Holiday Travel Tips for Furry Family Members
Photo by Emerson Peters on Unsplash
Thirty-seven percent of pet owners travel with their pets[1] so it’s no surprise many Americans will take their fur family members with them when they travel to see relatives and friends during the holidays. But, before they go, there are steps owners should take to make sure their pet is comfortable and safe during the trip, especially when traveling by car.
Before leaving for a trip,
make sure you do your research and have a few key items on hand.
The safest place for a dog in the car is a crash-tested crate, but sometimes this isn’t an option depending on the size of your car. Invest in a quality dog seatbelt and harness if not using a crate.
There are also pet-friendly travel kits available that include everything from water and food bowls to doggie bags. If planning a longer trip requiring a hotel stay, be sure to check if your hotel or lodging is pet friendly before you make a reservation.
Another thing to be mindful of is,
just like humans, dogs can also experience motion sickness. While this is related to their sense of balance, some dogs may not be used to car rides and may become anxious triggering motion sickness, which tends to be a widely underreported condition. Making sure your dog’s stomach is empty before the ride can help ease your pup’s car sickness. Making frequent stops can also help.
Some signs a dog may be experiencing motion sickness include:
- Drooling
- Excessive panting
- Yawning
- Shaking
- Whining
- Vomiting
A national survey shows 48% – nearly half! – of dog owners report signs of motion sickness when traveling in a car.[2] While motion sickness may not be viewed as a serious illness, it can have a detrimental effect on the human-animal bond owners’ experience with their dogs.[3]
However, there is an FDA-approved medication – the first and only – for dogs with motion sickness.
Recently, I had the honor to interview with veterinarian, Dr. Tracey Deiss
as she discussed “furry family travel tips,” for this holiday season. She also talked about the reasons behind motion sickness in dogs, how to take a quiz to find out if your dog is suffering from signs of motion sickness, and explain how an FDA-approved treatment can offer relief to your furry family member so you can all enjoy your holiday trip.
See the entire interview here: Pet Holiday Travel Tips – MichiganMamaNews – YouTube
For more information, go to DogMotionSickness.com
Dr. Tracey Deiss Bio
Dr. Tracey Deiss attended Texas A&M pursuing a BS in Biochemistry and Genetics with a Chemistry minor. She received her DVM from Texas A&M University in 1998. During veterinary school, she worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Lab Animal Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Deiss completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery prior to practicing emergency medicine for 15 years in Grapevine, Texas.
She returned to her hometown of Rosenberg, TX joining a large SA practice where her special interests included ultrasonography, soft tissue surgery and pain management. Dr. Deiss joined Zoetis as the professional services veterinarian for Houston and surrounding areas in 2018 and is the current medical lead for Core Therapeutics.
She shares her life a couple of adult kiddos and a menagerie of pets including a 3-legged Saluki named Jancsi, a Doberman named Sapphira, a Schnauzer named Ms. Ives, and a naughty Borzoi named, Jezzie. There is seldom a dull moment in the Deiss Family Circus.
[i] APPA Market Research: 2019-2020. National Pet Owners Survey
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: See Prescribing Information. Use Cerenia Injectable for vomiting in cats 4 months and older; use subcutaneously for acute vomiting in dogs 2 to 4 months of age or either subcutaneously or intravenously in dogs 4 months of age and older. Use Cerenia Tablets for acute vomiting in dogs 2 months and older, and for prevention of vomiting due to motion sickness in dogs 4 months and older. Safe use has not been evaluated in cats and dogs with gastrointestinal obstruction, or those that have ingested toxins. Use with caution in cats and dogs with hepatic dysfunction. Pain/vocalization upon injection is a common side effect. In people, topical exposure may elicit localized allergic skin reactions, and repeated or prolonged exposure may lead to skin sensitization.
The interview, intro and photo courtesy of Zoetis
