Tips to help your pet stay comfortable during a vacation
Temperature must be taken into account, since dogs and cats are more sensitive to heat than we are.
Jaume Fatjó, director of the Foundation chair Affinity Animals and Health, a clinical veterinarian from Vet Partners, gives us some useful tips for traveling with a dog or cat. When traveling by car with a dog, they must first get used to the vehicle. It's not advisable to take a long trip if the animal is unfamiliar with the car or van. This requires learning: starting with short trips with a pleasant experience (using toys or treats, for example). These can be gradually lengthened. However, the response will vary greatly depending on each dog's personality. If there is an initial negative reaction, Fatjó recommends contacting the veterinarian, who can provide medication to prevent motion sickness or dietary supplements to help them cope better with stressful situations.
In the case of cats, it's necessary to consider this beforehand: it's best to make as few trips as possible because they have a very strong bond with their territory, and any transfer is stressful for them. If it's a short trip (such as leaving a rural house for a week), it's recommended not to bring them. If you need to take your pet with you, the easiest way to stress them out is in their carrier if they're used to it, which also requires some training.
And be careful, always keep the temperature in mind, as dogs and cats are more sensitive to heat than we are. Therefore, under no circumstances should your pet be left alone in the car, even for a short time.
