Pet Travel and Airlines

We know this is a repeat, but with Summer brings Vacations so we wanted to post this article once more to provide you with some pre-travel tips!
Happy Summer Vacation!

Planning to fly with your dog? While air travel can be a quick way to get Fido from one place to another, you should know that every airline has different rules about transporting pets. You will need to make sure to contact your specific Airline weeks prior to travel for rules and regulations.

The following are a few Airlines that do allow pets to fly in the cabin.

·         United

·         Us Airways

·         Southwest

·         Pet Airways

·         NWA

·         Midwest Airways

·         Jet Blue Airways

·         Hawaiian Airlines

·         Frontier

·         Delta

·         Continental

·         Alaska

·         Air Canada

I recommend booking your flight early and if possible, fly direct, Non-Stop.

Have your pet carrier bought and ready (although with some airlines, such as Pet Airways, you do not need a carrier as they provide it for you.  Get your pet accustomed to the crate in the weeks or days prior to travel. Travel can be stressful for pets. Make the crate a happy place and leave it out in the open so it becomes just another familiar object.

Take a test drive around a few blocks. Make sure your pet is happy and content in his kennel.

Visit your Veterinarian and get your pet’s Health Certificate and any vaccines he is due for. Make sure it is within 10 days of your travel day and that you will use it within 30 days when it expires.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, in most cases, dogs should not be given sedatives or tranquilizers prior to flying because they can create respiratory and cardiovascular problems as the dog is exposed to increased altitude pressures. They can also alter the animal's natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium, which can be dangerous when the carrier is moved

Tag your pet’s carrier with the same information you’d tag your luggage. Pet’s name, your name, telephone numbers, veterinarian’s telephone number. You may also want to laminate a picture of your pet and secure it on the kennel. Carry the same picture with you when you travel in case you need to present it to authorities assisting you in your search.

Microchip your pet!  It is one of the best ways to be reunited with your pet in the unfortunate event he gets lost during travel. Make sure it is registered with the company and that all of your information with the company is current such as your telephone numbers, emergency contact, veterinarian and your address.

Feed your pet at least 4 hours prior to flying. Flying on a full stomach will make for an uncomfortable flight for your pet. You should continue to offer water right up until the flight.

You can easily train your dog to drink out of a guinea pig water bottle attached to the side of the kennel door. Just entice with some peanut butter at the end of the spout. Do this prior to travel so they are familiar with it.

Get to the Airport early. Most airlines recommend you arrive at least 2 hours prior to travel. Have your Health Certificate ready to go.  Passengers with pet’s need to check in at the counter. They are not allowed to use Self Service or Curbside, so give yourself plenty of time.

Once you’ve arrived at your destination, go for a walk with your pet so that they become familiar with their surroundings and new smells. Let them pick a spot in the hotels “potty area” so that they can familiarize themselves with the layout. By the time you check in they won’t be so anxious!

Your PRE-FLIGHT Pet Check list

·         Health Certificate and copy of all current Vaccinations. Most importantly, Rabies.

·         Any Medications your pet may be on.

·         Your pet’s Veterinarian’s information as well as the nearest Emergency Vet at your destination.

·         Your pet’s food and treats

·         Bottle water. Sometimes new city water can cause upset stomachs. Best to use bottled if you can.

·         Collar and ID Tags. A spare if you have one.

·         Leash or Harness.

·         Poop baggies.

·         Toys, bed or blankets. Pack appropriately for weather.

Some Arizona Pet Friendly Restaurants

·         Uncle Bears Grill and Bar (various valley locations)

·         In and Out Burgers

·         San Tan Brewery

·         Sonic Drive-ins

·         Dos Gringos

·         Iguana Macks

·          Joe’s Farm Grill in Gilbert

·         Brackins Bar in Scottsdale

·         Daily Dose in Scottsdale

·         Duck and Decantor in Phoenix

·         The Orange Table in Scottsdale

·         Ken’s Creekside in Sedona

·         Ni’Marcos in Flagstaff

·         Delectables in Tucson

These are just a few. It’s a good idea to check out restaurants near your hotel prior to travel.

U.S. Pet Air Travel Regulati

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates air transportation of pets within the U.S. and all airlines are required by law to follow the guidelines below. Individual airlines may impose further restrictions or fees for flying with your pet. Make sure to check your airline as well.

USDA Guidelines

ADVANCE ARRANGEMENTS

· When booking a flight on which you wish to bring your pet, call the airline directly to make the reservation and confirm that there is a space available for your pet on the flight.

· 24 to 48 hours before your flight, it's a good idea to call the airline and reconfirm that you will be traveling with your pet.

