PET CARE TIPS FOR VACATION

by Dan Carey, DVM

           You’re getting ready to hit the road for a weekend, or perhaps a longer vacation. Hotel arrangements have been made, travel accommodations have been scheduled and you’ve packed everything but the kitchen sink. But, before you take off on your get-away, you may need to make arrangements for the four-legged members of your family. Vacation planning takes on new dimensions when pets are involved. According to a recent survey, 24 percent of the pet owners queried travel with their pets.

          "We love our pets and want them to be part of our vacations," says Dan Carey, DVM. But it’s important to be sure that your lodging arrangement accommodates pets, otherwise, you might be better leaving your pet at a kennel or with a pet sitter. Almost 30 percent of pet owners arrange to have a pet sitter in their home, while 22 percent make kennel or veterinarian accommodations. And, 14 percent of the pets will have a vacation of their own by staying with a friend of their owners.

          Households with dogs represented 69 percent of the total sample, while households with cats represented 31 percent. Therefore, Dr. Dan Carey makes the following pet care tips for vacation trips.