Preparing pets

By Olaf Klein
 
While packing, shopping and organising the family it is often forgotten that when you want to send your pet to a boarding kennel it has to have a current vaccination record that can be presented to the boarding kennel’s staff in the form of a little booklet. If you cannot find the booklet now, it won’t be any easier to find when you are under pressure. Ring your vets and check your pet’s record and if needed, they can make you a copy, as long as vaccinations are current. The core vaccinations for a dog are distemper, parvo and canine adeno virus. Kennels will also require a kennel cough vaccination.

Generally speaking, if you take your dog to places where close contact with other dogs is a given, kennel cough vaccinations should be considered. If the dog spends time on farms or swims a lot in ponds, rivers or flooded areas lepto vaccinations are also adviseable. Kennels can be very particular in their requirements so find out early what you need to do.

Cats also need a current vaccination record for a stay at a cattery. Feline panleucopaenia, herpes virus and calicivirus are the required core vaccinations. One other issue to consider is the supply of on-going medication over the statutory holidays. Thyroid medication for cats or insulin, for example, can run out and the wholesalers are closed between the statutory holidays.

Separation anxiety can be an issue when leaving your pet under the care of others and if you want to mitigate the effect you have to start medicating earlier than the day of departure. If your pet does not travel well and shows salivation, vomiting or just general restlessness, talk to us and we will find the right solution for your pets travel problems.

We wish you a happy and safe festive season.