As animal lovers, we want to share our vacations with our pets. However, many of the vacation destinations we choose are endemic areas for certain diseases.
Additionally, our dog may not be used to traveling, and our plans may be disrupted because dogs, especially puppies, frequently get motion sickness during trips and experience symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Today, solutions are available that do not require sedating the animal to prevent these uncomfortable and undesirable symptoms. Your veterinarian is best placed to recommend their use.
Unwelcome guests on our pets
The countryside, the beach, the mountains - in short, contact with nature - means that our animals are even more susceptible to parasites.
Parasites are organisms that live at the expense of another animal. The host animal is weakened by blood or nutrient loss, tissue damage, or the transmission of other diseases. They are classified as endoparasites or ectoparasites, depending on whether they live inside or outside the host.
The most common ectoparasites in dogs are ticks and fleas, and the severity of an infestation depends on the time of year, the dog's lifestyle, and the geographical region in which the animal is located.
Additionally, they can transmit other diseases while feeding on our dog's blood.
Beware of mosquitoes!
Some parasites may be more common in certain vacation destinations. This is the case with the worm Dirofilaria immitis, which causes heartworm disease, more commonly known as heartworm. The disease is transmitted by the bites of various mosquito species and is considered endemic in the Mediterranean region, southern Spain, and the Canary Islands.
The symptoms of heartworm disease result from the presence of worms in the animal's heart. The greater the number of worms and the longer the disease remains untreated, the more severe the dog's symptoms: coughing, exercise intolerance, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness...and, in some cases, death.
For this reason, it is advisable to administer preventive treatment to dogs and cats traveling to an endemic region or living there. Treatment is difficult, but routine prevention in companion animals is straightforward.
Protect your pet from parasites
It is important to protect our animals from the possible “dangers” they may be exposed to when traveling to areas that are not their usual habitat.
Deworming should be carried out throughout the year, but it becomes even more important during seasons when warmer temperatures increase the incidence of these parasites, such as spring and summer.
Ideally, your dog should receive regular treatment to prevent infestation with ticks and fleas, as well as mosquito bites. Your veterinarian will help you find the optimal treatment for your dog based on its lifestyle and the time of year.
One in six dogs suffers from motion sickness
Sometimes, our vacation plans or short getaways are disrupted because our dog gets carsick and, unwilling to suffer or see our dog suffer, we are forced to give up enjoying its company during our trips.
More than 16 percent of dogs suffer from motion sickness while traveling, considerably limiting families' freedom to travel and causing frustration for everyone, including the dog itself.
Motion sickness in dogs limits many owners to such an extent that they see no alternative but to leave their pet at home when traveling. It can occur with any means of transportation and often begins when the animal is a puppy. Excessive drooling, panting, restlessness, and anxiety are some of the signs that your dog may get motion sickness when traveling.
Prevent your pet from suffering vomiting and nausea due to motion sickness and enjoy the journey
Most products available to address the problem are tranquilizers or antihistamines, which, in addition to being only marginally effective, sedate the dog and have side effects such as low blood pressure and an increased heart rate. Other solutions, such as behavioral therapies, take time, are expensive, and are not always effective.
However, Zoetis offers veterinarians an option that can easily prevent travel-related motion sickness vomiting in pets. It is a product developed specifically for dogs that acts effectively and for a long duration without making the animal drowsy. With this option, your dog can enjoy up to 12 hours without motion sickness-related vomiting or nausea.
Consult your regular veterinarian, who will tell you about this product for controlling motion sickness vomiting in your dog.