· Advance arrangements are not guarantees that your pet will travel on a specific flight. Airlines reserve the right to refuse transport of an animal for reasons like illness, an improper carrier, or extreme temperatures. Airlines can also refuse carriage of an animal that demonstrates aggressive or violent behavior.

· Animals travel under less stress when they are accustomed to their carrier before they travel. In the weeks prior to your trip, put your dog into his carrier as often as possible for trips around town.

· Please note that pets are not allowed to travel with unaccompanied minors on any airline.

THE DAY OF YOUR FLIGHT

· The USDA requires that your pet be offered food and water within four hours before you check in. Since a full stomach might be uncomfortable for your dog during travel, we recommend feeding him right at four hours before the flight, if possible.

· While its best to refrain from feeding your dog right before the flight, you can (and should) give him water right up to the time of travel. Just be sure to empty the dish before checking in so it doesn't spill during the flight. If you're checking the dog, leave dishes in the carrier so an airline employee will be able to provide your pet with food and water in the event of an extended wait before or after the flight.

· Exercise your pet before leaving for the airport. Carry a leash with you so you can walk your pet before you check in and after you arrive at your destination. This will help your dog calm down prior to and after the flight.

· Arrive at the airport early, but not too early. You will not be allowed to check your pet in more than four hours before the flight. Most airlines recommend arriving two hours before your flight when you're traveling with your pet. Passengers traveling with pets must check in at the ticket counter. No curbside or self-service check-in is allowed.

APPROVED PET CARRIERS

· Whether your pet is a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, there is a pet carrier to match. The majority of carriers are made of hard plastic with holes for ventilation. No part of the animal is allowed to protrude from the carrier. As a result, wire carriers are not permitted. Soft-sided carriers are permitted in the cabin only.

· Carriers must be big enough to allow the animal to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably. If the pet carrier does not allow the animal to do this, the airline will refuse transport.

· Carriers must have a solid, leak-proof floor that is covered with a towel, litter, or other absorbent lining for accidents that might occur during transit.

· Carriers must be well ventilated with openings that make up at least 14% of the total wall space. At least 33% of the openings must be located in the top half of the carrier and the carrier must have rims to prevent ventilation openings from being blocked by other cargo.

· Carriers should have either grips or handles, so airline employees don't have to put their fingers inside and risk being bitten.

· The carrier should contain two empty dishes, for food and water, along with feeding instructions and your signature certifying that your pet was offered food and water within four hours of your flight's scheduled departure.

· Mark the carrier with your pet's name and include identification tags with your home address and phone number as well as the address and phone number of someone who can be reached at your destination.

· You should mark "Live Animal" on the top and side of the carrier, with directional arrows indicating the proper position of the carrier.

· Do not put a leash or muzzle with the animal, either inside or attached to the outside of the carrier, during transit.

· Kennels can contain one adult dog. Two puppies will be allowed together if they are eight weeks to six months old, weigh more than 20 pounds each, and are fully weaned.

HEALTH CERTIFICATES

The USDA requires that your pet must be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned before traveling. Only pets in good health are permitted to fly. Airlines will not transport animals that are violent, ill, or in physical distress.

All pets crossing state borders, with the exception of guide dogs, are required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to have a rabies immunization and valid health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of travel. If your pet is traveling via cargo, or if you are a breeder, dealer, or research facility transporting a dog, the health certificate should be issued no more than 10 days before departure.

USE OF TRANQUILIZERS

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, in most cases, dogs should not be given sedatives or tranquilizers prior to flying. An animal's natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium is altered under sedation, which can be dangerous when the kennel is moved.

Whether your dog is flying in the cabin or as a checked pet, he will be exposed to increased altitude pressures. This can create respiratory and cardiovascular problems for dogs which are sedated or tranquilized. Snub-nosed dogs (American Staffordshire Terriers, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Brussels Griffins, Bull Terriers, English/French Bulldogs, English Toy Spaniels, Japanese Chins, King Charles Spaniels, Lhasa Apsos, Pekingese, Pugs, Shar-Peis and Shih Tzu’s) are especially affected.

While sedation is generally not advised, the decision on whether or not to prescribe a tranquilizer for your pet should be made by your veterinarian. If your veterinarian decides that tranquilizers are medically necessary, the name of the drug, the dosage, and how the drug was administered should be indicated on the dog's carrier.

EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS

Extreme hot and cold temperatures can pose a health risk to pets. In summer, choose early morning or late evening flights. In winter, choose mid-day flights. Whenever possible, book nonstop or direct flights and avoid weekend and holiday travel.

If you are traveling to or from a destination where the temperature is (or is forecasted to be) either below 45F or above 85F (75F for snub-nosed dogs), you will need a letter signed by your veterinarian stating that your pet is acclimated to extreme weather. If the temperature is below 20F or above 95F, your pet will likely not be allowed to travel in the cargo area even with a letter of acclimation.

