I'm a dog expert- 5 top tips for travelling with your pooch this autumn

75% of dog owners expressed their intent to take their dog on staycation this year, as pooch parents and their road dogs head on journeys across the UK¹

Dr. Emma Scales-Theobald, canine behaviourist, and resident dog expert at Canine Cottages, has revealed her top tips for travelling with your pooch in the car, and on public transport

Dr. Emma says dogs can show their enthusiasm for travelling to a destination by “wagging their tail, moving around a lot, and panting”

Three-quarters (75%) of dog owners said they intended to take their dog on staycation this year¹ however, if you’re dog isn’t used to travelling in the car, or on public transport, how do you go about creating a stress-free travel experience?

To offer dog owners some helpful tips, dog-friendly holidays brand Canine Cottages, have shared some travel insights from their resident dog expert and canine behaviourist Dr Emma Scales-Theobald about travelling with your pooch this autumn.

Tip 1 - When travelling by car make sure your passenger pooches are secure and comfortable

When travelling with your pooch, it’s important that they are both comfortable and secure to prevent any driving distractions. Regarding the best place to put your pooch in the car, Dr Emma said: “The back seats or the boot of your car are best for your dog to travel in for their safety and to prevent distractions to the driver. When travelling with a dog in your car, it's crucial to ensure they are properly secured for the safety of both you and your pet. It is also part of the Highway Code (rule 57) that they are suitably restrained.”

“A crate or pet carrier can be an ideal way for many dogs to travel in a car. It can provide a comfortable space they feel safe in and can help many crate-trained dogs feel more relaxed about travelling. You can also use a dog seat belt, which is a convenient way to travel with your dog in the car. It’s recommended that this is attached to a harness, not the dog’s collar, if possible, to help reduce the likelihood of serious injury in the case of an accident.”

Tip 2 - Build paw-sitive association for travel with calming treats

Whether travelling via car or public transport your dog must build positive association with their environment. Dr Emma recommends that to help your dog feel calmer with travelling you should consider playing relaxing music, using calming products, such as treats and having them wear a compression jacket. If your dog is small enough, try to keep them in a pet carrier while travelling to help them feel safe.

“Practise making small, enjoyable journeys at first to help build their confidence. If you have time, try to give them a good run or long walk before a journey to help get rid of pent-up energy and encourage them to sleep during the journey.”

Tip 3 - Train your dog with basic commands such as ‘leave it’

Public transport can often be extremely busy at peak times therefore Dr Emma recommends teaching your dog to follow commands on where to move and to sit or lie in tight spots. She continues: “Training your dog to stop barking on command can also be handy on public transport to help bring their focus back to you if they have a tendency to bark at things like other dogs, bikes or children etc.

“It’s important to also teach your dog that they don’t have to greet everyone. Some people do not like dogs or are afraid of them. But also, this can help your dog to stay relaxed. Training the ‘leave it’ command and to focus on you can really help with this.”

Tip 4 - If your pooch is prone to travel sickness, feed them an hour or two before you leave

Most of us have experienced the familiar feeling of travel sickness, but did you know that dogs can experience this too? Dr Emma recommends watching out for excessive panting, drooling, retching and lip licking, when in the car.

She said: “Often, travel sickness is linked with anxiety. Make sure to slowly build their confidence on manageable short journeys and steadily increasing the distance over time will also really help. Also, leaving an hour or two before travelling after feeding your dog will help give their stomachs time to digest the food and reduce the chances of them being ill.”

Tip 5 - Pack the essentials

Being packed and prepared ensures that you and your dog will have a stress-free and easy journey. Dr Emma recommends packing the following when heading on a trip away:

• Dog food - A sudden change in your dog’s diet will cause your dog to have a very upset stomach.
• Treats - Many dogs can cope with different treats, but those with sensitive stomachs will probably prefer their usual treats from home as well.
• Water - Make sure to take enough water with you as well.
• Water bowl - Some dogs are fussy about what they drink out of and won’t like sharing water bowls where they can smell what other dogs have used.
• Travel mat - Bringing a travel mat can be handy for giving your dog somewhere comfortable to lie when you stop to eat.
• Poo bags – Having them handy and ready is always important on journeys.
• Pet first aid kit
• Toys – This can be comforting for your dog, they smell like home, and provide a fun distraction.

Do dogs get excited about their travels?

Dr Emma reveals your dog may be telling you how excited they are for their travels by wagging their tail, moving around a lot and panting. She said: “Dogs are very clever and quickly build associations. They can recognise that using the car or public transport can mean you’re going somewhere fun and get excited.”

For further wag-tastic travel tips, read this guide to travelling with your pet.

Sources

https://www.caninecottages.co.uk/blog/dog-friendly-trends-report

About The Author

Canine Cottages: leading the way for dog-friendly holidays

A company dedicated to dog-tastic vacations spanning England, Scotland and Wales, we feature over 10,000 immaculate, pet-friendly places to stay where four-legged friends are not just ‘allowed’ but encouraged and welcomed with open arms.

