How To Help Your Dog Travel Happier In The Car

If you have a car and a dog, chances are you will either need or want to take your dog out in the car with you. This could be to go for walks, to go to the vets, taking your dog to work with you. Or seeing friends and family or even taking your dog on holiday. But for some dogs travelling can be very stressful. This can mean you have to change your plans, and you may get stressed yourself. As the last thing you want to do as a loving dog owner is create stress for your dog.

How will you know if your dog finds travelling stressful?

There can be several signs including:

• Not wanting to get into the car
• Panting or drooling
• Being sick
• Barking or whining

There can be other signs too. So what can you do to help your dog? The good news is that there are a range of ways to help.

Here are 4 ways to help your dog to be happier travelling:

1. Consider how your dog travels. Does he or she go into the luggage compartment (boot) of your car? Or does he or she sit on the car seats? How are they restrained? Are they in a cage? If they are is it tailor made for your car and is it the right size for your dog? Whatever they sit in or on, is it comfortable? Some dogs prefer to 'nest' and like lots of blankets. A cheap duvet can be a great inexpensive item for your dog to sit on. Despite best efforts, car travel can be bumpy and some dogs dislike getting jolted about. So think about how they are travelling and if it could be more comfortable. Read this Natural Pet Health Blog post on travel safe tips for your dog.
2. How does your dog get in and out of the car? For some dogs getting in and out can be stressful and even painful. Often there is some kind of jump up required. This can be difficult if your dog has any kind of arthritis, joint problem or other health condition. So the number one tip is to get your dog checked by your veterinary surgeon. To help ensure your dog has any ailments diagnosed and treatment organised. Also you could buy either a ramp for your dog to get in and out of the car easily, or one of my favourite items for my dog when he had arthritis was a special dog sling that supported his hind end so he could get in the car easily. If it is difficult due to your dog's mobility, then there are a range of complementary therapies you can use to help. Check out these other Natural Pet Health blog posts for some ideas.
• How to help your dog with hip dysplasia holistically
• Stop effects of arthritis for your dog with a holistic approach

3. Give your dog variety. For some dogs they may get bored going to the same place every time. They may not even like where they are going to (definitely can be the case if they only go to the vets when they have a car trip!). Research (Svendsen, 2019) suggests that boredom isn't restricted to humans, and animals can get bored. Or in contrast, your dog may get scared of the unknown of where he or she is going. Bach Flower Remedies are a complementary therapy that can be useful for a range of emotions. So whatever emotion your dog feels due to travelling, then a Bach Flower Remedy could help. Read more at my Bach Flower Remedies for Animals advice page here.
4. Linking to point 1, if your dog finds car travelling nauseous and is sick. Then what can you do to help? There's several complementary therapies that can be useful for your dog, including:
• Herbal health - Ginger biscuits are a top and inexpensive tip! Ginger is an excellent herb for digestive issues, and a few titbits of ginger biscuits can be useful to try. This can be better than giving your dog food or an ordinary dog treat before travelling. Which can be too much for a dog who gets car sick. V
• Homeopathy - Veterinary homeopathy can also help with several remedies able to help. You can get advice from a veterinary surgeon who has specialised in homeopathy. There are many around the world. Please email info at taranet.co.uk if you'd like help finding one near you.
• Zoopharmacognosy - there are many essential oils that can make a big difference to your dog. Read more at this Taranet advice page.

Other complementary therapies to help your dog travelling?

There's a range of ways to help your dog feel happier and less stressed travelling. Many energy therapies can be worth trying. These include Reiki, Crystal Healing, Radionics. Explore the Taranet Directory for information on lots of therapies.

You could also consider Animal Communication as way to understand why your dog finds travelling difficult. Check out these insights from leading international animal communicator Annie Bourke - with this guest blog post here and my podcast interview with Annie below

Finally….Please remember that if your horse, dog or other animal is unwell. Or on any kind of medication or other supplement. Then always speak to your Veterinary Surgeon first before using any supplement or therapy. Even natural ones. To avoid any possible issues.

And do you know someone who'd find this helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

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About the Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse

Why Feed Your Cat A Raw Meaty Bones Diet?

The following is an excerpt from The Pet Food Con, written by veterinarian Dr Tom Lonsdale and reprinted with permission.

Your furry feline is a direct descendant of the wild cats roaming the deserts and oases of North Africa and the Highlands of Scotland.

For optimum health your pet needs a diet of whole carcasses of other animals, fish, birds and insects. Fortunately, the pragmatic, available, affordable option – raw meaty bones – comes to the rescue. Pet ferrets, descendants of European polecats, can be fed a raw meaty bones diet too.

