Taking your dog on vacation, what to look out for?

Yes! It's summer vacation time! Of course it would be great if you could take your four-legged friend on vacation and enjoy your free time together. Going on an adventure together in a new environment and enjoying the summer weather; for many dog owners that sounds like music to their ears. To ensure that your vacation is a real success and you will not be confronted with unexpected surprises, a good preparation is very important. In the blog below, you can read about what to consider when taking your dog on vacation.

Vacation fun, or not?

Taking your dog on vacation sounds fantastic, but in many cases it is not necessarily so. If, for example, your dog suffers from car sickness, cannot stand high temperatures or is very attached to his/her permanent environment, you should ask yourself whether you are doing your dog a favor by taking him/her on vacation. You undoubtedly know your own dog best, so make an informed decision before you decide to book a trip with your dog.

Where is the trip going?

If you are planning to take your dog on vacation, it is a good idea to check in advance with the vacation address and destination to see if it is allowed to bring your four-legged friend. For example, on many beaches dogs are not welcome, especially in high season. It is advisable to also ask directly about the rules surrounding the presence of your dog.

When traveling abroad, you must take into account, among other things, the climate, the condition of your four-legged friend and the duration of the trip. In addition, dogs must meet a number of legal requirements when crossing the Dutch border. For example, dogs must at least be microchipped, have a European pet passport and have certain mandatory vaccinations (such as rabies). It is also mandatory in some countries that the dog has had a worming cure just before departure and it may happen that your dog is not welcome in the destination country because of his/her breed. Every country has different rules and requirements regarding dogs. Always check the regulations in the country of your destination and for the countries you are traveling through before taking your dog on vacation.

Vaccinations

As mentioned above, dogs are often required to have a rabies vaccination when crossing the border. Nevertheless, it is wise to make sure that your dog is vaccinated against all diseases that may occur in the destination country. Indeed, it is possible that diseases exist abroad that do not (no longer) occur in our country. Some vaccinations must be given well before departure and signed off by the veterinarian in the passport. So keep in mind to start on time with the preparations around vaccinations.

Of course, it can happen that an accident happens on your vacation. Therefore, always have the number of your own veterinarian handy. Another useful tip is to look up the contact information of the nearest veterinarian to your vacation location and make a note of it before you leave. In this way, quick action can be taken in most cases and a lot of stress for both owner and dog is undoubtedly saved.

Je hond meenemen op vakantie klinkt natuurlijk fantastisch, maar in veel gevallen hoeft dat niet per se zo te zijn. Wanneer jouw hond bijvoorbeeld snel last heeft van wagenziekte, minder goed tegen hoge temperaturen kan of erg gehecht is aan zijn/haar vaste leefomgeving, moet je jezelf afvragen of je jouw hond er een plezier mee doet om hem/haar mee te nemen op vakantie. Je kent jouw eigen hond ongetwijfeld het beste, dus maak een weloverwogen beslissing voordat je besluit een reis te boeken met jouw hond.

Waar gaat de reis heen?

Als je van plan bent jouw hond mee te nemen op vakantie, is het goed om vooraf bij het vakantieadres en de plaats van bestemming te informeren of het toegestaan is om jouw viervoeter mee te nemen. Zo zijn bijvoorbeeld op veel stranden honden niet welkom, zeker niet in het hoogseizoen. Het is aan te raden om ook direct te vragen naar de regels rondom de aanwezigheid van jouw hond.

Bij een reis naar het buitenland moet je rekening houden met onder andere het klimaat, de conditie van jouw viervoeter en de reisduur. Daarnaast moeten honden voldoen aan een aantal wettelijke eisen wanneer je de Nederlandse grens overgaat. Zo moeten honden in ieder geval gechipt zijn, een Europees dierenpaspoort hebben en bepaalde verplichte inentingen (zoals rabiës tegen hondsdolheid) hebben. Ook is het in sommige landen verplicht dat de hond vlak voor vertrek een wormenkuur gehad heeft en kan het voorkomen dat jouw hond niet welkom is in het land van bestemming vanwege zijn/haar ras. Ieder land heeft andere regels en eisen omtrent honden. Bekijk daarom altijd de regelgeving in het land van jouw bestemming én voor de landen waar je doorheen reist voordat je met je hond op vakantie gaat.

Vaccinaties

Zoals hierboven al benoemd moeten honden vaak verplicht een rabiësvaccinatie (hondsdolheid) hebben wanneer je de grens overgaat. Toch is het verstandig om ervoor te zorgen dat jouw hond ingeënt is tegen alle ziekten die kunnen voorkomen in het land van bestemming. Het is namelijk mogelijk dat in het buitenland ziekten bestaan die in ons land niet (meer) voorkomen. Voor sommige vaccinaties geldt dat deze ruim voor vertrek moeten zijn gegeven en afgetekend door de dierenarts in het paspoort. Houd er dus rekening mee dat je op tijd begint met de voorbereidingen rondom vaccineren.

Het kan natuurlijk voorkomen dat er een ongelukje gebeurt op jullie vakantie. Zorg daarom dat je altijd het nummer van jouw eigen dierenarts bij de hand hebt. Een andere handige tip is om de contactgegevens van de dichtstbijzijnde dierenarts van je vakantielocatie op te zoeken en te noteren voordat je vertrekt. Zo kan er in de meeste gevallen snel gehandeld worden en wordt er ongetwijfeld een hoop stress voor zowel baas als hond bespaard.

Nutrition and snacks

Your dog will face many changes during the vacations, such as a different climate and a new environment. It is therefore advisable to take the usual food your dog gets with you when you travel. The brand of food your dog gets is not standardly available in every country. Suddenly changing food is not recommended, as it can cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea.

For dogs that normally get fresh meat, the vacation season can be challenging. Fresh meat does not keep long in the refrigerator and must be stored in a freezer before your dog is served it. But on vacation, you don't always have a freezer at your disposal... Fortunately, there are good alternatives to fresh meat available, such as wet and dry food. Both wet and dry food from Riverwood contain a high percentage of meat or fish and can be stored (unopened) outside the refrigerator. Very convenient and healthy too!

Read more about the benefits of Riverwood food for your dog.

Of course, your four-legged friend's favorite snacks should not be forgotten. Make sure you take an extra supply of snacks with you when you travel so that, as with the standard food, you will not be disappointed at the local pet store.

View the full range of Riverwood dog food here

And beyond... Some general tips

In addition to the above points, there are other things to consider when you decide to take your four-legged friend on a trip. For example, pay close attention to the temperature in the car when traveling by car. Air conditioning provides a comfortable temperature while driving, but make sure your dog is not in a draft. Also, never leave your pet unattended in the car. Within minutes, the temperature can reach more than 50°C, even if the car is in the shade. If your trip is to a hot country, it is also important to provide cooling for your dog. There are several cooling products you can take with you on your trip, such as a cooling bandana/cooling collar or a cooling mat. Finally, use a good tick and insect repellent when you go on adventures in nature together. Check both your dog and yourself daily for ticks and also keep a close eye on the soles of your dog's feet, especially if you walk a lot on asphalt.

If, after reading the above points, you find that it is not feasible to take your dog on vacation, then fortunately there are plenty of other alternatives. Think of a dog sitter or a boarding house.

Ready, set, go!

A good preparation takes some of your time, but with everything in order, all that remains is to pack your suitcase and you are all set. We wish you and your dog a very happy vacation season and hopefully you will make it an unforgettable time together!

Many dogs already enjoy Riverwood every day. Would you also like your dog to feast on our delicious foods and are you curious which variety would suit your dog best? Then answer a few questions here and order an inexpensive sample pack right away.