Training of Pets for Their Transportation

Mexico is the Latin American country with the largest number of pets, with approximately 20 million; the favorite pets are dogs, with 85 percent of preference, followed by cats with 15 percent. According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), seven out of every 10 Mexican households have a pet.

Planning vacations include taking them into account and planning thoroughly, said Ylenia Márquez Peña, an academic at UNAM's Veterinary Specialties Hospital. For the professor of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics of the National University, it is necessary to consider the place to visit, length of stay, and veterinary services.

Also, choose the way you will travel, whether by plane, car or bus. "By their nature, they are not used to making trips, therefore they require previous training; prepare them to be calm inside the cage," she explained. The size of the device must be adequate to allow them to lie down and get up comfortably; short trips will help them get used to the movement, especially cats because they get stressed easily.

This training will help to prevent vomiting and to create a routine to evacuate before the move. It is also important to get them used to wear a harness or a harness to fasten them to the seat belt, especially for large breeds, which will help to keep them calm.

It is important to choose the time of departure, since if it is done during the day with hot temperatures it can cause a caloric shock. "Humans are more resistant because of the sweat glands we have all over our bodies, but puppies are not. For this reason, we should avoid peak hours and prefer the afternoon when the sun has gone down; if the trip will be long, we should plan rest stops for them to drink water and defecate".

Comply with regulations

If transported by plane, specific documents are required, such as the pet's mobilization certificate, issued by the veterinarian at the airport through the National Service of Health, Safety, and Agri-Food Quality, which states the pet's state of health; in addition to the vaccination card, complete and force, and that the pet is dewormed.

The specialist in small species emphasized that it is important to consider the requirements in the places of destination: current rabies vaccination certificate, evaluation of antibodies, treatments against local diseases, microchip implantation, or quarantine periods.

"Ideally, make a previous veterinary consultation, with specific questions for each breed and investigate what diseases are prevalent in the place to be visited." Likewise, foresee those requested by Mexico for the reintroduction of pets, she commented.

There are endemic diseases in certain areas of the country that can be prevented, as well as to make sure that the animal returned healthy.

This will also make it easier for the doctor to prescribe according to the particular characteristics of your pets since some are mostly predisposed to allergies and sensitive to sand; for example, those with too much fur, such as golden retrievers, keep humidity, which can cause dermatitis if you choose to visit a beach or river.

Brachycephalic dogs such as the pug, bulldog, or boxer have breathing problems, which are accentuated in hot and humid environments, so the beach destination does not suit them well, concluded Márquez Peña.