applying tick and flea control to your pet before they travel. If you are uncertain what you need you can call any one of our staff members at 520-299-1146 and they will be happy to help you out. Though high quality flea and tick products can only be sold through a veterinarian, they are not a prescription item. If you suddenly find you need such a product, any veterinary facility will be able to help you choose the appropriate product for your pet.
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| This guy was having a blast chasing sticks at Lake Superior last summer |
Microchip your pet. Pets get lost, they slip collars — sadly in southern Arizona in a roll-over accident on I-10 someone lost 2 dogs — their posters were all over as a grim reminder that unexpected things happen. If you have a microchip in your pet have a veterinary staff member check it periodically to ensure that it has not migrated and that it is still readable. Make sure all contact information is up to date. If you don't have your pet microchipped we strongly suggest that you get it done.
Basic training and commands. I sat at a rest stop up near ShowLow last year and watched a puppy flail on the end of a (15 foot long flexi) leash like a carp before slipping her harness and sprinting across the parking lot, her elderly owners shuffling after her fruitlessly calling her name. The plates on the RV they were in? New York. Some kind soul was able to snatch up the puppy before she did herself damage, but that certainly served as a scary lesson. Apparently the puppy had never worn a harness before. She also had no recall to speak of. If your pet cannot walk on a leash and does not come when called do not take him on a road trip until he can do both with confidence.
Lastly, for everyone's safety ensure that your pet travels well in the car — not on your lap - preferably in a crate or harnessed to a seatbelt. Pets in cars cause distracted driving. Distracted driving kills people. This is a simple equation with an even simpler solution. If your pet is crate trained take her in the crate, if she is not but rides well in the back seat harness her to the back seatbelt.
Traveling with your pet is both fun and rewarding. Pets get to share your adventures and have their own. They get to explore new places, experience new things and meet new people. Dogs who travel tend to be well-behaved, more relaxed and all around better pets.
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| Even in Arizona's high country, water may be tough to find on hikes. |
Best Regards:
Liane Ehrich
Ventana Animal Hospital
Tucson, AZ
520-299-1146
www.ventanaanimalhospital.com
Liane@ventanaanimalhospital.com
