Tips to Protect Your Pet Against Illness

Biology is hardly unbreakable. Regardless of what type of pet you have, at the end of the day, a pet is a biological organism and is susceptible to sickness. Since sicknesses can hamper your pet’s daily life and cause a host of issues for both you and them, it is necessary to protect them against potential sickness and disease.

Here Are A Few Tips on How to Protect Your Pet Against Potential Illness:

Stay up to date on Vaccinations

Vaccinations are a reliable and efficient way of protecting your pet from potential illnesses. Provided you get your pet booster doses at the right times to maintain protection, vaccinations are an easy way to safeguard their health in the long term. A rabies vaccination is commonly cited as one of the necessary basic vaccinations for pets, but there are a few more immunizations you can provide your pet to prevent disease and serious illnesses. Such vaccinations are also mandatory if you ever plan on an international pet relocation. 

Vaccinations can help prevent the following diseases in pets: 

• Distemper 
• Bordetella 
• Leptospirosis 
• Lyme Disease
• Parvovirus 
• Rabies 

Depending on where you live, some vaccines will be mandatory due to government regulations, while others won’t be state mandated. If you’re confused or unsure about the protection to give your pet, visit your vet so they may clear up your doubts. Your vet can draw out a vaccination routine chart, complete with booster doses and vaccination effectiveness to help you gauge the current level of protection your pet has and how long it will be in place. As a general rule, aside from rabies, you should get your pet the basic group of vaccinations when you visit your vet with them for the first time. 

1.   Practice Preventive Treatment

There are plenty of ways your pet can pick up a disease, and the more exposed your pet is to the elements, the more likely it is to pick up an affliction. Invasive parasites can also cause illnesses, as they pass along pathogens when they feed on a pet’s blood. Fleas and ticks are the most commonly found parasites in household pets, and are responsible for spreading diseases like Bartonella, Lyme Disease, and Anaplasmosis. 

 Due to this, internal and external parasite treatment is prescribed for pets to prevent such parasites from making home in your pet’s body. Worry not though; there are anti flea collars, anti-tick/flea shampoos, and medications available to curb the spread of blood-sucking parasites. As always, consult your vet before selecting any course of action or product.

1.   Brush Your Pet Down When Returning Indoors

If you have a pet that spends time outdoors, whether for walks or refreshment, you should give them a basic brush when they return indoors. Pets that spend time outdoors have a far greater chance of picking up ticks or fleas, so brushing them immediately is a good idea and helps prevent a potential infection. If you observe more than a tick or two, schedule a vet visit for a thorough cleaning. 

1.     You may have heard this point twice or thrice already, but that doesn’t make it any less crucial. Pets can sometimes show signs of illness that a pet parent can’t pick up on since they aren’t an animal specialist. Frequent vet visits are necessary for this reason, as a vet can judge your pet’s health across different visits to establish a baseline, against which your pet’s health is compared to check whether it is heathy or requires treatment. Your vet will conduct physical exams, blood tests, and waste tests to gauge your pet’s health. Any issues that they find can then be diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion, making sure your pet remains healthy in the long run. 

Ensure Pets and Wildlife Remain Separated

If you have an outdoor pet or one that must be taken outdoors frequently, steer clear of any wildlife in or around your area. Wild animals like stray dogs, cats, rabbits, racoons, and monkeys carry pathogens and parasites which can spread to your pet if they are scratched or bitten. Make sure to keep your pet on a leash or harness when walking outdoors and avoid wild animals. If you do run into a wild animal or have a scrap with one, visit your vet immediately and make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Call the local animal control authority to see if you’re having an issue with wild animals in your locality. during pet travel by road, avoid spaces with lots of wildlife. 

1.   Diet

While a healthy diet may seem like a massive change with loads to plan for, the reality is you’ll have smooth sailing once you plan the diet itself. Remember to visit your vet with your pet, and once you have a portion size you can measure out for each meal, stick to it. Make sure your pet only eats healthy and drinks clean water and steer them clear of any foreign food or water
sources like puddles or trashcans.

1.  Cleanliness is Key 

Your pet isn’t the only one who needs to stay clean. Diseases can pass from animals to humans as well as humans to animals, meaning you should keep yourself clean to avoid introducing any diseases into your household. Make sure to wash your hands when returning indoors, as well as after interacting with any animal.

