Summer holidays are coming—and whilst we’re still here, many of you will be off and away on a sunny adventure!
Whether it’s the coast, the bush, or interstate, travelling with pets takes extra prep to keep them safe, calm, and protected from summer health risks.
Car Sickness or Travel Anxiety? Know the Signs
Bring your dog on a road trip?
Some dogs love the car – you know the kind, head out the window, tongue in the breeze. Others… not so much – drooling, vocalising, toenails gripping the seats for stability. It can be a nightmare.
For some dogs, it’s the anxiety of the car—instability, foreign environment and sudden movements which can be too overwhelming. And others literally suffer from motion sickness.
Talk to us about how your pet responds in the car, and we can work on the best plan to help them settle in and enjoy themselves.
We can help with travel techniques to help them feel secure, anti-nausea treatments, anxiety relief and even long-term term we can link you with our amazing behaviourist, Yvonne Mann, to work on a lifelong plan.
Prevention Strategies for Car Sickness:
- Desensitisation: Gradual car exposure – without getting in, paired with the tastiest treats and praise. This is when it’s time to pay the cheese tax!
- Environment: A crate can provide a well-defined, stable area, with a nice, supportive bedding to help them feel safe. For others, a harness so they are secure but don’t feel restricted might be more comfortable. Remember to keep the car air-conditioned, and keep the radio on—but low, the white noise can be helpful.
- Feeding: Avoid large meals before travelling for obvious reasons.
- Behavioural Techniques: Bring familiar items, like their bed or favourite toys. Have someone sit in the back with them for comfort.
- Medication: Chat to your vet about whether this is suitable for your pet.
Tick, Flea, and Heartworm Protection Is Non-Negotiable
If you’re heading north toward New South Wales or into eastern Victoria (e.g. Lakes Entrance), these are paralysis tick zones. This tick isn’t just annoying—it’s fatal.
Likewise, heartworm—transmitted by mosquitoes—is far more active in warm, humid climates. It causes serious, often irreversible damage to the heart and lungs, particularly in dogs.
The good news? There are annual injections that offer protection from both ticks/fleas and heartworm.
They’re safe, vet‑administered, and take the stress out of remembering monthly meds. A simple, convenient way to keep your pet protected all year!
Boarding Your Pet? Plan Ahead
Whether your pet is off to a kennel or cattery while you travel, make sure they’re up to date on vaccines and parasite protection.
Vaccinations need time to take effect—so if your pet is overdue, please don’t leave it until the day before.
Fleas and worms can easily spread in boarding environments, so a current prevention plan is essential to avoid unwanted hitchhikers returning home with your pet.
Check Local Emergency Vet Options
If you’re bringing your pet on holiday, take a moment to check the local emergency vet services at your destination. Should anything go wrong, you’ll want to know where to go.
And don’t forget, our sister clinic, Vetland Hospital and Emergency, is open 24/7.
A Note for Flat-Faced Breeds
If you’ve got a bulldog, pug, or any other flat-faced breed, be extra cautious.