If you plan on hiking with your dog, bring along a tick repellent.
Traveling with your pet
From eNews, June 24, 2004
If you didn't take Spot and Puff with you on that Memorial Day vacation, how about bringing them along for the Fourth of July? The U's College of Veterinary Medicine has some tips for travelling with your pet.
- Make sure pets are welcome at your destination, as well as every place you plan to stop along the way. Many hotels and campgrounds now welcome pets, as do national forests. National parks do not allow pets, however, and state parks vary--so check with those you intend to visit.
- Make sure your animals are current on their vaccines and have up-to-date rabies and identification tags with your address or phone number.
- If you plan on hiking with your dog, trim the hair around his or her paws and bring along a tick repellent, a brush or comb if your dog has long hair, and bandaging material for cuts that might occur on the paws. Be sure your dog is in good physical condition before embarking on rough terrain. And while hiking, give him or her plenty of water and shade-even moderate exercise on a warm day can cause your dog to overheat, especially if he or she has a long coat or the humidity is high.
- When you're on the road, remember to give your pet water and let it out of the car every few hours. Keep your dog on a leash every time you stop the car. Don't let your pets stand on hot pavement for long--hot asphalt can burn their footpads and melted tar can stick to their paws. Never keep them in a closed vehicle on a warm day or if the sun is strong. Even with the windows slightly opened, the interior of a car can reach dangerously high temperatures within minutes.
- If you want to travel with your pet by plane, make plans several months ahead. Many countries have complex regulations and may require numerous tests and documents before admitting domestic animals; some may even require a quarantine on arrival. Also, airlines have strict rules on the types of carriers you can use to transport your pet and the air temperature they will accept for pets in their cargo hold. If the thermostat reads above or below a certain range, the airlines will not accept your pet for travel.
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For more information on traveling by air and international regulations, contact your state's U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Veterinary Services.