With many community members planning their first holidays of the year they are asked to spare a thought for your furry friends who will be travelling with you.
The NSPCA has compiled a list of helpful tips to help make the trip to your holiday destination easier for you and your pets.
“It is always stressful to travel with your pet, but these tips will help make the trip easier for you,” the NSPCA said.
Feed Lightly:
When travelling, feed your pet/pets a light meal two to three hours before you plan to depart.
Avoid feeding your pet in a moving vehicle.
Bring the Basics:
Be sure to pack the pets’ essentials, such as food and water bowls, leashes, a poop scoop, a plastic bag, food and water, and have them easily accessible.
Unexpected delays may mean you might have to use any or all of these items on route.
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Identify your Pet:
Microchip identification is recommended to best identify your pet.
The NSPCA, however, also suggests that for a journey of considerable distance you should place a temporary disc on your pet’s collar.
The disc should give your destination information and/or a cellphone contact number where you can be reached.
Harness:
It is recommended that you use a harness rather than a leash when your dog is inside a vehicle.
Keep Heads inside the Vehicle:
For safety’s sake be sure to keep your pets’ heads inside the vehicle at all time.
If a pet hangs his head outside a moving vehicle it can lead to injuries from flying objects, inner ear damage or even lung infections.
Consider Barriers:
Consider inserting barriers, for what is going to be the pet carrying area.
These barriers make travelling much safer for your pets, especially in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
“It might be a good idea to water-proof seat covers with a thick plastic and to do the same to floors in the vehicle for ease of clean-up if accidents do happen,” said the NSPCA.
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