Taking Your Dog On Vacation This Summer? 4 Reasons To Visit The Veterinary Clinic First
Now that summer is just around the corner, it's time to start making your vacation plans. If you have a dog that will be traveling with you, don't forget to include them in the planning phase. You might not realize this, but your dog will require special care during your vacation. To make sure your dog stays happy and healthy during your vacation, you want to start with a trip to the veterinary clinic. If you're not sure why you need to take your dog to the vet clinic before your vacation, read the list provided below. Here are just four of the reasons your dog needs to visit the vet before you leave for your vacation.
Spay or Neuter Your Dog
If your dog has not been spayed or neutered yet, now's the time to take care of that procedure. You might not think that reproductive surgery is important to your vacation plans, but it is. This is especially true if you plan to visit any public areas, such as hotels or beaches, during your vacation. The last thing you want is for your dog to become pregnant during your vacation, or to impregnate another dog during your travels. To avoid that risk, have your dog spayed or neutered before you leave for your vacation.
Update the Vaccinations
If it's been a while since your dog has been seen at a veterinary clinic, there's a good chance that their vaccinations are out-of-date. If that's the case, you need to bring your dog up-to-date on their vaccinations before you're scheduled to leave on your vacation. This is especially important if you're going to be traveling out of the country for your vacation. Or, if you're going to an area where certain canine diseases are prevalent. To keep your dog healthy during your vacation, be sure to update the vaccinations before you travel.
Discuss Medications
If your dog suffers from any existing medical conditions, you'll want to schedule an appointment at the veterinary clinic before you leave on vacation, especially if your dog takes any medications. Your veterinarian can make sure that you have plenty of refills available for your dog's medication. Also, if your dog becomes anxious in unfamiliar surroundings, your veterinarian may be able to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for them.
Install a Microchip
If your dog hasn't been microchipped yet, and you're planning your summer vacation, now's the time to have that procedure taken care of. A microchip will ensure that you can be located should your dog escape while you're on vacation. Visit a veterinary clinic to get this taken care of.
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