International Travel

Many countries have strict regulations regarding international pet travel. You'll find an overview of bringing Fido to many popular international destinations below. No matter where you're going, you should contact the embassy or consulate of the destination country to confirm pet travel regulations, obtain all of the necessary paperwork (such as health certificates and documentation) regarding your pet's travel, and contact your local veterinarian to ensure your pet is in compliance with foreign health regulations. And finally, don't forget to check regulations on bringing Fido back to your home country too. Quarantine rules may apply even if your dog has only been gone a short time.

We hope this makes Travel a little easier for you!

If you are planning on traveling soon with your pet/s please contact us if you are in need of a Health Certificate or vaccines.

480-987-4555

Thank you!

Thank you for being responsible pet owners! To schedule your pet's exam call 480-987-4555

NATIONAL DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK

IT'S NATIONAL DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK! MAY 20-26TH

How to teach your kids to approach unfamiliar dogs safely

It is important for adults to teach children how to safely approach an unfamiliar dog and how to protect themselves if they come in contact with an unfriendly dog.

According to the Center of Disease Control, 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, many of these involving children, with dog bite related injuries highest in 5-9 year olds. It is important to teach children how to approach dogs to keep children safe, to keep your pets happy, and to avoid becoming one of those statistics.

Many dog bites happen at home with our own dogs. It does not mean a pet is mean or aggressive, often; the dog simply becomes over-stimulated by the activity around it or becomes annoyed with continual harassment.

Approaching familiar dogs:

Teach kids how to read dog’s body language. Dogs use body language to communicate with us how they feel. What they like, what they don’t like.

Friendly postures include:

·        Ears forward

·        Tail wagging and held up

·        Relaxed body

Scared postures include:

·        Body lowered

·        Tail tucked between legs

·        Eyes avoiding yours

Threatening and potentially harmful postures include:

·        Lowered body

·        Hair on back of neck (hackles) standing up straight

·        Tail straight out

·        Growling

By teaching kids the three postures above, you can ensure that in most cases they will have a good impression on whether the dog is friendly and approachable or not.

Common mistakes that contribute to dog bites

·        Do Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

There is truth in the old saying, let sleeping dogs lie. A dog that is suddenly awoken may become frightened and bite out of fear. Dogs are also more territorial and prone to aggression if they are feeding or chewing. Female dogs that are caring for their pups are also more likely to be aggressive. Teach your kids to let sleeping (or eating, or nursing) dogs lie.

·        Surprising a dog who cannot hear

·        Approaching a dog while eating

·        Attempting to take a toy or bone away from a dog

·        Teach your child not to pull your dog’s ears, tail or hair

It is a natural instinct for a dog to be protective over his food, belongings, beds or toys. It is imperative to teach children to avoid approaching dogs in these situations. If the child is too young to understand then it is best to keep them away from the dog under these circumstances.

·        Do Keep Your Hands at Your Sides

Dogs are often intimidated by raised hands, especially if they have been abused. With dogs, fear is often a precursor to a bite attack. Teach your kids to keep their hands down when approached by a strange dog.

·        Don’t Tease

Teach your children to not tease or provoke dogs. Dogs can react violently to teasing, even if the child didn’t mean any real harm.

Approaching an unfamiliar dog

When kids see dogs their first reaction is “Look! A dog!” They automatically think of cute and playful.

Teach your kids to quietly walk by without approaching. If there is an owner with the dog, politely ask if it is okay to approach. Many people do not even realize how their dog will act when being approached by a stranger. It is best that the adult approach first just in case this is the case.

·        Introduce yourself by approaching calmly and slowly. Extend your hand, palm down, so the dog can sniff.

·        Avoid direct eye contact. Eye contact is one of the dominance behaviors used to sort out who is in charge of whom

·        Let the dog decide how much contact he wants. If he starts to back away fearfully or anxious, instruct your child to remove their hand, stand up and slowly walk away.

·        If the dog is receptive let your child gently pet the dog.

A dog who is giving short, low, repetitive barks while showing a tense or stiff body might be giving an alarm bark. This means the dog is unsure of the situation.

If the dog is doing a mixture of growling and deep barking with increasing intensity and showing aggressive body language, this is a threatening bark.

Do not approach dogs who are exhibiting these behaviors. However, if a dog is barking in a high pitched manner, making eye contact and standing relaxed, or wiggling all over, this dog might be seeking attention or anticipating a fun interaction.

Use the normal precautions such as reading the other body signals the dog is giving, as well as asking the owner for permission, and approach this dog with caution.

What if a strange, ownerless dog approaches you?

