IMPS Talks Dog Travel With Amy Goodman
As we enter the peak summer season, many pet parents are considering road trip getaways that also include the four legged family members. Ismypetsafe had the opportunity to speak about dogs, cars, and vacations with travel expert Amy E. Goodman to learn how pet parents can make these trips fun and safe for all.
We began by asking Amy about must have items that pet parents should be sure to pack for their dog, especially if you are traveling to areas with water.
One thing that Amy did not mention is flotation devices. IMPS recently reviewed one product and explained some of the basics about why an owner should consider these doggie life vests and what features to look for. If you expect to travel to an area with strong tides and/or currents, a flotation device for your dog is a really, really good idea.
During the vacation, your dog will be in unfamiliar surroundings which can lead to barking, scratching and other bad behavior. Of course, in the rush to get out the door pet parents often forget some items. Amy details things to bring that can go a long way to comforting your pet and making them feel more at home.
Next, Amy and I did a quick review of microchip identifiers and the importance of keeping contact information up-to-date - including secondary contacts! IMPS covered microchips in detail in this article.
Pet parents should also review our article on disaster preparedness. There is a great deal of overlap between preparations for a family vacation by car and the event of a major disaster evacuation.
Amy then brought up the very important travel issue of motion sickness in dogs and let us know how pet parents can recognize the symptoms (before the end results!) and what can be done to stop them in the first place.
The use of Cerenia should be safe in almost all dogs when used as directed 1. Zoetis recommends the medication be given with a small amount of food to avoid any empty stomach upset but to otherwise skip a meal before the car travel. In addition, Cerenia should not be used for more than two consecutive days without prior approval by your veterinarian.
I wish there had been something like a Cerenia when my dog was young as he had unpredictable motion sickness. It got so bad when he was a pup that he would prostrate himself on the ground rather than go for a ride in the car (I had a large SUV with soft wave like suspension back then). That damage took a few years and a new card to get over. Pet parents today are lucky that companies like Zoetis develop drugs like Cerenia.
Pet parents who know their dog suffers from motion sickness or are unsure how they will do on a long drive should definitely speak to a veterinarian about Cerenia.
Finally, Amy and I wrapped up with a quick discussion of how to keep your dog safe while in the car. Though travel crates are preferred, not every family has a car with enough room for a crate (or may need the room for personal belongings) or can justify the expense for infrequent car travel. For those reasons, our focus was on harnesses.
Again, we want to thank Amy for her many good tips and taking the time to chat.
1. Use with caution in patients with hepatic dysfunction because CERENIA Injectable Solution is metabolized by CYP3A, CYP2D15 (dogs) and CYP1A (cats) enzymes (see Pharmacokinetics). The influence of concomitant drugs that may inhibit the metabolism of CERENIA Injectable Solution has not been evaluated. CERENIA Injectable Solution is highly protein bound. Use with caution with other medications that are highly protein bound. The concomitant use of CERENIA Injectable Solution with other protein bound drugs has not been studied in dogs or cats. Commonly used protein bound drugs include NSAIDs, cardiac, anticonvulsant, and behavioral medications. Drug compatibility should be monitored in patients requiring adjunctive therapy.
