As you’re driving to the nearest dog-friendly beach you smell a horrid smell coming from the back of the car. You say to Little Jimmy “Do you need to go to the bathroom?” Little Jimmy says, “No, but I think Fluffy does.” You pull up to the beach parking lot and open the door to see diarrhea all over the back of your SUV, but it’s not so bad, because you got that fancy Subaru where the back of the seats and floors are covered in rubber. (Which you are thrilled that you paid the extra money for now.) You get Fluffy out and he doesn’t look good. You reach for your pet bag, which should contain the following items:
• Fluffy’s vaccine records
• Dog License
• List of local veterinarians and their hours (include emergency clinics)
• Rabies certificate
• Extra leash
• Adhesive tape
• Blanket
• Cotton balls
• Baby wipes
• Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting—do this only when directed by a veterinarian or a poison-control expert)
• Ice pack
• Non-latex disposable gloves
• Petroleum jelly (to lubricate the thermometer)
• Poop Bags
• Rectal thermometer (your pet’s temperature should not rise above 103°F
• Scissors (with blunt ends)
• Sterile non-stick gauze pads for bandages
• Sterile saline solution
• Tweezers (to remove ticks)
• Flea comb
• Water (I recommend one of those water bottles with the attached bowl)
Other key components to keep in mind are to have your pet up to date on all vaccines, including Bordetella and Influenza. Those two vaccines will protect your dog against kennel cough and the flu. Kennel cough and the flu are highly contagious diseases. Dogs commonly contract kennel cough and the flu at places where large amounts of canines congregate. Fluffy should also have flea, tick, and heartworm prevention on board. This will prevent fleas and ticks in your travels.
Let us know if Fluffy gets car sick and we can prescribe a medication that will help prevent Fluffy from getting sick. Contact Leesport Animal Hospital with any question you may have about traveling with your pet.
