What to Do Before Em'barking on a Trip
With Your Pet

For families with pets, a summer vacation would not be complete without
the companionship of their beloved four-legged friends. Yet, hitting the
open road with Fido or Felix could cause stress to both pet and pet parent
unless the right steps are taken to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.


"Pets such as dogs and cats are often excited by the prospect of travel in
cars and can enjoy a road trip as much as their human companions, but
disruptions to their schedule can have a negative impact on pets leaving
them stressed and frightened," said PetsIncredible animal trainer and 2006
Comfort Zone Dog Trainer of the Year, Kellyann Conway. Pet parents can
keep their dog, cat safe during travel by anticipating their needs and
planning properly for the trip.


For Car Travel  

If your pet has problems with motion sickness
and/or exhibits excessive excitability that may
require treatment from a veterinarian.
* Secure your pet in a carrier or a pet seatbelt
harness to ensure your cat ordog is safe in the
event of an accident and is unable to cause
distraction to the driver.
* Try to keep your pet on his normal feeding schedule.
* Keep plenty of fresh water on-hand to ensure your pet stays well
hydrated.
* Stop often, allowing your pet to get a little exercise and some extra potty
breaks.
* Don't forget a leash and a properly fitted collar and id tags for pit stops
during the journey.
* Bring your pet's identification, medication and a current photo in the event
you are separated. Also, talk with your veterinarian about - microchipping
your pet for added security in your travels.
* Never ever leave your pet alone in a car. Extreme cold and hot
temperatures (even if a window is left partially open) can be fatal in just a
matter of minutes.  
Pet Safety

Hot weather can make us all uncomfortable, and it poses special risks for your
dog. Keep the following safety concerns in mind as the temperature rises, and
follow our tips to keep your dog cool.
Heat Hazards - General Health - Beach Tips - Water Safety - Travel - Heatstroke

Heat Hazards

If your dog is outside on a hot day, make sure he has a shady spot to rest in.
Doghouses are not good shelter during the summer as they can trap heat. You
may want to fill a child’s wading pool with fresh water for your dog to cool off in.

Never leave your dog in a closed vehicle on a hot day. The temperature inside a
car can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.

Always provide plenty of cool, fresh water.

Avoid strenuous exercise on extremely hot days. Take walks in the early
mornings or evenings, when the sun’s heat is less intense.

Try to avoid prolonged exposure to hot asphalt or sand, which can burn your
dog’s paws.

Dogs that are brachycephalic (short-faced), such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Japanese
Chins, and Pekingese, have an especially hard time in the heat because they do
not pant as efficiently as longer-faced dogs. Keep your brachycephalic dog
inside with air-conditioning.
General Health

Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date, especially since dogs tend to
stay outdoors longer and come into contact with other animals more during the
summer months.

Keep dogs off of lawns that have been chemically treated or fertilized for 24
hours (or according to package instructions), and away from potentially toxic
plants and flowers.

Keep your dog well-brushed and clean.

Fleas and ticks, and the mosquitos which carry heartworm disease, are more
prevalent in warmer months. Ask your veterinarian for an effective preventive to
keep these parasites off your dog. The AKC Pet Healthcare Plan can help with
the cost of providing quality healthcare, including preventive medicine,
throughout your dog's life.

Beach Tips

Make sure your dog has a shady spot to rest in and plenty of fresh water.

Dogs, especially those with short hair, white fur, and pink skin, can sunburn.
Limit your dog’s exposure during the day and apply sunblock to his ears and
nose 30 minutes before going outside.

Check with a lifeguard for daily water conditions. Dogs are easy targets for sea
lice and jellyfish.

Running on the sand is strenuous exercise. A dog that is out of shape can easily
pull a tendon or ligament, so keep a check on your dog’s activity.

Do not let your dog drink seawater; the salt will make him sick.

Salt and other minerals in ocean water can damage your dog’s coat, so rinse him
off at the end of the day.

Not all beaches permit dogs; check local ordinances before heading out.

Water Safety

Most dogs enjoy swimming, but some cannot swim, and others may hate the
water. Be conscious of your dog’s preferences and skills before trying to make
him swim.

If you’re swimming for the first time with your dog, start in shallow water and
coax him in by calling his name. Encourage him with toys or treats. Or, let him
follow another experienced dog he is friendly with.

Never throw your dog into the water.

If your dog begins to paddle with his front legs, lift his hind legs and help him
float. He should quickly catch on and keep his back end up.

Don’t let your dog overdo it; swimming is very hard work and he may tire quickly.

If swimming at the ocean, be careful of strong tides.

If you have your own pool, make sure your dog knows where the stairs or ladder
are located. Be sure that pool covers are firmly in place; dogs have been known
to slip in under openings in the covers and drown.

Never leave your dog unattended in water.

Travel

By Air - Many airlines will not ship animals during summer months due to
dangers caused by hot weather. Some will only allow dogs to fly in the early
morning or in the evening. Check with your airlines for specific rules.