60% of cats are considered to be overweight or obese

Obesity is a prevalent health issue among cats, with an estimated 60% of cats in the United States considered to be overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). This number has been steadily increasing in recent years, and it’s expected that this trend will continue.

Obesity in cats can lead to a number of health problems, such as diabetes, joint issues, and decreased life expectancy. It’s important for cat owners to monitor their cat’s weight and provide them with a healthy raw meaty bones-based diet. Feeding junk food, especially kibble made available 24 hrs, and lack of physical activity are the main factors that contribute to feline obesity.

85% of cats have some form of dental disease

Dental disease, including periodontal disease, is a common health issue among cats, with an estimated 70-85% of cats over the age of three having some form of dental disease. According to the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) dental disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in cats. Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support the teeth, and if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss and damage to other parts of the body, such as the heart and kidneys.

This is a serious concern. If your cat has been fed commercial products, whether cooked or raw, it’s likely affected by gum disease. A raw meaty bones diet prevents the condition. However, before commencing a raw meaty bones diet, it may be beneficial to have a prior dental examination and treatment.

Starting Cats On A Raw Meaty Bones Diet

Kittens and some adult cats instinctively recognise wholesome natural food the first time it’s offered to them. Unfortunately, the great majority of adult cats when first started on a raw meaty bones diet tend to be less than enthusiastic and need some coaxing.

Making the change can be a tricky business and we need to get a good grasp of the task at hand. Do you rattle the packet before pouring the fishy pellets into a bowl? What do you say to Kitty as she comes running? Maybe your feline seldom stirs except to nibble on the kibble sitting in the bowl 24 hours per day? Maybe the furry feline entwined round your legs signals the need for you to open the refrigerator and, with a tap on the tin, serve up the pungent canned food.

Feeding rituals differ, but timing, taste, texture, sight, sound and smell all play a part. Kitty is quite likely addicted to these powerful stimuli and you, as the carer, have likely grown accustomed to the ways that worked best for you.

You have literally fed the addiction.

Now imagine the future with your lithe feline crouched low as she tucks into chicken necks, quail and whole raw fish. That’s the successful end point.

If your cat is young and healthy you can start making the change.

However, if your cat is overweight, suffers from dental or other medical problems, then you will likely first need to consult your vet before you embark on the diet changes. (Fat cats should not be starved, as it can lead to liver failure.)

Useful Change Techniques

Work with your cat, not with her addiction. Stopping 24-hour access to food is the essential first step. Instead, start a once-a-day routine at, say, 6 pm. Kitty’s biological clock will soon synchronise, and her anatomy, physiology and behaviour will all line up, on time, in the kitchen. (Remember Pavlov’s dogs with the ‘conditioned reflex’? They salivated to order at the sound of a bell.)

Once the new routine is established, the switch to natural food can get under way.There are several ‘tricks’ either singly or in combination that should help.

Hungry cats are always more willing to sniff, lick and ultimately eat new foods. So, reduce the amount of commercial canned or dry food offered. (Do not fast or starve your cat for more than 24 hours.)

Settle on one meat, for instance chicken, that you wish your cat to become accustomed to.

Taste and texture of raw meat are the two things you need your cat to accept. (Gnawing on bones comes later.) So, chop a few strips of chicken meat and cover with commercial food in a bowl.

Over successive days feed less commercial food and more raw meat.

When raw meat is accepted, try increasing the size of the pieces until chicken necks and wings replace the chopped chicken.

Other tricks involve slightly searing the meat in a pan or under the grill. You can try mixing canned fish juices with the meat or dusting it with powdered kibble.
Slitting the skin and making deep cuts into the meat of chicken wings or drumsticks and stuffing canned food inside may tempt your finicky feline.

You can try tying a chicken wing on a string and playing a game of pounce and catch.

If you own several cats they can compete with and learn from each other.

Perseverance pays and ten days is usually sufficient time to switch the diet of a difficult cat. It’s best to let your cat become an accomplished chicken eater before introducing quail, rabbit, fish, day-old chicks or similar food items to the diet.

A further round of patience and trickery may then be needed.

Get more information online at Dr Tom Lonsdale's website https://www.thepetfoodcon.com/raw-meaty-bones-diet-for-cats/

About The Author

A leader in his field, ‘whistleblower’ veterinarian Dr Tom Lonsdale has been campaigning tirelessly for over 30 years to hold pet food companies accountable for their actions and to raise awareness about the importance of feeding pets high-quality, healthy raw meaty bones.