Mary Allen
Holiday time with dog and cat
The holiday time with animals must be well planned. The first question is, will the animal stay at home or go on holiday with you?
Puppies, older or sick dogs should normally stay at home. If you want to go to a country with high humidity and temperature, this would be very stressful for dogs with thick, heavy long hair. Even with a lack of opportunities to go for walks, poor hygienic conditions, and high infection pressure due to dangerous diseases, a dog is better off at home.
If the animal is to stay at home in its familiar surroundings, reliable care must be organized.
For small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs, it is usually easy to find a person to take care of the animal. There are also solutions for cats, who feel most comfortable in their familiar surroundings. Ideally, neighbors or friends who already know the cat will do the feeding, clean the litter box, and just spend some time with the cat playing or cuddling.
Dogs that cannot travel with you are best left in their familiar surroundings with a familiar person who is familiar with the animal’s needs. Animal boarding houses, animal shelters, or possibly the breeder for temporary accommodation are alternatives.
If the animal is to travel with you, as is often the case with dogs, the following preparations must be made in good time:
- Is the holiday destination dog-friendly?
- EU pet passport and entry requirements
- travel arrangements
- travel pharmacy