Vacation With Pets: Should They Stay or Should They Go?
Summer is in full swing at Ash Veterinary Clinic and Emergency Center. We receive many calls concerning pets and vacation. Some owners are concerned about possible risks of taking their pets with them, while others are concerned about leaving their pets at home or in the care of someone else. So we are going to continue our “Summer Pet Series” discussing the safest and healthiest place for your pets when the family is on vacation.
The choice to take or leave your pet certainly depends on where you are going and the kind of pet you have. Many people enjoy taking their dogs on vacation but tend to leave cats, rabbits, birds, fish and reptiles at home with a caretaker. These pets seem to do fairly well with either having someone stay at your home with them or checking on them daily. Some of our clients tell us they leave their cats at home and have someone come every 2-3 days. Even though cats tend to be more isolated than dogs, we do recommend having someone care for them, at the very least, daily. If your cat has a medical condition, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, and/or are on medication, then keeping them under the watchful eye of someone that can give their medication is the best thing for their health. You may even choose to board/kennel them while you are away. Ash Veterinary Clinic is one of the few hospitals that can board them, give them a large place to stay, and make sure they stay healthy. Besides, most cats do not like the travel part of the vacation.
On the other hand, many dogs travel well and do well while on vacation. Deciding whether your dog is a good candidate to travel will heavily depend on the type of dog, health of the dog, and of course where you are going. If your destination is an up north cabin, or camping in a camping park tends to be great places for dogs to go. Make sure you confirm that the camping area or rental home or cottage does allow dogs and inquire if there is a weight limit or any breed restrictions. If your plans include camping, beach fun, National Park visits, etc. this is the most logical time to take your dog with you. If you are flying to a vacation spot, you will need to obtain a health certificate within 10 days of the flight. Only dogs of a certain size and weight can be carried on the plane, so that would be an option. I would NOT, under NO CIRCUMSTACES, EVER allow my pet to be in the bottom of the plane. The amount of deaths that occurred in the haul of planes (including all of the airline companies) is unacceptable. The area they are kept in is not temperature controlled and if there are other pets in the area barking can stress more nervous pets causing them to get sick. If you are traveling to the west coast, you will see that dogs are very well accepted in stores, restaurants and parks. Of course these tend to be the dogs that are small and are carried in a purse or duffle bag. No matter what size the pet is, some become very anxious when they sense you are packing to leave. These ones are the ones that can override any sedative we recommend. To avoid this, we recommend that your doctor’s recommendation should be done a few times before, at home, to see how the pet reacts on the medication. In addition, self-dosing at home is discouraged as well. Pets require different doses. Pets also require different doses for different conditions so it is imperative to use only what your veterinarian recommends.
If you cannot or choose not to take your pet on vacation, either you will need a caretaker at your home all of the time, or board in a facility such as Ash Veterinary Clinic. We have a very nice area for all of our boarders which include and outdoor run when the weather is nice and a fenced in yard for their own individual play/relax time outside. The best thing about it is that Ash Veterinary Clinic is licensed to board, kennel, and hospitalize patients at our facility which is the only one in our community, so having a doctor there at all times, seems to ease many of our pet moms and dads. No matter what choice you make, keep in mind that pets are like younger children in many ways. They like their routines and sometimes become agitated when things are out of order. Lastly, during this time of summer, we cannot forget the risks of the Canine Influenza that is here in Michigan. If you board at Ash Veterinary Clinic, we are requiring the influenza vaccine for all dogs. This is to provide safety to all of the dogs who are boarded in the same area. You too should make sure if you pets are going to be around other dogs or in a different area than they normally are, the influenza virus is a very real disease that can be fatal.
Go ahead and plan your vacation with the family. If you are going to take your pet with you, make sure the veterinarian says your pet is fine to travel and do all vaccines and preventions they recommend to keep everyone safe at home or away. If you want to go and not worry about your pets, please call and leave all of the fun playtime planning to us. Not only will they be safe, but they will love every minute of their stay. If you have any particular or specific questions regarding your summertime fun and vacation, feel free to call us at Ash Veterinary Clinic at 734-782-2827 or email us at Ashvet2012@gmail.com.
