With the ongoing concerns about Covid worldwide, many people will be looking to holiday in the UK, many of them taking their dog/s. Here are just some recommendations/things to consider:
- Check your dogs vaccines are up to date.
- Check your dog is up to date with tick, flea and mite prevention is up to date. Certain parts of the UK have a higher prevalence of ticks. Ticks can transmit diseases such as Lymes and Babesiosis. A useful map of UK tick distribution is available to view on the MSD website.
- If your your dog is on long term medication, or a prescription diet, do you have enough to last through your holiday?
- Check for vets in the area you are visiting in case you need to seek emergency veterinary care. If your dog has a long term condition/s it is advisable to give permission to your usual vets, in advance, so that they may share your pets history, alternatively you can request a copy of your pets clinical notes to take with you.
- Make sure you take fresh water for your dog when going on days out.
- Avoid the temptation to over exercise your dog. For dogs who are not used to much exercise suddenly taking them on a hike can result in lameness or potentially even collapse, due to heat stroke or general exhaustion.
- Make yourself aware of the Adder risk in the area you are visiting. Adder bites can be fatal. Being able to identify an Adder, understand their behaviour and keeping your dog close to you on the lease, as you remain alert, will help avoid an unwanted interaction. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED YOUR DOG MAY HAVE BEEN BITTEN BY AN ADDER SEEK VETERINARY CARE IMMEDIATELY.
- Be aware of the daily temperature. Dogs can suffer from heat stroke, with older dogs and brachycephalic breeds being particularly susceptible. Do not leave dogs in hot cars and find a way to provide shade, where your dog can rest, when they are outside for prolonged periods. Dogs can also suffer from burnt pads when walked on hot concrete or sand, consider how you can avoid dogs having to walk on such areas particularly at the hottest times of the day.
- Be beach aware. Keep your dog under close supervision when on the beach. Look out for jellyfish who's stings are irritant and potentially poisonous. If your dog likes to swim make sure they do not go out too far, it is useful to be aware of the slope of the beach/es you plan to visit, dogs have been drowned by getting themselves into deep water. Discourage your dog from drinking sea water.
- If your dog has a thin white coat, particularly on their extremities like their ear tips then using sun block is recommended to prevent sunburn.
If you would like any advice on preparing to take your dog on holiday please do not hesitate to call to speak to one of our vets.