RV FEATURE
They say a dog is man ’ s best friend . Personally , I couldn ’ t agree more . They have a way of getting under your skin and working their way to your heart . So much so that many dog owners , myself included , regard them as more than just a pet . They are our fur-babies and we treat them just as we would any other member of the family .
Which brings me to the subject at hand . If you regard your dog ( or dogs ) as a fully-fledged member of your family , you will probably want to take them with you on your caravanning and camping adventures . In this series , we will take an in-depth look at what ’ s involved in taking your faithful friend away with you on your next holiday .
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Now , before you go and pack yourselves and your dogs into the car and drive off into the sunset , you need to ask yourself some questions about your dog and its suitability for travel . Here are a few to get you thinking .
How well does your dog travel ?
I ’ ve spoken to many people who want to travel with their dogs but can ’ t because the dog doesn ’ t cope with being in the car . Some dogs suffer motion sickness , just as human do .
If your dog suffers these complications , hope is not lost . There are ways you can get your dog used to travelling in the car . Many times , it involves a process of taking the dog away on short trips and gradually extending the time away .
Sometimes it is just that the dog is not comfortable or secure . Providing a place where the dog can nestle into , such as a box or a crate , can make all the difference .
As a last resort , you can talk to your vet about medications .
Does your dog have a medical history ?
As any dog owner will tell you , dogs can have just as many medical issues as humans . These issues can be managed when you ’ re at home but , when you ’ re away , you may need to take your dog to a vet for whatever reason .
It ’ s important to keep your dog ’ s complete medical history with you . That includes any prescriptions for medication it requires and any details of previous ailments or operations . Any vet that is unfamiliar with your dog ’ s medical history will request this information when you first visit them . It is very important as it will affect any treatment they require .
Many dogs cannot stay calm in the car for long drives . Some dogs have anxiety issues when in the car .
Being about to leave for a holiday is not the time to discover your dog is not a good traveller . We highly recommend taking your dog for a few day outings and some shortterm trips before committing to a holiday that may involve hours of travel in the car .
/ 21