How to keep your pet safe while traveling?

Summer is just around the corner. While UK holidaymakers eagerly anticipate their annual summer holidays and travel abroad, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has warned travelers to ensure their pets are safe and do not pick up worms or other parasites while on holiday.

What awaits your pet during your vacation?

The warning was issued on World Veterinary Day (WVD, April 25, 2015)—a day when veterinarians worldwide celebrate and acknowledge their contribution to maintaining human and animal health. On World Veterinary Day, the topic of vector-borne diseases—diseases that can be transmitted from one animal to another, including from animals to humans (zooanthroponotic diseases), often through insect bites, such as mosquito bites—was discussed.

These diseases include leishmaniasis, an infectious disease transmitted by the bites of mosquitoes typically found in Mediterranean coastal areas. The most common symptoms include skin inflammation and signs of a developing infection. If left untreated, the pet is highly fatal. The disease is also zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans from an infected animal (although there has not yet been a recorded case of transmission from dogs to humans in the UK). The good news is that owners can take preventative measures against leishmaniasis, and sick animals can be treated.

Other diseases that can lead to serious complications and that can be contracted by pets traveling with their owners abroad include:

• Babesiosis (pyroplasmosis).
• Liver diseases.
• Parasitic.
• Canine brucellosis.
• Rabies.
• Tapeworm and many others.

Tips to help keep your pet safe while traveling

The Animal Welfare Fund, as well as other charitable organizations concerned about the welfare of pets, recommend that owners planning a trip research possible routes in advance, study the epidemiological situation in the area where they are going, and locate veterinary clinics in advance.

Key tips are:

1. Consult a veterinarian at least three weeks before your trip to ensure your dog receives preventative vaccinations against the diseases most common in the area you're traveling to. Building lasting immunity takes time.
2. Discuss the countries you plan to visit with your veterinarian. Let them explain any specific health risks your pet may face in those areas.
3. Have your four-legged friend clinically examined to ensure your pet is “suitable” for travel.
4. Check that your pet's rabies vaccinations and passport are up to date. If necessary, renew them to avoid any problems while traveling.
5. Check that the chip is working. If you haven't already, it's a good idea to do so. This will help you return your pet if it gets lost or runs away.
6. Discuss with your veterinarian any other preventative measures needed to protect your pet from ticks, mosquitoes, and worms. Also, inquire about the most effective medications available abroad for your pet's specific illness.

The British Veterinary Association gives an interview on World Vet Day

BWA President John Blackwell said:

"Owners should take precautions when traveling abroad with their pets. We certainly don't want to discourage vacationers from bringing their pets. After all, everyone wants to relax with their beloved pets, and four-legged friends want to have fun with their owners on holidays. But people should be aware of the health risks to their pets. To do this, they should avoid making unnecessary mistakes while traveling, as some diseases are very dangerous.

The good news is that early intervention can help treat many of these conditions and prevent the worst. However, there may be long-term health consequences (complications) for the animal after these illnesses.

The best news is that there are clear precautions. Owners can keep their pets safe, which will help them enjoy their vacation, but they need to plan ahead, research, and follow these tips. The best medicine is timely prevention, and the best way to ensure a happy trip without any unpleasant surprises (like parasites or various illnesses) is to consult with your veterinarian as early as possible (at least 3-4 weeks before your intended trip with your beloved pet).

Read also:

• Dog bite: what to do
• Encephalitis in dogs: symptoms and treatment
• Signs of rabies after a dog bite in a person