Q. We are doing a lot of traveling this summer visiting family. Anything I should know to help my dog with vacationing?
A. Summer is here. Weekend and longer trips are being planned. It is trial season for those who compete with their best friends. Most of us are weekend warriors and by Monday we are tired and sore. We are going to camp for a week of swimming and hiking and lots of new people, changing schedules, noises, and weather.
When your life is pretty sedate during the week, you take Fido out for a walk once or twice a day, then the weekend hits and you go for a two-to-four-hour hike on any terrain. Now your pup is quiet, exhausted, and may or may not eat for a day or two. Your pet responding to the change in activity just like us. We need to honor his needs for recovery.
You are planning the best vacation. You have rented a cottage on the lake big enough for friends and family to visit and party. You have everything planned, but have you planned for a safe and happy time for your dog?
We will start with the long drive. How does your pup handle car rides. If quiet and sleeping, great. If panting and restless, you need to do something. It is too late to acclimate him to the car, that would have taken months of conditioning. You can ask your veterinarian for some form of calming or anxiety medications, herbals, or nutraceuticals. These usually last a few hours so plan ahead. Have his favorite bed or blanket handy to remind him of home.
Once there, give him a safe place to put his bed or crate. This is his private space, like his bedroom. He can go there to rest as he needs and not be disturbed. This is very important if you are having visitors, children, and other pets arriving.
If you can, try to keep a schedule for meals and rest. When Fido is a water hog, remember, just like children, he may not want to stop. Those hikes are fun and can be tiring and painful for unused joints. Be prepared to help relieve joint pain with supplements or medication from your vet. Use your flea and tick prevention as always. You may want to add a flying insect repellent to help with black flies, deer flies, and mosquitoes. Increase his activity incrementally, hopefully before the trip to build up his resilience.
When at the beach, remember the sand is hot and can burn Fido’s feet. Check often for redness and blisters. Bring water. Salt water will make him ill and pond water can too.
Be aware of fireworks, and thunderstorms. Bring anything you would use at home to help him cope.
You made it through the trip without vomiting or diarrhea from the change in water and diet changes. Fido made it with all the added stress of new people, big and small, and all kinds of pets. You allowed him to have his own space which he used often when needed. Swim and hike time was monitored. Car ride home is uneventful. Now what?
You are home. It is time to get back on schedule. This will be a change for you and your pup. People with athletic dogs also need to be aware of the stress mentally and physically on their partners.
If you are an international team or a weekend warrior, not only you but your best friend needs to regroup and regenerate. If you don’t, injuries and illnesses will happen. Research by specialists around the world shows stress that for every day of competition or heavy activity, dogs needs at least 2 days of recuperation both mentally and physically. Bring the feeding and diet routine back to normal. If Fido gained weight on vacation, cut back on the amount of food you feed until he’s at his normal size. Give him a few days of reduced exercise. Do low impact and low stress activities. His mind needs to take a break too.
If you can, keep him active during the year so the changes on vacation aren’t so dramatic. Know your dog’s concerns and honor them. When you come home, let him chill while you unpack and get back to the weekly routine. Have fun with your best friend on these great getaways. As you plan your trip, remember to plan for your dog too.
Judith K. Herman, DVM, CVH
Animal Wellness Center
Augusta, Maine
www.mainehomeopahticvet.com