Community Corner
Preparing Pets for Holiday Travel
Safety is the key to a holiday filled with joy, not drama.
This week many pets will travel with their families to visit loved ones for the holidays. In the midst of the hustle and bustle it's important to remember their special needs.
Dr. Michalena Satowski is a veterinarian with in Rancho Bernardo. She recommends leaving the cat at home with a pet sitter, and using caution when traveling with a pooch.
"If you are traveling between states, federal law requires a health certificate," she said. "A lot of vets are federally-accredited and able to issue them. They determine that your dog has a rabies vaccine, meets the age requirement and is safe to fly."
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Pets who are traveling via air also need to be secured in airline-approved crates. If the pet is too large to travel in a crate that can be placed under an airline seat, and the weather is extreme, Satowski advises against travel because of circumstances which may arise that are beyond the owner's control.
Satowski also advises against sedating a pet.
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"Some of the drugs can cause more harm than good," she said. "The pet's internal temperature can be affected by a sedative and have the opposite effect such as getting chilled or overheated."
Of course, this is not an issue when a dog is a traveling in a car. Still, there are precautions that should be taken.
"They need a carrier or pet seat belt harness so they are secure and safe," said Erica Roberts, manager of in RB.
"If it is a long drive, bring a bed and something they are familiar with like a toy or blanket that has their scent on it. This makes them comfortable," Roberts said.
Satowski and Roberts also recommend a sweater or jacket for small to medium size breeds.
"Larger dogs have a heavier coat and are usually fine,"Roberts added.
Kahoots carries various products for traveling with a pet. Prices for seat belt harnesses begin at $19.98; travel crates, $32.98; and sweaters, $10.95.
"We have fleece beds for the back seat with a raised edge which are popular because they keep the pet centered in the middle," Roberts said. These are priced starting at $12.98.
Other items to pack on long trips include travel bowls, potty and poop bags, leashes and collars.
Kahoots has a machine on the premises that can engrave name tags that can make it easier to recover your pet should it get lost during travel.
