How can I help my pet adjust to car travel?

Conditioning a pet to enjoy riding will be easier if you start training him while he is very young. Don't be discouraged if your pet is older, because in many instances older animals too can be trained, although it usually takes longer. Whether you are dealing with a puppy, kitten or grown animal, training is same. Take your pet for a short ride everyday, starting with ten minutes a day for the first week. Beginning with the second week, increase the travel time a few minutes a day until your pet is able ride happily for an hour or so. It is important to do this everyday while the animal is learning. To reduce your pet's chances of becoming carsick, always wait atleast two hours after his last meal befor beginning each session.

If your pet will be doing his riding in a kennel, he should be placed in it during the training sessions. If you are not using a kennel it's a good idea to have someone accompany you on these practice trips. It's even better if you can get a volunteer to drive your car while you sit in the back seat with your pet, patting and reassuring him. If yours is a particularly rambunctious animal, then another person should definitely come along for safety's sake.

If your pet is extremely fearful, begin by sitting in the car with him for a little while each day without driving anywhere. Sit in the back seat with your pet and speak to him calmly and soothingly. Let him sit on a familiar blanket or towel so he will feel more at ease and give him a food treat so he will associate something pleasant with being in the car. Do this everyday until he calms down and then start the short practice drives.

After your cat or dog has become accustomed to car trips. He needn't go riding everyday, but don't let too much time pass without taking him for a spin. If you don't keep him in practice you may have to go through the whole conditioning process again when its time for a vacation.The thought of that just might keep you home!

Do animals get carsick?

Yes, some pets are queasy riders. Although motion sickness can be a problem for any animal, it is more common in dogs than cats and more likely to affect puppies than older dogs. Puppies, like children, often outgrow their susceptibility to motion sickness. Often car sickness results from fear, and disappears when the animal becomes accustomed to riding, so be patient during the practice drives. Be practical, too: spread some newspaper over the seat and floor of the car. Remember that your pet can't help getting sick, and your getting angry is not only unfair but will increase your pet's anxiety and hinder his adjustment. If he throws up, reassure him that all is forgiven and then try again the next day. Waiting at least two hours after the animal has eaten before going for a drive will help avoid this problem.

As you drive, watch for signs of car sickness in your pet. If he suddenly becomes restless or starts to drool, he's probably sick. Stop and let him calm down and if possible let him out of the car so he can walk around for several minutes. It helps to keep the windows partly open while driving; like people who get green around the gills while riding, four-legged sufferers are relieved by fresh air.

If after several weeks of daily rides your pet continues to get sick in the car, it's possible that he has a disturbance of the inner ear. Discuss the problem with your vet. He or she may prescribe a tranquilizer or even a motion-sickness pill usually given to humans; such drugs are often effective for animals as well. Don't give your pet any medication without first consulting a vet, because the appropriate drug and dosage will vary with each animal.

Should my pet travel in a kennel or be free in the car?

The answer to this question depends on whether your pet is a cat or a dog, the animal's temperament and whether or not you will be driving alone with him.

Unless your cat is a paragon of serenity (and no cat is), he should ride in a kennel if the two of you are traveling alone together. Cats are quick, unpredictable and inclined to be nervous. And cats chase things: flies, dust, wind, and their own tails. To concentrate on the road while sitting next to (or under) a whirling dervish is not an easy task for any driver. A kennel offers protection for both of you: a cat free to roam could jump out the window in pursuit of another cat; and an animal perched on the dashboard, on top of the front seat or up on the back window ledge is liable to be thrown and injured if you have to stop suddenly.

When you have a passenger who doesn't mind getting a hairy lap, having that person to hold the cat is, of course, an alternative to using the kennel. If the cat is to be held, he should be wearing a collar and leash, because without these trying to hold a cat that suddenly decides he would rather be elsewhere is a little like trying to get a grip on a buzz saw. Always have a kennel available in case lap sitting gets to be too much for either party.

A nervous or excitable dog, or one who has not been trained to sit in one place and to obey commands, should also ride in a kennel unless he is small enough to be held by a passenger. Keep in mind that with so many distractions as you drive other dogs, sudden noises, unfamiliar animals darting along country roads it's possible for even the most well-behaved dog to become excited and undisciplined. For this reason even an obedient dog should not be allowed to sit in the front seat, where a sudden commotion could unnerve the driver. Only if he is held securely in a passenger's lap or in a kennel should your dog be permitted to ride in the front.

