When you’re getting ready for a summer vacation, no doubt you want to include your four-legged family members in your travel plans. Whether you’re taking a short road trip or flying internationally, here are a few tips on how to travel with a dog or cat.

Transporting Your Pet Safely

The first challenge you may face when taking your pets on vacation is transportation. Keeping your cat or dog safe and comfortable is a must when you’re traveling. Here are some expert tips for traveling by car and by plane.

Tips for Traveling with Pets in Cars

Car trips can save you the hassle of taking your pet on public transportation. As long as you’re mindful of your pets’ safety, you will all enjoy your great adventure together.

1. Safety first. Just like we need to wear a seatbelt to keep us safe in the event of a crash, crates and carriers can protect your dog or cat from danger. Don’t let your pets wander around the car, because they might get injured or distract the driver and cause an accident.
2. Take breaks often. It is important to make time for your pet to relieve themself, eat and drink, and stretch their legs throughout the road trip. Make sure that at rest stops, your pet never leaves the car without a collar, leash, and ID tag. Also, check the signs to be sure that you’re only using rest stop areas designated for pets.
3. Bring a (human) friend. Taking someone else along for the ride can help you share the driving responsibilities. It also provides you with a trusted babysitter for your pets while you take your own restroom or snack breaks.
4. Never leave pets alone. Car temperatures can quickly rise to life-threatening levels. Even with the windows cracked, the inside of a car can reach over 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes on a hot day. Never leave pets unattended!

Tips for Traveling with Pets on Planes

Air travel with pets comes with a lot of risks. In general, it is best to avoid bringing your dog or cat on an airplane if you can. If you must bring your pet on a plane, check your airline’s pet policy guide to see if you can bring them in the cabin with you. This is a much safer option than the cargo hold, and many airlines will allow it for a fee.

If you must bring your pet along in the cargo hold, keep these tips in mind:

1. Know the risks. Excessive temperatures, poor ventilation, and rough handling can all endanger your pet on a plane. Research the performance history of the airline you’re using to make sure they have a good track record when it comes to keeping pets safe in the cargo hold.
2. Book direct flights. Airline transfers and delays can increase the risk of losing your pet.
3. Label everything. Put your name and contact information on your pet’s carrier and collar, and give them a temporary travel ID with the information that can be used to reach you at your destination. Carry a picture of your pet with you so airline staff can help you find them if they are lost.
4. Keep your pet comfortable. Give your dog or cat a month or so to become familiar with the travel carrier, and trim their nails to prevent them from catching them in the carrier door or vents. Don’t feed your pet for 4-6 hours before the trip to avoid accidents. 
5. Do NOT medicate your pet. Only administer tranquilizers if they have been approved and prescribed by your veterinarian.
6. Report ill treatment. Remember, you are the voice for your dog or cat. If you see them or anyone else’s pets being mishandled, inform the airline immediately. 
7. See a vet. As soon as you reach your destination, let your pet out of their carrier and make sure they are behaving normally. If anything seems off, take them to a vet right away.

Get Your Pet a Passport

International travel with a dog or cat may require a pet passport. This collection of required documentation may include health paperwork, vaccination records, microchip certificates, or import permits. Even when you’re only traveling between states, it’s always a good idea to bring a copy of your pet’s medical and vaccination history along with you.

Know Your Destination’s Pet Health Requirements

To bring your pet on vacation either stateside or abroad, they may need to meet certain health requirements and be up-to-date on their vaccines. You can learn more about pet health requirements from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 

Take a Pet-Friendly Vacation

The best way to make sure that traveling with your cat or dog goes smoothly is to plan your trip around them. Finding pet-friendly hotels and destinations can make your family vacation fun and memorable for all.

Another way to make sure your pet stays safe while you’re traveling is to send them to a resort of their own. Pet resorts allow your dog or cat to enjoy a vacation without the hassle of travel.

Getting Ready for Pet Travel in Gilbert

Whether you’re taking your pet on vacation with you, or want to leave them in the care of someone you trust, Anasazi Animal Clinic is here to help make your travel plans stress-free. If your pets need immunizations, a pre-travel checkup, or you’re looking for pet travel care advice, schedule an appointment today.

Photo by Andrew Pons on Unsplash

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Why Do People Microchip Their Pets?

Microchipping your pets gives you the best chance of being reunited if your pets get lost. When a shelter or veterinary clinic takes in a lost pet, they can scan the microchip and contact the registry in order to get your name and phone number. The American Veterinary Medical Association found that microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time and microchipped cats 38.5% percent of the time. 

Microchips last for 25 years, which is longer than the typical lifespan of a dog or cat. This means that you will only ever have to microchip them once when they are little. Keeping the information up to date is critical in case your pet becomes lost. If you ever move or change your phone number, don’t forget to update your microchip registration.

Is Microchipping Your Pets Safe?

Microchips are implanted just under the skin, usually right between the shoulder blades. This procedure does not require anesthesia and the microchips are very small, about the size of a grain of rice. Each microchip contains a registration number and the phone number of the registry for the brand of chip that you choose. 

The process of microchipping your pet is very quick and virtually painless. Rare risks include tumors at the site of the chip and other similar complications. However, these cases are extremely uncommon. If your pet is in pain after the microchip procedure, you should schedule a veterinary exam as soon as possible.

Schedule a Wellness Exam Today

At Anasazi Animal Clinic in Gilbert, we always treat your pets with loving care. If you have questions about microchipping your pets, please contact us. We are committed to your pet’s well being and safety above all else.

