How is your airline pet carrier for travelling abroad?

Are you planning on going on a vacation abroad with your pet dog? Needless to say, an international tour with your dog would be a wonderful experience for both you and your pet. However, you need to take care of certain regulatory issues involving your pet, for a hassle-free journey. Perhaps, the most important thing when considering international travel with a pet is getting a passport for your dog. A dog passport, duly verified by the State authorities allows your dog to travel to most international destinations with you, without the fear and restriction of a mandatory quarantine. The following five points will explain everything you need to know about dog passports.

1.      A pet passport actually refers to a set of documents which contains all the relevant information about a particular pet animal. The passport is authorized by an international system known as Pet Travel Scheme or PETS. Initially introduced in UK, today the system has included almost all the countries of European Union as well as the United States, Canada and Australia.

2.      The information requirements on the passport varies from country to country. However, information regarding health records and inoculation verifications are compulsory in most of the PETS member countries. Some countries also include the use of suitable dog carriers in their permissible check-list. It would be better if you get yourself acquainted with the pet travel policies of the particular country you are planning to visit beforehand.

3.      Although there might be variations, you would compulsorily need two documents to travel to most countries from the United States. One, an annexure containing a health endorsement by any State veterinarian. And two, an inoculation record, also known as the Rabies Certificate attested by any registered veterinarian. For traveling to several countries, you might also need to carry a declaration that you are not taking your pet dog with you for any commercial purpose.

4.      A few specific countries also levy specific rules for dog travel. For example, a few countries like the UK demand certificates for tapeworm and tick treatments too. UK also prohibits airlines from carrying dogs in passenger cabins so a pet carrier is absolutely necessary. Japan also demands that pet dogs are micro chipped before traveling in and out of the country.

1.      As the PETS scheme is not yet standardized, it is your duty to ensure that all possible requirements for dog travel have been met. A comfortable and authority-approved airline pet carrier to carry your pet dog might be an obligatory requirement for many countries.

Pet carriers to tackle dog snoring

The sound of snoring is not easy on the ears at all; and when it comes from your sleeping dog, it certainly becomes a thing to worry about. The snoring of a dog is not only annoying, but also indicative of a serious health problem. Although there might be various factors contributing to a snoring problem, the general conclusion you can reach when you find your dog snoring is that it is suffering from a blocked nose. According to veterinarians, a snoring dog should not be taken lightly at all. The most common causes of snoring in dogs are as follows.

1.       Rhinitis

Dogs are prone to respiratory infections and allergies which might cause inflammation in their nasal tissues. This situation is termed rhinitis, which gives rise to a tendency to snore. Although the infection subsides within a week, it might demand treatment if it does not show any sign of abating even after a week. 

2.       Fungal Infection

Fungal infection caused by mold on humid days might be a cause of snoring. Such infection, if left untreated, might take an ugly turn towards other serious diseases. However, such a situation can be prevented by maintaining extra caution during rainy days. To avoid a mold infestation, the dog should be clothed in clean apparel and pet carriers and beds should be kept tidy and dry.

3.       Foreign bodies

A blocked nose can also be caused by the accidental inhalation of a foreign body. It is a problem common to young dogs, who might inhale small pieces of dog toys, blocking their nose. This makes it imperative for you to consult a veterinarian if your dog suddenly starts snoring while sleeping. Moreover you must keep dog playpens and other playing spaces de-cluttered enough to prevent such situation.

4.       Obesity

This is undoubtedly a universal cause of snoring, which does not discriminate between man and dog. Obesity blocks up the trachea rings, making it difficult for your dog breathe when it is lying down, resulting in snoring. Needless to say, obesity must be controlled as it causes a wide range of health problems.

5.       Breed characteristic

An inadvertent cause of snoring is your dog’s breed. Short-nosed breeds have a natural tendency to snore while sleeping. However, the aforementioned causes might aggravate the sound of snoring, which a dog owner must be able to notice. Any change in the volume or frequency of your short-nosed dog’s snoring should be taken seriously.

via essentialpaw.com