If you do ship a dog, put icepacks or an ice blanket in the dog’s crate. (Two-liter
soft drink bottles filled with water and frozen work well.) Provide a container of
fresh water, as well as a container of frozen water that will thaw over the course
of the trip.

By Car - Keep your dog cool in the car by putting icepacks in his crate. Make
sure the crate is well ventilated.

Put a sunshade on your car windows.

Bring along fresh water and a bowl, and a tarp or tent so you can set up a shady
spot when you stop. Keep a spray bottle filled with water to spritz on your dog to
cool him down.

By RV - A dog’s safety should not depend on the air conditioning and generator
systems in an RV or motor home. These devices can malfunction, with tragic
results.

If you leave your dog in an RV with the generator running, check it often or have
a neighbor monitor it. Some manufacturers have devices that will notify you if the
generator should malfunction.

Never leave an RV or motor home completely shut up, even if the generator and
AC are running. Crack a window or door or run the exhaust fan.

Never, ever leave a dog unattended in a vehicle in the summer months.
Heatstroke and death can occur within minutes in warm temperatures.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke can be the serious and often fatal result of a dog’s prolonged
exposure to excessive heat. Below are the signs of heatstroke and the actions
you should take if your dog is overcome.

Early Stages:
• Heavy panting.
• Rapid breathing.
• Excessive drooling.
• Bright red gums and tongue.
• Standing 4-square, posting or spreading out in an attempt to maintain balance.

Advanced Stages:
• White or blue gums.
• Lethargy, unwillingness to move.
• Uncontrollable urination or defecation.
• Labored, noisy breathing.
• Shock.

If your dog begins to exhibit signs of heatstroke, you should immediately try to
cool the dog down:
• Apply rubbing alcohol to the dog’s paw pads.
• Apply ice packs to the groin area.
• Hose down with water.
• Allow the dog to lick ice chips or drink a small amount of water.
• Offer Pedialyte to restore electrolytes.

Check your dog’s temperature regularly during this process. Once the dog’s
temperature has stabilized at between 100 to 102 degrees, you can stop the cool-
down process.

If you cannot get the dog cooled down and you begin to see signs of advanced
heatstroke, take the dog to the veterinarian immediately.
Cat Safety Tips

Curiosity killed the cat. Unfortunately the famous saying
has a leg to stand on in reality. Cats are indeed curious
and their curiosity can get them into trouble.
This is especially true of kittens, although some cats
remain extremely curious throughout their life.

It is up to you, the responsible cat owner, to make sure that your cat's curiosity
doesn't land her in life-threatening situations. IT is up to you to keep your cat's
living environment as hazard-free as possible. Kitty-proofing your home involves
many measures, not all of them covered in this article. Hopefully, some of
guidelines presented here will help you keep your cat safe.

Here are ten simple tips to help you make your home safer for your resident
feline(s). This is by no means a comprehensive cat safety guide, only a few
pointers.

1. Keep your windows screened at all times. Never assume that your kitty will be
able to keep her balance on the window sill. Even the most agile of cats is bound
to take a dangerous fall given enough trips to an unsecured window sill.
2. Always keep your cat ID'ed. You never know when your indoors-only cat will
somehow get outside unsupervised. A cat collar with a clear ID tag that contains
your name, phone number and a request to call that number if the cat is ever
found outdoors, can truly save your cat's life and bring her back to you.
3. Refrigerate canned cat food within minutes of opening the can. Cat food can
go bad quickly when left outside on a hot day and cause a food poisoning. Never
leave moist food out for more than half an hour. Any leftovers should be
removed and refrigerated.
4. Stir cat food that was heated in the microwave and make sure the food isn't
too hot. Microwave-heated food can have hot spots hidden inside and these
could easily give your cat a nasty burn.
5. Store poisons away from the cat's reach. Make sure that poisons, such as
detergents and medicine, are securely locked away behind latched doors.
Detergent bottles, even when tightly shut, can have drips of poisonous content
over them. A cat rubbing against them could end up licking poison off her coat.
6. Triple check appliances where your cat may hide. Stories of cats caught in a
washing machine or a dryer aren't just urban legends. Don't allow these
appliances to become playing or resting areas. Keep their doors shut when not
in use. And when you do use them, always triple check before running them!
7. Keep sharp utensils away from your cat's reach. A sharp knife can cut a
curious tongue or paw, if left on the table or counter, still covered in tempting
gravy.
8. Clear your house of anything that your cat might ingest. Hobbies that involve
threads, needles, glue and small pieces can turn your home into a kitty minefield.
Especially when dealing with active kittens, make sure that anything that might
be ingested is out of reach.
9. Keep your toilet lid closed when not in use. If you have a kitten in your home,
you could be saving her from jumping in and drowning. An older cat may be
tempted to drink from the toilet water. Not only gross, but a risk of ingesting
some of the disinfectants used in toilets.
10. Remove poisonous plants form your home. Check lists of plants that are
toxic to cats and simply take those out of your home. While not all cats nibble on
greenery, it's best to avoid the risk, especially when bringing home a new cat or
kitten.