How To Travel With A Disabled Dog
Traveling with a specially-abled dog is no less wonderful than traveling with any other pet. It should not be that you restrict your dog from enjoying a trip with you, just because he is disabled. Many dogs with disabilities travel and have fun with their owners. The only thing required is a little extra care.
Traveling with your canine companion involves a lot of pre-planning. But not to worry, as there are methods to overcome all the hassles of a trip. Plan appropriately and you are all set to have a more relaxed time with your furry mate.
Definitely, dogs are such cute and adorable friends as they offer you absolute faith and love. And undoubtedly, disabled dogs develop a strong understanding of responsibility in us. But what we require is some extra preparation. Let’s check how to experience an amazing journey with your cutie canine with disability.
Prepare Before You Travel With A Disabled Dog
Caring for a disabled dog (or I should say differently-abled dog), is a tough job. It requires complete dedication and a lifelong commitment. Taking your dog on a trip will be a big reward for him and he will always be grateful to you.
But before you leave for the trip with a disabled dog you will require to make some early preparations. Collect all the required medicines for an emergency. You can carry a sheet or a dress that smells homely so your dog does not feel homesick. Moreover, do not forget to take your dog’s favorite toy along.
Furthermore, do not forget to
Visit Your Vet
A vet visit is definitely required before a domestic or international trip with a furry friend.
- You should talk to your vet that you are planning to travel with a disabled pet.
- Obtain a health certificate from the veterinarian.
- Give your dog proper vaccinations(for rabies) through the vet. You will have to carry a certificate of vaccination if you’re traveling to another state or country.
- Get the expert’s advice on what diet your dog must follow on the trip.
- Do not forget to ask for painkillers or relaxing medicines for severe situations.
- Most importantly, if your dog is not healthy enough to travel, do not take a risk of taking him along on the trip.
Book A Hotel That Welcomes Disabled Pets
After having the veterinarian’s permission what you need is a hotel that allows a differently-abled pet. At times, it can be very challenging when traveling with a special-needs dog. So, it is best to book your hotels before you leave for the destination.
- Look out for a pet-friendly hotel and talk to them about your dog’s breed and size.
- Tell them about your dog’s disability in detail.
- Confirm whether the hotel charges an extra fee for pets or not.
- Check if they have wheelchair facilities.
- Dogs with disabilities due to a spine injury, need special beds that you require to carry along. You will, therefore, need some space in the hotel room to adjust your dog’s bed. Talk about the same when you book a hotel so they can rearrange the furniture accordingly.
- Once you feel affirmative, book a hotel that best suits your needs.
Pack The Essentials
Once you are done with packing the drugs and booking hotels, you should start packing some essentials. Requirements for a disabled dog slightly differ from those for a normal one. Read on to understand how you can make your journey easy by having the necessary stuff.
Pack The Cleaning Essentials
Most of the dogs with disabilities are unable to groom themselves appropriately. Therefore, cleanliness becomes a matter of concern. While planning a trip, do not forget to pack hygiene-related items for your pet’s health and comfort.
- Do carry baby wipes for cleaning up your dog’s fur and keeping his skin hydrated. Wipe off his urine and poo, after he is done, to avoid skin burns or infections.
- Carry dog diapers so he does not mess the seats during the journey.
- You might need to carry waste bags to throw used diapers and wipes.
- Carry at least two bedsheets for your dog and wash them regularly. You can use one while you wash another.
Pack Your Dog’s Wheelchairs And Harnesses
A wheel-chair gives your canine friend the freedom to move around on its own. This is extremely helpful in keeping their mental and physical status healthy.
However, a few dogs might require your help to move them around. In such cases, a harness could be really useful. You may wrap a harness specially designed for disabled dogs under your canine and you can lift him a little to move him around.
Though, ask a veterinarian first about which harness to use. If a harness is not used properly then it can cause harm to your dog by hurting his legs or other body parts.
Carry Other Necessary Things
You will also require a few other things which will be greatly helpful for you and your dog both.
- Buy a crate your dog best fits in. It should be comfortable and nicely ventilated so the dog does not get suffocated. However, let your dog become familiar with the crate prior to your actual traveling date. Let him willingly sit and play inside the crate for any number of hours daily.
- If your dog has a disability due to a spine injury, then make sure to carry his bed. Sleeping on other beds can increase his pain for sure.
- Carry your dog’s food, a food bowl, and a water bottle. Prefer to use only bottled water. Drinking water from different places can disturb your dog’s stomach.
- You will also need leashes to put a hold on your canine. Other requirements depend completely on the type of disability your dog has.
If you are traveling by road you can carry almost anything as needed. Whereas, if you have planned to travel on a flight then you must follow the rules strictly.
Air Travel With A Disabled Dog
Traveling by flight includes many complexities. You will require plenty of information, study, and paperwork before flying with a pet with a disability.
Do The Paperwork
Paperwork might not sound interesting to you. But if you expect a peaceful trip then you have to pass through this documentation phase. Preparing necessary papers before time can avoid a lot of problems while flying.
If you aren’t sure about what to do, call the airline and ask the procedures. You have to carry your dog’s health certificate and vaccination proofs which you have availed from the vet. Each state and country has its own rules that you should meet to take your dog along. For instance, you will need to microchip your dog in some cases.
You also have to get a pet passport for your furry friend. This paper contains the particulars about you as the owner, information of the dog, details about his disability, identifying marks, and medical certificates.
There can be other requirements too depending on the country you are traveling to. You should start planning paperwork for at least two months prior to the travel date.
Take Your Dog In The Cabin Or Ship Him In Cargo
A few flights are quite pet-friendly that allow pets to travel with you inside the cabin for shorter distances. You need to place your dog in a good dog crate under your seat on these flights. Moreover, the crate size should be checked with the airlines.
However, if you have a huge dog or you are traveling internationally then you have to ship your dog as Cargo. Professional pet-shippers have the training to take care of the pets and ship them safely. They can also help you do all the necessary paperwork.
The pet’s area in the flight is typically under temperature-control and does not require extra medical attention. Whereas if your dog requires extra preventive care then you must prefer to choose a road trip if it is not an international tour.
Road Travel With A Disabled Dog
Road trips are simply enjoyable. At times it can be more convenient traveling by road with a disabled dog. You can take along whatever you require. Moreover, your dog can enjoy your company throughout the journey. However, consider the following tips when you are willing to travel by road with a disabled dog.
- Do not forget to stop at regular intervals to let your dog pee or defecate. Every time he completes defecating and peeing clean him with baby wipes. You require to do this as disabled dogs might not be able to clean all of their body parts.
- If you have a small dog, you can take a baby-carrier. You can easily roam around by hanging him on your chest in the carrier. However, consult a vet first.
- Make sure to get the car serviced. Double-check that all safety features of the car are properly functioning, especially the air-bags. Keep the car temperature balanced and notice whether the dog is relaxed or not.
- Do not leave your dog alone in the car, even if he cannot jump out the window. He might get scared or get suffocated inside the car.
- Check the climate before leaving home. You definitely do not want to get stuck in the middle of a hail storm or a hurricane.
- Like humans, dogs too feel motion sickness. Take regular stops every 3-4 hours to avoid car sickness.
Final Note
Conclusively, traveling by road with a disabled dog is comparatively more convenient than any other means. It will only need some prior planning and arrangements. Whereas, for International travel, you will have to travel with him by air. Just follow proper procedures and make your trip a pleasant and memorable one.