Sponsored by Vetoquinol USA

Holiday travel can be tough. From weather delays and security lines  to hours of traffic on the interstate, getting to your family is a  battle. If you’re one of the lucky ones who’s four-legged friend makes  the trek with you, here are some tips to make traveling with your pet  easier.

Before traveling:

• Make sure your pet is up to date on any vaccines and current on flea and tick medicine.
• Visit with your veterinarian and ask about calming supplements, like Zylkene®, to help your pet cope with the stress of travel.

Traveling by plane:

• Flying is best for cats and small dogs that can fit under the seat  in front of you. Larger dogs must be stowed in the cargo hold during the  flight – this can be frightening for your pet and it come with risks.
• Each airline will have their own pet requirements – research these  before booking your flight. If possible, book a direct flight.
• Visit your veterinarian and obtain a health certificate date within 10 days of your trip.

Traveling by car:

• While you might love cruising down the open road, some pets may  experience car sickness. Talk to your veterinarian about solutions to  car sickness.
• First time driving with your pet? Get your pet acclimated to the car  with smaller trips in the weeks leading up to your big drive.
• Small dogs and cats should be kept in a carrier in the back seat. If  your pet doesn’t like traveling via carrier, make sure they are secured  in the back seat with a seatbelt harness.
• Pack a bag for your pet! Make sure to bring food, water, a favorite  toy, poop bags, a blanket or pillow and any medication. On road trip  day, give your pet a small meal 3-4 hours before departure.
• Stop frequently for exercise and potty breaks.
• Don’t leave your pet alone in a closed car.

There are a lot of new and unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells when  you travel. If your pet does not cope well with changes to their  environment, it may be best to leave them at a boarding facility or with  a pet sitter.

Sponsored by Vetoquinol USA

It’s  the most wonderful time of the year…but for our pets it can sometimes  feel like the most stressful time of the year. Family gatherings,  vacations, colder weather and just general busy-ness can create a  challenging environment for our pets.

To help our four-legged friends cope better during the holidays here are a few tips:

• Decrease stimuli. If your pets do not like loud  noises or unfamiliar people, then do not subject them to the 40 house  guests that will be coming over for dinner. Instead, keep them safely  tucked away in a quiet room or cozy kennel. You can play classical music  or turn on the television to further drown out the commotion coming  from all of the “unwanted guests.”
• A tired dog is a good dog. During the holidays, it  is important to make the time to continue the daily exercise routine for  our pets. It may be especially important for those pets that have  difficulty with the challenges of the holidays. It can be useful to fit  in some extra exercise on the days prior to and the morning of a big  holiday gathering, so that your pet will be more fulfilled. This may  help calm them down and act less concerned by all of the commotion.
• Avoid feeding “people food” to your dog. While your  pet may be hoping to sample something off your plate at your upcoming  gathering, sudden changes to your dog’s diet can cause stomach upset or  worse. Certain foods like onions (don’t forget about onion powder!),  grapes/raisins, chocolate, etc. can be toxic. Getting into something  that is not normally in your dog’s diet can cause gastrointestinal  issues that are sure to make the holidays less pleasant for everyone.
• Make sure your dog has identification. Things  happen and the busy holiday season is a prime time for the door to be  left open or the gate latch to not fully close. For this upcoming  holiday, and all year round, your dog should have a sturdy leash and  collar. The collar should have identification tags with your phone  number, a license, and proof of rabies vaccination. Because collars and  tags can fall off, make sure your dog has a permanent ID with a  microchip. Keep your contact information current with your recovery  service provider.
• Mimic the comforts of home. If you are boarding  your dog during the holidays, it’s always a good idea to try and bring  some comforts from home to ensure they have as positive an experience as  possible. Packing their own food, favorite toys and extra bedding are  some examples of things that might make the boarding process smoother.  For additional tips around boarding, click here.
• Use a natural calming supplement. For dogs who  struggle with disturbances to their environment such as travelling, loud  noises, boarding, or hosting a large family gathering, try a calming  behavioral supplement such as Zylkene®.  Zylkene is a veterinary formulated product containing a unique,  milk-derived ingredient that promotes calmness and relaxation without  causing drowsiness. For short-term therapy, begin administration 1-2  days ahead of the anticipated event (such as a holiday party.)

*This article does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If  you are worried about your pet’s health or behavior always reach out to  your veterinarian.

Sponsored by Vetoquinol USA

It’s  the most wonderful time of the year…but for our cats it can sometimes  feel like the most stressful time of the year. Family gatherings,  vacations and just general busy-ness can create a challenging  environment for our feline friends.

To help our cat’s cope better during the holidays here are a few tips:

• Decrease stimuli. If your cats do not like loud  noises or unfamiliar people, then do not subject them to the 40 house  guests that will be coming over for dinner. Instead, try to keep them  safely tucked away in a quiet room. You can play classical music or turn  on the television to further drown out the commotion coming from all of  the “unwanted guests”. Try this classical playlist!
• Decorations can be dangerous. Many holiday  decorations resemble toys to cats and entice them to try and play with  them. Tinsel, in particular, is extremely harmful to cats if ingested.  Christmas trees, lights and ornaments can also present a problem to cats  who like to explore new objects in their domain. Ensure your tree is  highly secure and consider decorating with non-glass ornaments if your  cat is particularly mischievous.
• Avoid feeding “people food” to your cat. While your  pet may be hoping to sample something off your plate at your upcoming  gathering, sudden changes to your cat’s diet can cause stomach upset or  worse. Certain foods like onions (don’t forget about onion powder!),  grapes/raisins, chocolate, etc. can be toxic. Getting into something  that is not normally in their diet can cause gastrointestinal issues  that are sure to make the holidays less pleasant for everyone.
• Make sure your cat has identification. Things  happen and the busy holiday season is a prime time for the door to be  left open or the gate latch to not fully close. For this upcoming  holiday, and all year round, your cat should have a sturdy leash and  collar. The collar should have identification tags with your phone  number, a license, and proof of rabies vaccination. And because collars  and tags can fall off, make sure your cat has a permanent ID with a  microchip. Keep your contact information current with your recovery  service provider.
• Mimic the comforts of home. If you are boarding  your cat during the holidays, it’s always a good idea to try and bring  some comforts from home to ensure they have as positive an experience as  possible. Packing their own food, favorite toys and extra bedding are  some examples of things that might make the boarding process smoother.  It is not a good idea to leave a cat at home alone for prolonged periods  of time, they should always receive regular supervision and can  experience separation anxiety. For additional tips around boarding, click here.
• Use a natural calming supplement. For cats who  struggle with disturbances to their environment such as travelling, loud  noises, boarding, or hosting a large family gathering, try a calming  behavioral supplement such as Zylkene®.  Zylkene is a veterinary formulated product containing a unique,  milk-derived ingredient that promotes calmness and relaxation without  causing drowsiness. For short-term therapy, begin administration 1-2  days ahead of the anticipated event (such as a holiday party.)

*This article does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If  you are worried about your pet’s health or behavior always reach out to  your veterinarian.