Seven years ago, we recognised a hole in the market for holidays for the ENTIRE family. Today, we’re proud to say thousands of dogs have enjoyed a UK adventure with us and we’re only seeing that number grow!

Big, small, lively or lazy – we welcome all dogs and, better yet, over half our collection of cottages gladly accepts more than one.

Dr Emma Scales-Theobald – Canine Behaviour and Nutrition Consultant

Dr Emma holds a PhD in Veterinary Medicine and Science from the University of Surrey, as well as an MSc in Animal Behaviour from the University of Exeter. Dr Emma specialises in canine health, behaviour and quality of life in both healthy dogs and those with chronic conditions, such as osteoarthritis, dementia and pruritus.

Website: https://www.emmathedogtor.com

How can acupuncture help my pet?

Have you heard of acupuncture for pets? Many pet owners are unaware that this therapy is an option for their furry family members. In this post I will try to explain how it works and how it may be helpful for your pet.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture has evolved from the ancient art of placing needles into special locations on the body to alleviate pain, improve recovery rates and increase resistance to disease. It has been practised by the Chinese and other Eastern cultures for thousands of years, but in recent decades there has been a wealth of scientific studies into the effects of acupuncture on the body, meaning it has become more accepted into Western medicine. Acupuncture is available on the NHS for a limited number of conditions including low back pain, migraine headaches and allergic rhinitis (hayfever). It is a very safe treatment with minimal side-effects and can be used alongside conventional medicines.

How does acupuncture work?

By stimulating receptors under the skin, and nerve endings within connective tissues and muscles, acupuncture needles produce a range of effects including

• Release of endorphins ( the body’s own morphine-like chemicals) and dilating blood vessels to improve blood flow to constricted areas, relieving pain and promote healing
• Relief of tension and constriction in the myofascial system (muscles and connective tissues). These often become painful secondarily to the initial disease, as the animal tries to compensate for or protect the damaged area - sometimes these actually become the primary source of pain for the animal.
• Influences on the emotional centres of the brain and autonomic nervous system to bring a painful animal out of their ‘flight or flight’ state into a calmer state of mind, reducing muscular tension and anxiety to improve wellbeing

More recent sophisticated studies have revealed effects on the hypothalamus, immune system and autonomic nervous system - all systems designed to maintain a normal physiological balance in the body. This has led to its use in a wider range of internal medical disease conditions.

When can acupuncture be useful?

Acupuncture is most often used to treat musculoskeletal conditions (of the bones and muscles) and painful conditions, including:

• neck pain
• osteoarthritis (joint pain)
• muscular or ligament injuries
• dental pain
• postoperative pain
• spinal pain ( e.g. from a disc protrusion or collapse, IVDD)

It can also be useful in chronic medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), urinary problems such as cystitis or incontinence and chronic respiratory diseases - particularly when conventional medicines have failed or are inadequate to control the patient's symptoms. These conditions are often where the body's own regulatory systems (known as homeostatic mechanisms) are working poorly, perhaps due to stress, or other ongoing illness.

Acupuncture treatment can only be carried out by a registered veterinary surgeon (MRCVS) or a registered veterinary nurse (RVN) under veterinary supervision, and should always follow an accurate diagnosis of the problem where possible, and a full appraisal of all available treatment options. In many cases acupuncture is best used in conjunction with conventional medicine however, in some situations, it can be used as a sole treatment. Adding acupuncture to a treatment plan can help to reduce the requirement for other medications, reducing the risk of side effects.

Will it work for my pet?

Although most commonly used in dogs and horses, any animal may benefit from acupuncture, with reptiles and zoo animals having received acupuncture for many years. Acupuncture responses can vary from instant improvement to no benefit at all, with most animals falling somewhere in the middle. The standard approach is to try 3-4 sessions at weekly or biweekly intervals and then review how the animal is progressing. A veterinary acupuncturist will not insist on continuing if there is no obvious benefit to your pet.

Will it hurt?

Most pets will tolerate the superfine needles much more easily than a standard veterinary injection, and the acupuncturist will use a very gentle approach in the first instance, slowly feeling the muscles and joints for any highly sensitive areas before choosing where to place the needles. Often animals will benefit from some distraction when the needles are inserted (bring out the lickmat!) but once the endorphins start to be released most animals will relax, sometimes into quite a sleepy state!

What are the side effects?

Acupuncture is extremely safe when practised correctly, with side effects usually mild such as temporary muscle soreness or a tiny bleed when a needle is removed, that stops with pressure. Occasionally temporary nerve irritation may occur. The most common side effect is a really good sleep afterwards!

How can I find a veterinary acupuncturist near me?

There is a searchable directory on two member association websites:
https://www.ivas.org/vets/?fwp_country=united_kingdom
https://abva.co.uk/find-a-vet



About The Author
Carole Parsons BVSc CertAVP(VetGP) MRCVS has been a general practice vet for 20 years and stepped away from full time clinical work last year to concentrate solely on acupuncture and pain management for pets in their homes. She runs a mobile service in the East Midlands.
www.pettherapyacupuncture.co.uk