Have an easy-breezy holiday with your favourite four-legged friend (and be prepared for an injured or sick pet while you’re at it!)
It’s become super popular to take your pets with you on holiday, especially now that more and more hotels and holiday homes are pet-friendly! Why should they miss out on the fun?
That being said, if your furry friend is joining you on howliday, it is a good idea to be prepared and know what to do to keep an injured or sick pet safe.
Find out about local vets
No matter where you’re going, there should be at least one or two vets nearby.
In order to avoid last-minute panic, take some time to research the area and add at least two vets to your contact list in case of an emergency. A good idea would be to call them beforehand to find out when they are closed and if they run a 24-hour clinic in case you have a sick pet in the middle of the night.
Remember that you need to bring your pet’s latest medical records and vaccination history with you as this will help the vet give your pet the best possible care.
Will pet insurance cover my sick pet even if I’m on holiday?
We can’t speak for other pet insurers (who usually have a network of vets for you to choose from) but we can speak for ourselves. As long as you are on holiday in South Africa, we will cover ANY vet you choose to visit to treat your injured or sick pet, so long as they are registered.
A side note – keep reading till the end of this blog for a friendly pet insurance reminder!
Get a check-up before you go
You know that regular vet visits are a pivotal part of being a pet parent. We would advise that before you go on holiday, you squeeze in a quick visit to the vet for a routine physical examination.
This way you can detect any illnesses before you leave and you can take your medication with you. This is way better than waiting for signs of an illness to show up when you’re enjoying your holiday.
A pre-holiday check-up will give you peace of mind and it will also help you pick up any weird behaviour or physical symptoms whilst you’re away.
The best way to pick up when something is wrong with your pet is to have a good grip on their current health status. Remember to always be aware of slight changes in behaviour or physical appearance as these could be warning signs that something isn’t right.
Pack a pet first aid kit
You may not be a trained vet, but there are some things that you can take care of yourself.
Here are some equipment essentials for your pet first aid kit:
- Tweezers
• Gauze (squares, rolls and pads)
• Muzzle or slip lead
• Non-stick wraps or bandages
• Disinfectant
• Digital thermometer
Aside from equipment, remember to include the basics (that should also be in your human first aid kit!):
- Medical tape
• Disposable gloves
• Cold and heat packs
• Cotton swabs and balls
• Bandage scissors
• Scissors
• Cloths and towels
• Small flashlight
• Nail clippers – for broken nails
• Vaseline or lubricant for taking rectal temperature
• Emergency contact numbers (vet and pet insurance)
We would also recommend including these medicines when you’re going away:
- Wound spray
• Antihistamine
• Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) – helps to clean wounds
• Skin and paw balm for cracked and dry paws
• Activated charcoal – for if they swallow poison
• Saline eyewash
Explore more: Your Puppy’s First Vet Visit: Questions to Ask
Make sure you have pet insurance
We told you we would be getting to this one!
Now, you’ve worked hard for your end-year holiday. Do you know what’s going to put a stop to those holiday plans quicker than you can say “Here Boy”?
Having unexpected vet bills take a huge chunk out of your end-of-year savings if you have an injured or sick pet on holiday.
When something goes wrong with your pet, you need to have great pet insurance on your side. For example, Oneplan offers pet owners:
- Routine care (Pet Med Savings)
- Hospital accident cover
- Hospital illness cover
- Postoperative care
- Burial and cremation costs
Check this out: The Beginners Guide to Oneplan Pet Insurance
If you’re checking things off your holiday list, give us a call to get you sorted on the pet insurance front!
Yours in tail-wag-worthy pet insurance,
Oneplan