Photo by Berkay Gumustekin on Unsplash

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Florida – Ernest Hemingway Home And Museum

Let’s get started with one vacation spot that is close to home here in America. Florida is known for its beaches, but you may not have known that it also features Ernest Hemingway’s Home and Museum. This home of one of America’s most respected authors is open for tours and features over 40 cats who roam about the residence. What’s so unique about these cats? Some of them actually hail from his very own six-toed cat, Snow White and even those that don’t still carry the 6-toed gene. Each cat is named after a famous individual, carrying on the tradition of how Hemingway named his own cats.

Japan – Cat Islands, Cat Cafes, & More

Asia is a very cat-friendly continent. And Japan, in particular, has a number of cat-lover vacation spots while being a great destination in its own right. If you’re visiting Japan, you can dine at any number of their cat cafes and even drop by one of their unique cat islands. Japan is so cat-crazy that you could probably center your entire vacation around cats–if you really wanted. However, if Japan isn’t in the budget right now, there are actually a number of cat cafes sprouting up in America, as well.

Taiwan – Houtong & Cat Cafes

Taiwan, like Japan, is also a great nation for cat lovers. You’ll find cat cafes all over this small South Pacific Island, but one town in particular, Houtong, has become a tourist attraction in its own right because of, you guessed it, cats. This town was largely abandoned by miners who had brought in cats to fend off rodents. Since then, the cat community has flourished and the town has become very cat-centralized. You can find shops and cafes full of everything a cat lover could want.

Amsterdam – De Poezenboot, Cat Cabinet

Amsterdam has its own cat-centric surprises. De Poezenboot (the Cat Boat) is a boat used as an animal shelter for felines. This shelter allows adoptions and donations from its visitors and is open to the public. Just make sure to plan your visit ahead of time because the visiting hours are limited since it is run by volunteers. 

Another destination in Amsterdam you may or may not have heard of is the Cat Cabinet (or De Kattenkabinet). This small museum features a collection of cat-themed art including sculptures, paintings, posters, and books with an air of humor about it that is appropriate for a museum of such a theme. Some of the pieces were even created by world famous artists such as Picasso, Rembrandt, Corneille, and more. And, yes, the museum does house a handful of cats which you may see roaming around.

Contact Us!

Of course, these are by no means the only cat-themed destinations around the world and you may find more the meet your fancy. At Anasazi Animal Clinic, your vet in Gilbert, Arizona, we’re cat lovers, and we pride ourselves on having compassionate and caring interactions with our clients and their pets. Contact us today for all your veterinarian needs and have fun planning your next vacation!

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (06/24/2019) Photo by Ayla Meinberg on Unsplash

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Is it Necessary to Bring Your Pet Along?

If you’re moving across the country or you’re going to be out of town for an extended period of time and cannot afford to use a boarding service, traveling with your pet may be your only choice. But since flying is stressful, traveling by car or leaving your pet at home are options worth considering.

You may have heard some frightening stories and myths about flying with pets and you aren’t sure whether to believe them. Here is one fact; while thousands of animals are transported by plane a year, in 2017 there were 24 deaths of animals, 15 injuries, and one loss reported by the Department of Transportation. This reality is worth thinking about when you’re weighing your options for flying, driving, or leaving your pet at home.

In addition, there have been a few scientific studies done on the physiological and behavioral responses of dogs during a flight. One study concludes “Our results suggest that both road and air transport are stressful for dogs, at least for animals who are not used to travel.” This study also noted that sedation of the dog did not seem to play a role in heartbeat or stress response. Interesting!

Prepare Your Pet for the Flight

Once you have determined that it’s absolutely necessary to fly with your pet, it’s time to prepare them for the journey ahead. Whether you’re checking your pet into the temperature-regulated cargo hold underneath the plane or bringing them into the cabin with you, there are several ways to help your pet adapt to the in-flight journey.

In Advance

• Acclimate your cat or dog to their crate or carrying case.
• The day of travel will include a lot of strange noises and movements for your pet.  Simulating some of these experiences in advance can be helpful in preparing them.
• Make sure that you have checked with the airline about any necessary immunizations.
• Schedule an appointment with your local vet shortly before you fly to ensure they are at optimal health and can endure a strenuous flight.

Day of Travel

• If you have a dog, give them a long, active walk to expend their stored-up energy.
• Monitor your dog’s food and water intake. Doing so will regulate the need for your pet to go potty while traveling.
• Take your pet to relieve itself one last time right before the flight. Depending on whether it’s flying with you in the cabin or being checked to cargo might dictate when this bathroom break can happen.

Choose the Right Airline

Airlines have different rules, expenses, and even rewards programs for flying with your pet, so it’s wise to do your research before picking the right airline for you and your fluffy, feathery or scaly friend. Here are a few things to consider:

• Out of the deaths of animals listed above, 18 incidents occurred on United Airlines.
• Certain airlines will not allow your pet to travel with you in the cabin and others will not allow your pet to travel in cargo.
• Airlines tend to have limits on how many animals they will carry on any particular flight.
• Know if the airline has specific rules for which type of carrier to use.
• Some airlines will allow you to check your pet as extra baggage and others will make you purchase a separate ticket.

One Final Thought

It’s common to choose to sedate your pet when flying, however, oversedation has been linked to some animal in-flight deaths. If you’re considering sedation, contact us at Anasazi Animal Clinic in Gilbert to see if it’s the best option for your pet. Your pet’s health and wellness is our primary concern!

Photo by Matthew Henry from Burst (4/07/2018)

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