On The Road With Rover

For many Americans, dogs and cats are a part of the family. For some pet parents no road trip is complete without their furry companions. If you are planning a road trip, no matter the distance, there are a few traveling tips that will make your pet comfortable and safe while in route.

The first step before driving off on a new family adventure is to make sure your pet is in a well-ventilated pet carrier or crate. The crate must have enough space for your four-legged friend to have room for standing and stretching. Also, it's easier if your pet is familiar with the carrier beforehand. You can introduce the crate a few weeks prior to the trip, and start familiarizing your pet by placing treats inside it. Make sure that the carrier is secure and stable inside your vehicle. For bigger dogs a special seatbelt or safety harness may be an option. It is especially important to restrain your dog if you are planning to keep car windows open.

The key things to remember are:

• Feed your pet minimally and keep them well hydrated while traveling. 
• Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle, even for a short period of time. Not only it is unlawful, but with summer temperatures in the triple digits it is too hot and dangerous for pets to be left in cars. Temperatures in cars can exceed 120 degrees in a matter of minutes. 
• Bring a pet emergency kit on the trip. The kit should be basic items such as paper towels, food and water dishes, a leash, food, plastic bags, waste scoop, any medication your pet is on, and a toy from home for comfort. 

Another tip for traveling with pets is to have an ID tag with the pets picture and your information just in case you and your pet get separated. Getting a microchip implanted can also help to reunite you and your pet if you become separated. All animal shelters, veterinary clinics and city pounds are equipped with microchip scanners. There are also pet collars with GPS tracking devices. If you and your family plan on staying in hotels, always check if your hotel has pet accommodations or restrictions.

A veterinarian could evaluate your pet's current health and fitness level, and advice on such issues as car sickness, extensive exercise, exposure to tick/mosquito borne diseases, and general travel safety. Please don’t hesitate to contact one of our knowledgeable and trusted veterinarians at Portage Park Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic.

When Your Family Member Wanders

As our team members observed, we are taking in more and more stray pets lately. They now average at one or two each day. A lot of them are older dogs that need special attention and care. Please rest assured that we do everything we can to reunite lost pets with their owners. In addition to scanning the online resources, it may also involve legwork, scouring for signs in the neighborhood and even paying visits to people’s homes when phone numbers are disconnected.

Today we caught another runaway, Alley, at Portage Park. Her outdoor adventure lasted for only 45 minutes. After sneaking out of the house, she headed straight north, managed to safely cross several major streets and ended up the park being chased by police in vain. Our receptionists, Denise and Danielle went out there with treats and brought her back here without any trouble. Lo and behold, Alley had a microchip which allowed us to trace her owners in a matter of minutes. They had not even realized that she’d gone missing!

This success story is another reminder to all responsible pet owners: please consider micro chipping your pets. It is one of the best ways to assure their life-long companionship and safety. Feel free to contact us for more information. We offer Home Again chips and implantation with no examination charge.