Companion Animal Hospital 1827 156th Avenue N.E. Bellevue, WA 98007 Telephone: (425) 746-1800
Compassion ~ Concern ~ Commitment
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Companion Animal Hospital 1827 156th Avenue N.E. Bellevue, WA 98007 Telephone: (425) 746-1800
Compassion ~ Concern ~ Commitment
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Phone Us At: (425) 746-1800
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The holiday season is upon us, and many of us are traveling to spend time with friends and family. But what about Fido and Fluffy? Traveling with pets can be stressful for you and for your pet. The following information was compiled from the American Veterinary Medical Association to make traveling with your pets easier.
This is a necessary part of traveling with your pets. Consider whether your pet is comfortable traveling. Some animals, like some people, function better in familiar surroundings. A car-sick animal can make a trip miserable for everyone. Some ill or physically impaired dogs and cats cannot withstand the rigors of travel. If this is the case, discuss options such as using a reliable pet sitter or a clean, well managed boarding facility with your veterinarian.
If you will be staying with friends along the way, be considerate. Find out in advance if your pet is welcome. The same goes for hotels, motels, parks and campgrounds. Always check whether pets are allowed or kennel facilities are available. If the pet must be left alone in a hotel room, place the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and inform the maid and the front desk. Consider bringing along a portable kennel for use in hotel rooms or the homes of friends or relatives who are not comfortable with your pet in their home.
A few general tips apply whether you are traveling by car or plane. Be sure your pet is properly identified with a current tag or a microchip. Grooming before a trip and having your pet’s favorite food, toys and dishes available will make your pet more comfortable. Have both proof of rabies vaccine and a current health certificate with you when crossing state or international boarders. This is a requirement for airlines and at international boarders. It is also a good idea to check with your veterinarian to be sure all recommended vaccines are current.
When traveling by car, pack a simple pet first-aid kit that includes assorted bandages, antiseptic cream, an anti-diarrheal medicine that is safe for pets (ask your veterinarian for a recommendation and dose for your size pet), gauze squares, and the phone numbers of your veterinarian, a national poison control hotline, and a 24 hour emergency animal hospital.
In addition to a standard identification tag (which should be labeled with your name, home address and phone number), your pet’s collar should include a travel name tag with information on where you are staying when you are away from home. Should your pet become lost, this will allow you to be contacted locally.
Perform a daily “health check” on your pet when away from home. In unfamiliar surroundings, your pet’s appetite, energy level, and disposition may change. Watch for unusual discharge from the eyes and nose, excessive scratching or biting, unusual lumps or bumps, limping, loss of appetite, abnormal elimination, or excessive water consumption. Visit a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.
Happy Holidays!
Holiday Safety Tips Provided by the ASPCA
The holidays are a time to eat, drink, decorate, and visit with family and friends. However, these festive goodies and décor, while harmless to humans, can be hazardous to your pet’s health. To keep pets happy and healthy during the holiday season, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is offering pet owners the following helpful hints:
§ Holiday sweets and chocolate are not for pets. Depending on the amount ingested, chocolate (bakers, semi sweet, milk and dark) can be potentially poisonous to many animals. In general, the less sweet the chocolate the more toxic it can be. In fact, unsweetened baking chocolate contains almost seven times more theobromine (a substance similar to caffeine) as milk chocolate. Vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity and increased thirst, urination and heart rate can be seen with the ingestion of as little as ¼ ounce of baking chocolate by a 10 lb dog.
§ Keep your pet on his or her normal diet. Any change of diet even for one meal, could give your pet severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true in older animals that have more delicate digestive systems.
§ Candies and gum containing large amounts of the sweetener Xylitol can also be toxic to pets, as ingestions of significant quantities can cause a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, uncoordinated movements and seizures.
§ Do not give pets holiday leftovers and keep pets away from the garbage. Poultry bones can splinter and cause blockages. Greasy, spicy and fatty foods can cause stomach upset, and spoiled or moldy foods can cause food poisoning, tremors or seizures.
§ Alcohol and pets DO NOT mix. Place unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot reach them. If ingested, the animal can become very sick and weak and may go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.
§ Keep aluminum foil and cellophane wrappers away from pets. They can cause vomiting and intestinal blockage.
§ Be careful with holiday floral arrangements. Lilies are commonly used this time of year and all varieties can cause kidney failure in cats. Safe alternatives are using silk floral arrangements instead. Poinsettias are considered to be low in toxicity; however they could cause mild vomiting if ingested by our pet.
§ Common yuletide plants such as mistletoe and holly berries can be potentially toxic to pets. Should a cat or a dog eat mistletoe, they could possibly suffer GI upset and cardiovascular problems. Holly can cause nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
§ Keep pets away from Christmas tree water. The water may contain fertilizers which if ingested can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria and if ingested can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
§ Consider decorating your tree with ornaments that are less enticing to pets, such as dried non toxic flowers, wood, fabric or pinecones. Traditional decorations like ribbons and tinsel can become lodged in the intestines and cause obstruction. This is a very common problem, especially in cats!
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