Tips for traveling with your pet on the road

The main thing you need to do if your pet is not used to being inside of your car is to prepare in advance a few short trips and see the behavior of your pet. Here you can see some tips to make your trip more comfortable for your pet and yourself.

• The first thing to try is to put your pet naturally in the car; you can make short trips of 10 to 15 minutes. This will help your pet to get used to the movement of your car.
• You must be very aware of the behavior of your pet, see what their reactions are and what things are the most uncomfortable: Is the climb on the car? Is it when closing the doors? Is when the car is moving? And you should always cuddle your pet when is tired and needed.
• Star the engine of your car first, and then place your pet inside the car. This way the engine stars sound won’t alter your pet.
• One option is to keep the windows down during the travel to maintain calmed your pet. Each pet is different and not all react the same.
• If you are traveling for a long period of time (over a week) you should maintain some elements that are already part of your pet’s routine: a favorite toy or the cup in which always drink water or eat. Another indispensable tool for a long trip is to keep a first aid kit, with pain medications, your pet medicine (if taken), gauze or bandages and some disinfectant for animal use only.
• Do not feed your pet before leaving; the movement could cause dizziness and vomiting. Give your pet some water and make a few stops along the travel. This way your pet will have a chance to go out to relieve itself.
• If you are traveling with a big dog, we recommend securing with a fence between the rear seat and the trunk of the van. Small pets can travel in their "kennel" or cage in the back seat.

Always protect the seats of your car for any accident that may occur, whether your pet gets dizzy on the road and vomit or simply it can’t hold the urge to relieve itself, so you will not have to worry about any stain unwanted in the seats of your car. Remember that the most important thing is that you both enjoy the experience.

Bearded Dragon

The group of people who would like to have this exotic reptile as a pet increases every day. Its scientific name is Pogona Vitticeps, and it is a medium size animal. It is originally from Australia, and inhabits semi-arid woodlands and savannah habitats.

They are called “bearded” because of their particular skin underside of their throat, which is covered of spiky scales; although they also have the rest of their body covered by those, yet they are not very sharp. Each one shows a variety of colors that include chestnut, brownish gray, reddish, gray, green and orange. They have the ability to change the color of their skin to regulate their body temperature or to express their mood.

This reptile grows up to 16-24 inches long and usually weighs about 14-16 ounces. They also have a big head, strong legs and a long tail, which has the same size of their torso.

Like any exotic animal they require specific care. They are omnivorous and voracious; they eat insects, small mice, fruits and vegetables. Among the insects, they prefer cockroaches, silkworms, flour moths and grasshoppers. They also eat fruits and vegetables such as pear, mango, blackberry, apple, fig, papaya, parsley, spinach, celery, alfalfa, chard, carrot and watercress. They can also eat canned food for cats and a baby mouse, once a week.

Dragons should be kept inside big terrariums with UV lamps, allowing them to have a temperature of 30 to 40 degrees Celsius during the day, and 20 degrees C at night. They need to be carefully sprayed with water. Because of their beauty and uniqueness, it is an ideal partner for exotic animal lovers.

Beagle

The first Beagles date back to the 1500s and the AKC first recognized them in 1885. English hunters would take packs of these dogs out on the hunt tracking rabbits, hare, pheasant, quail and other small animals. They have a great sense of smell and tracking instinct.

As part of a research, they tested the scenting abilities of various breeds by putting a mouse in a one-acre field and timing how long it took the dogs to find it. The Beagle found it in less than a minute, while Fox Terriers took 15 minutes and Scottish Terriers failed to find it at all. The breed can hunt alone, in pairs or in packs. He has also served as an excellent narcotics detection dog.

The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. They are generally between 13 and 16 inches (33 and 41 cm) high at the withers and weigh between 18 and 35 lb. (8.2 and 15.9 kg), with females being slightly smaller than males on average. A member of the hound group, it is similar in appearance to the foxhound, but smaller with shorter legs and longer, softer ears the head is broader and the muzzle shorter, the expression completely different. The typical longevity of Beagles is 12–15 years, which is a common lifespan for dogs of their size.

Beagles will do okay in an apartment if they get plenty of chances to be outdoors. They are energetic and possess great stamina; so they need plenty of exercise, including a brisk daily walk. They are very active indoors and a small yard with a reasonable size fence to romp in will be enough. Always use a lead when walking this breed or you will be running the risk of it disappearing in search of wild game.

One of the most amiable hounds, the Beagle was bred as a pack hunter and needs companionship, whether human or canine. It loves to explore the outdoors and is an enthusiastic trailer. Given adequate exercise, it is a calm, tractable house pet. It is an excellent child’s dog, gentle, incredibly tolerant and always ready to join in a game or an adventure.

American Paint Horse

Known for its good nature and innate intelligence, this amiable creature is a pleasure to train for performance competitions, as well as an ideal companion.  Named after their coat and pattern, the paint horse is marked by some percentage of white hair over un-pigmented skin, and contains one of three known patterns- Overo, Tobiano, or Tovero.

As paint horses have a reputation of being one of the hardest working breeds in America, they were popular in the old west with farmers, Native Americans, and anyone that needed a ride. Intelligent, athletic, and strong, they are easy to train, and one of the friendliest breeds you will ever encounter.

The origins of the paint horse in North America can be traced back to the two-toned horses introduced by the Spanish explorers, descendants of horses from North Africa, and Asia Minor.  Inevitably, some of these colorful equines escaped to create the wild herds of horses roaming the Great Plains.  Captured and gentled, they raced alongside the vast herds of buffalo and traveled hundreds of miles on cattle drives.

With its stock-type conformation, natural intelligence, and willing disposition, the American Paint Horse is an ideal partner for pleasure riding, showing, trail riding, or just as a gentle companion for the friends. 

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are external parasites that commonly affects dogs and cats, causing itching, discomfort and dangerous diseases. The Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella, Lyme and Allergy Dermatitis are some of the most commons diseases that pets and humans can get through these parasites.

In this article, you will find the answer to the most common questions about these parasites, as well as the treatment and prevention of this infection.

Where can your pets get these parasites?

Any time your pet goes outside for walks, play or visits to the veterinarian; it has the risk; the grass is the fleas and tick’s favorite place. Therefore, your pet is exposed every time he leaves home.

How do you know if your dog has fleas and ticks? What are the symptoms?

If you feel a bump when petting your dog, you have to look at it very carefully, it could be a tick. Adult fleas are very hard to detect, but strange behaviors in your pet could be warnings of something is not right. Constant scratching, weakness, loss of appetite, fever, or any unexplained allergic reaction in their skin, are some of the symptoms of infection.

Treatment and preventions

Some of the Commons methods to eliminate and prevent fleas and ticks are shampoos, sprays, and powders; these products are typically administered directly to the animal’s skin. Also, we can use flea collars and flea combs to prevent these little enemies. It is crucial to keep your backyard clean using a pesticide to reduce the number of ticks.

Remember always do research and ask you veterinarian for whichever treatment you choose, this way you can find the right product formulated for your pet's size.