Dog Healthcare Guide.

Travelling

When travelling with your dog, you need to make some preparations for your dog's comfort whether the journey is short or long. It is better if your pet does not travel on a full stomach so feed it one light meal around two hours before you leave. Also, allow your pet to go to the toilet before the journey begins and stop every so often if the trip is long.

It is a good idea to confine your dog to one area of the car while travelling using a container, this is safer if you have to brake sharply. Please do not allow you dog to sit in the front seat of the car and make sure he cannot escape through an open window.

Window guards are available that allow safe ventilation. However, these are not adequate to keep the dog cool on hot days - never leave your pet in a car on a hot day. Safety harnesses are also available for larger sized dogs, to be harnessed around the dog's chest and fastened to the fastened seat belt. You need to be certain that the harness you choose is suitable for your dog's size and weight and that the straps are wide enough to evenly distribute any forces around your dog's body. Pet carriers are suitable for smaller dogs but be certain that it is held in place firmly and never put in the boot of a saloon car.

Cars can become extremely hot especially when parked in direct sunlight. The inside of a car can reach 50 degrees Celsius during a summer day and this will quickly cause heatstroke to your pet. Always be sure you have plenty of water available and never leave your pet in a parked vehicle.

If your dog does not travel well, Scullcap and Valerian tablets are available that can be given 12 hours before leaving. These will help to relieve anxiety without causing too much drowsiness. Gastric tablets are also available to help motion sickness.

If your dog barks during a journey, sometimes it may help if you put a blanket over his or her container. The lack of visual stimulation will help reduce excitement.

If you are travelling abroad, you may use the PETS travel scheme which allows you to visit certain countries and bring your pet back into the UK without any quarantine period. The process to be followed is:

1. Have your pet microchipped so that it can be identified.
2. 28 days after your pet has been vaccinated, it must be blood tested to make sure the vaccine has given satisfactory protection against rabies.
3. Once these steps have been successfully completed, you can get an official PETS certificate from a government-authorised vet.
4. Before re-entering the UK (6 months from the date of the successful blood test), your pet must be treated against ticks and worms. This must be done 2 - 8 hours before check-in for journey back to UK. Any qualified vet can carry out the treatment. The vet must issue an official certificate of treatment.
5. You will have to sign a declaration that your animal has not been outside any of the PETS qualifying countries in the six months before it enters the UK.
6. Your pet must enter Britain from a PETS country by an authorised route.

Disclaimer
The information contained within this website is intended as a general guide only and is not necessarily comprehensive. AXA Insurance will not be liable for loss or damages arising, in contract, tort or otherwise, directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance upon any information contained in this website. Content sourced from the RSPCA and various other animal welfare and information websites. Guidance compiled by AXA and approved by the RSPCA.