Strays Anatomy

 

• Be sure that all vaccinations are up to date, including kennel cough for dogs being boarded.
• For people traveling east of the Rockies and south of the border to the States, a rabies vaccination needs to be done within the last year.
• If traveling to the States, Oceanian, Winnipeg or any other heartworm-infested area, arrange for your dog to be tested for heartworm. If negative, you can put your pet on a preventative before you leave. Don’t leave home without it. Heartworm is spread during mosquito season. 
• For pets prone to car sickness, check in with a veterinarian long before traveling so that should you need to use an anti-vomiting or sedative you can practice to see that it works for your pet.
• If leaving pets behind, do not forget to make arrangements with your pet sitter and with the veterinary clinic as to what your wishes are in the case of an emergency or an unexpected health problem.  
• Ticks-in areas of tall grasses and trees where squirrels and deer abound, beware of ticks on your dog as they can spread Lyme disease. The longer the tick is on the pet, the greater the chance of transferring the organism. Tick collars are available and so is a vaccine.
• Giardia-if your pet is not vaccinated for Giardia, be sure to let him or her only drink bottled or tap water while traveling as the protozoa, Giardia (causative agent for beaver fever), is transmitted by contaminated water sources.