If You Need to Find a Vet for Your Dog When Traveling
When traveling across country, you may prefer not to take the most direct route. You may not even wish to be constrained by a planned route that you have to stick to, but instead prefer to stop at places that seem interesting to you. This kind of journey can be enjoyable for humans and dogs alike, but if you are traveling with your dog, there is one plan you must have in place before you leave. In case your pet requires medical attention, you will need to know how to find a vet for him or her.
Everyone hopes they will not need to find a vet for their dog while traveling, but it is best to be prepared and have your action plan ready. Make an appointment at your usual veterinary practice well before you travel and have them check your dog to make sure it does not have any existing conditions that could make travel an uncomfortable experience. If you know the approximate route you will be taking, ask your regular vet if they can give you contact details to help you find a vet in the areas you intend to travel through. If this is impossible you may have to find a vet from Yellow Pages or by searching online.
One important reason for consulting your regular vet sooner rather than later is that it will be useful to obtain paperwork, such as medical records and vaccination certificates, from your vet. It may be a few days before you can receive this paperwork. If you need to find a vet while you are travelling, you can make things less traumatic for your dog by providing the vet with as much information as possible. The new vet will not be aware of the medical history of your pet, so before you set out, ask your regular vet for a copy of the medical records they hold for your dog. When you find a vet, you can also help them by showing them proof that your dog has received its vaccinations. Your regular vet can give you a certificate that proves this is the case.