No pet parent wishes for an illness to befall their furry baby. The good news is that it is relatively easy to avoid any serious illnesses with a few preventive measures. Provided you keep your pet clean, avoid items of unknown origin on walks, schedule annual vet visits, and feed them a healthy diet, you should have no trouble making sure your pet stays healthy and happy.

A Guide to Long-Distance Pet Relocations

Human beings are creatures of habit and repetition. Any event that disrupts this repetitive schedule often turns into a stressor, especially an event like moving to a new house, state, or country. Pets are like their owners in this respect, wherein a sudden disruption of routine is likely to stress them out. The good news is that with proper planning and a little bit of patience, you and your pet are sure to have a smooth journey.

Preparing Your Pet for a Long-Distance Journey

Unless you’ve done so already, the first step is to acclimate your pet to travel and travel over shorter distances before you can embark on long-distance pet travel. Since your pet can only fly or travel in an IATA-accredited pet crate, you should first train them within the house before gradually moving outdoors.

Once your pet is happy and comfortable inside their crate, you can slowly start taking short trips in the car so they can get used to the experience of travelling inside their crate. This process is not an overnight one, so provide your pet with this training ahead of your planned travel time.

Aside from crate training, there's the matter of the crate itself. You'll need to choose an appropriate crate based on the size of your pet; such a crate should allow your pet to sit, stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Depending on the mode of transportation you're taking to reach your destination, you may need to plan. 

Things to Pack for a Long-Distance Trip

The essentials of long-distance pet travel differ from mode to mode, as do the preparations. Food, treats, toys, a leash & harness, and a first aid kit are all important requirements if your move is more local than international. A blanket or soft toy or item of clothing that’s familiar to your pet can be used to line the inside of their crate, to calm them down and give their temporary crate a more homely feel to it. 

Remember, the mode of transport should also be selected after considering the needs of your pet. A pet that is too young, i.e., under 3 months of age, will not be able to fly, so you'll need to arrange for alternative means of transport if you've just welcomed a new baby pet. Similarly, if your pet is elderly, it will require extra care during transit for a comfortable journey. Plan your pet's travel once you've considered such factors, so your pet has the best possible journey.

Land vs Air Travel 

Different modes will require preparation. For instance, while rest and refreshment stops are managed by the airline when flying with your pet, you’ll need to plan them yourself when travelling by road, along with things like extra food bowls, dry food, road laws, and so on. Planning smoothens a journey immensely, so plan according to the mode of transport you end up choosing. 

If you’re travelling by road, you will need to account for bathroom breaks and time spent walking your pet outside their crate. If your pet is prone to getting motion sick, these breaks will need to be more frequent. Hydration is equally important, especially if you’re travelling through a hot or humid region since most household pets cannot sweat like people do. Make sure never to leave your pet alone or locked in a car, especially on a hot day. The temperature inside a car can soar to the point of being fatal, so it is best to keep your pet within arm's reach.

 

Air travel is a little different when travelling with a pet. For one, your pet’s admission is at the airline’s discretion. Some airlines will let your pets fly with you, some will only allow pets to travel in the cargo hold, and others refuse to fly pets under any circumstances, so make sure to conduct your research before making any bookings. Air travel is far more secure and safer than its alternatives, but that also means it involves more documentation; vaccination records, health certificates, and more may be required. Make sure to keep your pet’s documentation handy, as it is more than likely you’ll end up needing it.

Schedule a Vet Check-Up Before Travel 

Any travel with your pet is exponentially more dangerous if your pet is sick or injured. As such, when planning to travel with your pet over longer distances, you should always visit your vet. your vet can help you with specifics of travel like a health certificate and vaccination record and can also make sure your pet is fit to travel safely.

Remember to clear any travel or medical doubts while you're there since your vet is a pet health expert and can advise you on aspects of the journey like feeding when on the go. As a safety note, it is crucial to remember that you cannot sedate your pet before travel unless expressly recommended by your vet in writing. At altitude, sedation can prove fatal as it affects regular bodily functions like breathing, heart rate, and body temperature.  

To Conclude 

While there are various methods and modes you can use for pet travel over long distances, it is important to select the one safest for your pet. When in transit, the best thing you can do is be aware, vigilant, think ahead, and prioritize the comfort & safety of your pet. Proper planning prevents poor performance, so plan to ensure an enjoyable journey for all.

Looking for pet transportation?  Need experts you can trust while travelling? Carry My Pet offers pet flight services for your comfort and convenience. Call 08908909020 or reach out to us at enquiry@carrymypet.com to make a booking today.