Dog Travel - Going by Car

We have previously posted tips for traveling with your pets by car, but it is always nice to get different perspectives.

Subaru and the AVMA have published a free brochure with travel tips for pets. You can download it HERE. Below are some of the highlights.

1. If your pet is not accustomed to car travel, take it for a few short rides before your trip so it will feel confident that a car outing does not necessarily mean a trip to the veterinarian or an unpleasant destination.

2. Cats should always be confined to a cage or in a cat carrier to allow them to feel secure and prevent them from crawling under your feet while you are driving.

3, Dogs riding in a car should not ride in the passenger seat if it is equipped with an airbag, and should never be allowed to sit on the driver's lap.

4. See your automotive dealer for pet accessories designed specifically to fit your vehicle, such as compartment dividers that separate pets and cargo from the passenger area. Several automobile manufacturers, including Subaru, offer a dog guard/compartment divider that keeps pets safely in the rear cargo area of station wagons, "crossover" vehicles and SUVs.

5. Pets should not be allowed to ride with their heads outside car windows. Particles of dirt or other debris can enter the eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infection.

6. Give small portions of food and water. Plan to stop every two hours for exercise. Remember to include a leash with your pet's traveling supplies.

7. If your dog has a problem with carsickness, your veterinarian can prescribe medication that will help the dog feel comfortable during a long car trip.

8. Pack a simple pet first-aid kit that includes assorted bandages, antiseptic cream, an anti-diarrheal medication that is safe for pets (ask your veterinarian to suggest a product), gauze squares, phone numbers for your veterinarian, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital at your destination, as well as a national poison control hotline.

9. In addition to a standard identification tag (which should be labeled with your name, home address, and phone number), your pet's collar should include a travel tag with information on where you are staying while away from home. Should your pet become lost, this will allow you to be contacted locally.

10. Perform a daily "health check" on your pet when away from home. In unfamiliar surroundings, your pet's appetite, energy, and disposition may change. Watch for unusual discharges from the nose and eyes, excessive scratching or biting of any body part, abnormal elimination, or excessive water consumption. Visit a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.

Why Do You Need A Pet Passport?

What is a Pet Passport Anyway?

There are many online stories and websites which mention a "Pet Passport" when an international location is involved. Consequently, there is a great deal of confusion about what a Pet Passport does, when it is needed, and how to get one. Hopefully we can sift through some of the fog.

What does a Pet Passport allow you to do? - A Pet Passport is used when your pet is entering the United Kingdom for the first time. There is certain blood tests which must be done, followed by a six month waiting period. Obtaining a Pet Passport will allow your pet to travel throughout the EU and the States and then return to the UK without having to start the six month waiting process all over again.

When is a Pet Passport Needed? - We recommend anyone who plans to go to England and then travel throughout Europe with their pet, or return to the States for a visit and then go back to the UK, get a pet passport. This will eliminate substantial costs and headaches in the future. If you are an employee transferring to the UK for a two or three year contract and then plan to return to the States and never go back, it is not necessary to get a Pet Passport.

How do I get a Pet Passport? - You should get your Pet Passport from a competent vet in the UK. While it may be possible to get one elsewhere, getting one from a vet in the UK will alleviate the necessity of having to deal with pitfalls in the future. We maintain a database of recommended vets in London, so please shoot us an email if you need a name!

COUNTRIES BELONGING TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

Pet Travel - Make Sure Your Pets are Safe in the Car

Here at Animal Land Pet Movers we relocate pets predominately by air. We have numerous articles regarding the safety record of the airlines and how pet owners can assist.

However, thousands of pets travel by car every day and it is prudent for pets and owners alike to make sure they are properly secured. Below is a great article from our friends over at the Pet Connection Blog.

Keep your pets safe when they’re on the road — and protect yourself as well, in this week’s Pet Connection syndicated column:

Do you secure your pets when they’re riding in the car?

While most cats travel safely in carriers when they travel at all, the question typically draws an uneasy look and an uncomfortable response from even the most conscientious and well-meaning of dog lovers.

The truth is that most dog lovers — including those who wouldn’t think of leaving home without first securing themselves and their children with a seat belt — don’t provide the same protection for their dogs.

The results can be tragic. Unrestrained pets cause more than 30,000 accidents annually, according to the American Automobile Association, injuries and even fatalities that could in many cases have been avoided with the use of a restraint or carrier.

And it’s not just their safety that’s at risk, write our Dr. Marty Becker and our DogCars.com editor Keith Turner:

“In a 30 mph accident, a 60-pound dog can cause an impact of more than 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, windshield or other passengers,” said Christina Selter, founder of Bark Buckle Up, an organization dedicated to teaching pet owners about the importance of securing their pets while traveling.

“And if the animal survives and gets loose, it can run into traffic or impede the progress of emergency crews arriving on the scene.”

Safety tips for pet owners aren’t all you’ll find. Gina gives a reader some tough love about breeding his cat, and another reader asks her to remind everyone that acetaminophen (Tylenol) is deadly to cats. Dr. Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon write that petting animals helps soldiers suffering from PTSD, plus let us know about a new shelter for homeless people and their pets.

Dr. Becker gives bird owners the scoop on medicating their pets, and animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp point out that pets don’t soil in the house out of spite:

Pets may poop on your bed for a variety of reasons, none of which involve what we humans call “spite.”

A sudden change in a pet’s behavior is often the first sign of a health problem. If the pet checks out as healthy at the veterinarian’s, then consider any possible new source of stress.

Both cats and dogs may use urine and feces to mark territory when they are feeling threatened or stressed by changes in the environment or household routines.

Punishing your pet only adds more stress and continues a vicious cycle. Instead, look for ways to reduce your pet’s stress by meeting more of your pet’s needs. Establish a predictable daily routine for feeding, exercise and companionship.

Taking Your Pets To Hawaii - Pet Transportation

From Amy Christy, International Personal Move Counselor

One of the most popular destinations we ship pets to is beautiful Hawaii. Hawaii is and always has been a rabies-free state.

Hawaii’s regulations have an “international flavor” and pets entering Hawaii are subject to quarantine if all of the procedures are not followed correctly.

The basic requirements are:

1. Each pet must have two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime, administered more than 90 days apart.

2. Each pet must have a microchip.

3. A rabies titre sample must be submitted to an approved laboratory.

Your pet will be eligible for direct release in Honolulu 120 days after the blood sample is received by the lab, AND 90 days after the administration of the most recent rabies vaccination.

There are some additional requirements for a flea and tick treatment and specific requirements for the health certificate, and we will provide exact instructions every step of the way. We will also prepare the application that is required to be submitted at least 10 days in advance of your pet's arrival.

We can also arrange for transport services from Honolulu to any of the Hawaiian Islands. Our pet move counselors will assist you every step of the way to ensure that your pet has a safe and comfortable journey to this beautiful tropical state!

Myth vs. Fact - "The Cargo Hold is Indeed Pressurized"

There are many misconceptions surrounding the safety of transporting pets by airplane. One of the more common myths is "the cargo hold of the plane is not pressurized".

For the record, not true. The fact is the cargo hold of the commercial aircraft which accept pets for travel are pressurized. An airplane is just a big tube with the floor separating the passenger compartment from the cargo hold. It is more efficient to pressurize the entire tube than to attempt to compartmentalize.

One source of the misconception may come from some of the larger airplanes such as 747s. Many larger planes actually have 4 separate compartments or "bins". In these aircraft bins 2 and 3 (the middle two) are often unpressurized. However, bins 1 and 4 are pressurized which works out well because this also ensures pets are the last to be loaded on the plane and the first to be taken off.