TRAVELING

CHOOSING A TRAVELING COMPANION

Please think it through for you and your pet. Are you prepared for explosive diarrhea and vomiting all over your vehicle? Ready for emergency vet visits? Can you put your trip on hold to care for your pet? I have seen and we have all heard about pets abandoned on the side of the road. Traveling can stress out your pet and cause problems that would never happen on short trips or at home. It will cost you a lot more time and money than a pet at home would. PLEASE think it out carefully! Pets bring great joy and companionship on long trips but a sick or upset animal can ruin a trip. You may want to consider air shipping your pet to your destination. The cost is relatively low but you need to make sure they are up to date on vaccines.
     I have met people traveling with just about every type of pet you might have at home; cats and dogs, pot belly pigs, exotic birds including cockatoos, parrots, an owl and a hawk, also snakes and lizards, you name it. How good is this for your animal, ask your vet? Consider this; a truck driver tends to have increased medical problems when considered as a whole and compared to other occupations, so if it makes us sick imagine what it's doing to your pet. Most drivers won't admit that their pet did not live as long or had more medical problems but it seems to be the case. I have traveled with both dogs and cats, and cats do seem to do better. I believe it's a cats agility that helps them. Cats can react to the movement of the vehicle better than a dog. Cats also need less immediate care. A dog has to go out when a dog needs to go out. "Well at home", remember you're not at home! Most places don't want you walking your dog on their property so consider stopping before you have a long wait someplace. I can't imagine what it would be like with a more exotic pet. People tend to think about how kool it would be to have __________ animal. Mommy can I keep him? Can you? I believe pets are the greatest companion a person can have. Human companionship is something everyone should have, but the right pet is a joy onto its self.

PREPARE YOUR PET AND VEHICLE
     Scared animals can force their way into places you may not think possible. I had a cat get up between the interior and exterior of a Freightliner truck. There is a fist sized hole on both sides in the overhead compartment that the cat squeezed through. Once the cat was up there, I had no way to reach him, I had to wait for the cat to come out on his own. I now block that hole with spray foam insulation. My driver had his dog get under the dash by the pedals and tear out wiring. I now have sheet metal blocking that area off. A rule of thumb for cats is, if the head will fit the body will also (even if the cat is fat). Just because the animal gets in does not mean they will be able too or willing to get back out! You need to look at things from their level. Did you know that most car exhaust runs under the floor and seat? It can heat that area up and expose an animal hiding under a seat or on the floor to extreme temperatures. A frightened animal will stay in a spot even if it's injuring them.
     What if your involved in an accident and are not able to help with your pet? Do you have a carrier or leash? REMEMBER someone else may need to take possession of your pet so medical records, food and medicines will be essential. Have someone know the route you are taking and check in routinely so if your pet needs to be picked up arrangements can be made. Keep in mind some humane society shelters will not keep your animal if not contacted. I recommend getting a chip put into your pet to help recover them in case something happens. As careful as you may be your pet may still get out on you.
     Your pet may get sick or have an "accident". Get a good plastic mattress cover. Thick fitted mattress pad and fitted sheets to soak up and protect your mattress from what ever they produce. SPARE EVERYTHING! Will be a must! Hope you never need to use them. Some truck stops have laundries and I have had to use them. Cover seats and carpet with plastic and something to soak pee up. I use rubber backed welcome mats and rubber backed bathroom rugs. I put a scratching post on my seat at night to help protect my seat and a towel over the seat to help keep it from being clawed up. For food I have a large cake pan with a towel in the bottom of it. I use stainless steal bowls for easy cleaning. I keep water out all the time thus the cake pan and towel. Don't keep food or water that has been out for more than a day because flies and other insects can lay eggs there plus the food can be exposed to germs and bacteria. Use a high quality food and measure it out so you know if your pet is eating. Ask your vet what food they recommend for a traveling pet. I use Green Pea and Duck. You want a food that is bland and will help keep their digestive system calm. NO PEOPLE FOOD! You think this is a treat for putting up with the traveling, well remember that, when your cleaning up the mess. Have a clean up kit ready for your car and hotel room and hope you don't need it. Litter boxes should be out and accessible at all times. I have a cabinet that I removed the door and I use a covered litter box to help keep down the smell and mess. Use a high grade litter, UNSCENTED! Your cat may hide in their litter box and scented litter can make them sick. Pour it in thick! You want the pee to soak in and clump so it traps the smell. I find cats are quite good at using the litter box but keep in mind a scared animal can lose their bladder control. Fast food paper bags work great for scooping litter into.
      IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT YOU CHOSE TO BRING THEM! If you realize you made a mistake PLEASE ship them home or find a shelter. Animals left on the side of the road don't usually make it. Dogs don't turn into wolves and cats into tigers. They only know you give them food and will keep waiting for you to return until they starve to death. Cats in the wild do better then dogs but also die horribly! Feral (wild) cats die from all types of injuries and illnesses and they were raised outside. Your pet does not have the skills to survive. The only reason there are so many wild dogs and cats is that they breed so quickly. I have caught cats in truck stops and steal mills. They had been shot (ex-rays showed bullets) and were filled with parasites. Don't take my word for it, just look up the survival rate of dogs and cats in the wild.