Traveling With Your Pet-Tips For Enjoyable Trips

Bring plenty of fresh water whenever you travel with your pet and plan rest stops so your pet can stretch its legs.

(NAPSI)-More Americans than ever consider pets a part of the family, so it’s no surprise that when families travel, so do their pets.

According to the Travel Industry Association, 70 percent of pet owners would like to have their pets travel with them.

Veterinary Pet Insurance reports that it is not uncommon for pets to become ill or injured while traveling. That is why Dr. Peter Weinstein, medical director at VPI came up with the following tips:

• Make sure your pets’ vaccinations are up to date. Give vaccines at least 10 days before you leave.

• Plan twice as many rest stops on your road trip as you would for a small child to give your pets time to stretch their legs and go to the bathroom.

• Avoid motion sickness by only feeding your pets a small meal several hours prior to the trip.

• Bring plenty of fresh water whenever you travel with your pet, and factor in potential emergencies, such as your vehicle breaking down. Bring extra food and snacks for the road.

• Safety belts and harnesses are okay for securing small dogs in vehicles, but the safest way for your dog
to travel is in a crate secured on the back seat.

• Just like humans, dogs need to be conditioned before going hiking or other outdoor excursions. Take your dog on longer walks and exercise him/her more frequently as your outing approaches.

• If you’re planning a long hike, bring a special "trail mix" just for your pup. Like humans, dogs should be properly hydrated before, during and after exercise sessions.

• Plan ahead for extreme weather. In cold climates, dogs should always have some sort of protection for their paw pads. I recommend booties to cover their paws and make sure you check their pads regularly for injury or sensitivity. Extreme heat can also be dangerous for pets, especially extremely hot roads and rocks that can injure paws.

• Take safety precautions when your dog swims. Never let your dog swim without a lifejacket. Afterward, make sure to clean out their ears and give them a clean water rinse to remove any chlorine or dirt that they may have accumulated during the swim.

• When outdoors, there is a variety of gear especially developed for the active pet including collapsible bowls that fit into backpacks, backpacks designed for pets, protective vests and even lifejackets. Remember, pets can’t ask for help if they’re in trouble, so anticipate any problems ahead of time and pack accordingly.

• Make sure your pet is wearing an ID tag and bring a photo of your pet in case they get lost.

• Prepare for the unexpected and enroll your pet with a Veterinary Pet Insurance policy. VPI policies allow you to go to any licensed veterinarian worldwide, which will give you great peace of mind should an accident or illness occur on the road.

VPI recently paid a claim for a Labrador Retriever who was injured on a boating trip. After enjoying a swim in the lake, the family started to head back to shore. Their Labrador jumped off the front of the platform boat and struck the propeller.

The wound to the dog’s leg required hundreds of stitches, knee surgery and a skin graft. The family was thankful to have a VPI policy to help with
the expenses for restoring the health
of their pet.

As the oldest and largest health insurance company for pets in the nation, VPI has been in business nearly 25 years.

To protect your pet, visit the Web site www.petinsurance.com or call
1-800-USA-PETS.

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