Under no circumstances should you let your dog ride with his head sticking out the window. In this position he could easily be thrown from the car during a sudden stop or shape turn, to say nothing of what could happen in a collision. Also, the dust and wind constantly blowing in his eyes and ears could cause serious infections.

Should the vet examine my pet before a driving vacation?

Yes, an animal should have a checkup to make sure he's in good health before a long trip. If you have any doubts about your pet's ability to tolerate a lengthy drive, discuss them with the doctor. Be sure that rabies and other immunization shots are up to date and get a supply of motion-sickess pills if needed.

How long before starting out should I feed my pet?

It was previously suggested that you wait at least two hours after your pet's last meal before starting out on practice rides. On extended trips, after your pet has become accustomed to riding, you may not have to wait that long before getting on the road every morning. Try leaving an hour after your pet's breakfast. If he can travel without getting sick, decrease the time a little everyday and see how he fares. But if your pet gets sick after only an hour's wait, you'll just have to get up two or three hours before you want to leave in order to feed him. You can always go back to sleep and even if you can't, he's worth a little inconvenience, isn't he? Feeding your pet in the evening instead of in the morning will also eliminate the problem.

In the current pet practice disorders of skin are second to gastrointestinal tract disorders. Sometimes frustrating for both small animal practitioners and dog owner because of their recurrence. Of all Dermatological disorders the most common being bacterial skin disease – Pyoderma and allergic dermatitis. Hence we made an attempt to focus on Pyoderma in the current issue of the bulletin. PYODERMA The skin disease is caused by bacteria of which the most common bacterium involved is S. intermedius that is commonsal organism in clinically healthy dog. The predisposing factors which lead proliferation of S. intermedius and subsequently to clinical infection are poorly understood. The factors that predisposes the disease are : Keratinization disorders / immune mediated disorders / hormonal imbalances etc. CLINICAL TYPES Superficial pyoderma Deep pyoderma Recurrent deep pyoderma Pruritus and recurrent pyoderma The treatment includes an systemic antibiotic therapy along with the antihistamines or steroids to prevent itching. But it is recorded that in pyoderma ailments the neutrophil phagocytic activity (defence mechanism) is reduced, hence it is not advisable to recommend long term steroid therapy or high steroid dosage (Immuno suppressive dose). There are reports indicating the usage of topical therapy i.e shampoos and solutions / rinses along with systemic antibiotic therapy or only topical therapy in the management of such cases and to prevent recurrence. In addition long term antibiotic treatment is necessary which has got certain limitations. So topical therapy is advisable in the long term treatment and management of such ailments. The topical agents recommended as an adjunctive therapy and in the management of pyoderma is benzoyl peroxide preparations since it has a properties of : Antimicrobial / Degreasing and follicular flushing . There are quite a number of clinical reports on usage of benzoyl peroxide in pyoderma case.   Usage of Benzoyl Peroxide as an adjunctive therapy in superficial spreading pyoderma. A 6 year old male collie had a history of 2 years of recurrent, coalescing, erythematous ventral skin lesions. Previous therapy included shampoos, various antibiotics given for the duration of 10 days or less and oral corticosteriods. Lesions consistently had recurred within 1-2 weeks of after cessation of the therapy. Physical examination revealed a healthy dog with abnormalities limited to the skin and associated lymph nodes. Multicentric, erythematous macules were present diffusely on the ventral thorax and abdomen. Clinical diagnosis was superficial spreading pyoderma. Cephalexin @ 22 mg per Kg twice daily resulted in complete resolution of the skin lesions in 4 weeks and was continued for 2 weeks beyond clinical cure. Weekly shampoos with Benzoyl Peroxide were used as an adjunctive therapy to prevent the recurrence. In addition demodicosis (Red Mange) is another common skin disorder seen in puppies & adult dogs. The disease is caused by Demodex canis , mite which are normal Inhabitants of hair follicles. The disease is recorded in : Localised form & Generalized Form. Since benzoyl peroxide has an activity of follicular flushing activity, it can be recommended as an adjunctive therapy in demodicosis cases as a shampoo. Petcare presents PETBEN - Benzoyl Peroxide shampoo with Antimicrobial - Degreasing - Follicular flushing