·        The most important thing is to tell children to stay calm and not to run away, but to act like a tree. Do this by planting both feet on the ground, hold your hands in front of you and look downward. Remain motionless. Stay calm. Do not attempt to run from the dog. Do not raise or flail your arms. Do not shout. Running may trigger the dog to chase as this is their natural hunting instinct, and the child may end up injured even if the dog is just playing.

Don’t Run, Don’t Scream

·        Though it may seem counter-intuitive, “being a tree” is a child’s best protection against a serious injury. Dogs chase things that move but they rapidly lose interest in a stationary object. By “being a tree,” your child will be of much less interest to the dog and he will go away and look for something more interesting to pursue.

Dogs are descended from wolves, and they still have an occasional need to chase down prey. Although running away may be an understandable reaction to a dog attack, fleeing may provoke a dog to chase. Similarly, screams and shouts excite a dog, and may worsen its behavior. Teach your children not to run or scream around strange dogs.

If the approaching dog is staring with tail wagging slowly and ears up, turn and walk away calmly without making eye contact.

If the dog is standing in a threatening or aggressive posture, tell the dog firmly (without yelling) to “Go Home” and back away slowly, avoiding any sudden moves.

 If the dog decides to chase or attack, curl into the turtle position (roll up like a stone) and yell for help.

Kids need to be taught that in the worst case, a dog attack, they can use their backpacks, books, bikes, or whatever else they have, between the dog and themselves. Use your backpack while curled up in the turtle position as a shield.

If they are on a bike they can use the bike as a shield in front and around them. Continue to block each bite attempt with their bike.

 Many of these techniques can be practiced with your child. Play a game with your child pretending you are a dog that is chasing your child and then show your child how to “be a tree.” Use flash cards or photos to depict a dog that is showing aggression, fear or annoyance and practice with your child to recognize those signs.

If you or anyone you know needs assistance with an aggressive dog behavior give us a call to schedule your medical exam to discuss your situation further. 480-987-4555. Thank you!

Thank you for being responsible pet owners! Please share these tips with your kids!

Coming Soon this summer to a Pet Near You: Desert Dangers

Coming Soon this summer to a Pet Near You:  Desert Dangers

By Rikki Schmidt

In addition to all the usual trouble pets can get into, Arizona summers bring a host of unique situations that can make life dangerous for our furry, four footed friends.

During the warm weather pets can have a run-in with a rattlesnake, tangle with a toad or scuffle with a scorpion. Scorpion stings or spider bites may cause a swelling at the site, (one dog’s muzzle looked like a hippopotamus), and some distress to your pet but usually no special medical attention is required.  Keep an eye on them for the first few hours in case they exhibit a bad reaction. Sometimes a Benedryl is helpful in reducing symptoms. Use one milligram per one pound of pet as a guideline for dosage.

The large Colorado River toads we see around here excrete a substance through a gland behind the eye that acts as a neurotoxin.  Unsuspecting dogs that put these toads in their mouths can exhibit neurological symptoms such as difficulty walking, seizures and paralysis. It’s a good idea to teach your dog to avoid toads. But if he has gotten hold of one, flush his mouth out with a garden hose but aim the spray sideways so the toxin is washed out of the mouth, not down the throat. Most dogs do recover but the toxin can be life threatening. If the condition worsens, see a veterinarian. A toad sitting in a dog’s water dish can also make the dog ill, so keep dishes clean.

Rattlesnakes are now out and about, in fact our clinic recently treated its first rattlesnake bite of the season so be aware. If your pet is bitten get to a veterinarian right away. But prevention is preferred. A vial of rattlesnake antivenin is very expensive so if your dog can’t stay away from snakes consider the rattlesnake vaccine or “snakeproofing” your pet through a variety of snake-avoidance techniques.

Do you have a pool…and a pet? Many pets love the water but even good swimmers may be bad at finding their way out so teach them where the steps are. Many dogs love to go for rides in the car with you but it’s getting warmer out and even temperatures in the 8o’s can be dangerous for pets left in hot cars which can quickly heat up to over 100 degrees or more. If you can’t take the pet into the store with you, leave him at home. Recently, a cute pup, nicknamed “Cactus Jack” was featured on the local news after getting involved with a cactus plant. Many pets get cactus spines stuck on their muzzles and elsewhere and extracting them can be a lengthy, painful process so teach your pet to avoid them.

Adjust your pet’s exercise routine just as you adjust yours. Walk your dog very early in the morning or at sunset or later. Remember, hot pavement hurts their paws just as it would your bare feet. And finally, if you leave your pet outside, which is not recommended, make sure the animal has a shaded area as well as plenty of water in a dish that will not tip over easily leaving him with nothing to drink on a hot day.

And remember the best cure for the Summertime Blues is…October!!

Thank you for being responsible pet owners! To schedule your pet's exam call 480-987-4555