It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on I heard radio Welcome
to Maria's MutS and Stuff and with me today is well. She is the
most frequent guest I have because I know she enjoys it, but I enjoy
her even more. It is doctor Amber car Wacky from Heart and Baugh.
So welcome again to Maria's MutS and Stuff to talk about our favorite pets.
Thank you for having me. I love coming here. You're awesome to work
with, hang out with. Well, so are you? So are you?
This is so much fun. So it's that time of year people are
taking vacations and you know, like me, I travel with my dog because
he's older and I don't like to leave him. So I know that there
are many different things that we need to know in order to keep our dogs
happy and safe and healthy to come along with us on vacation. Yeah,
So, what would you say is the most important pet tip? I mean,
I know they're a bunch of them and I want to talk about them
with you. I mean, I have one in my brain. What do
you think is the most important one? So for me, the most important
is making sure you have a copy of your dogs vaccine workers, and know
of where the emergency hospitals are where you're traveling to. In the worst case
scenario that you do need to take your dog to a vet, you know
where they are ahead of time, like have their addresses, so you can
just plug it into that GPS and off you go without having a stand up
for twenty minutes or so trying to find a place. Oh wow, I
would never think of that. My thought was the most important thing is not
to leave your dog in the hot car, But yours is even more important.
I mean, I know mine's a good one, but yours is,
like you win, honestly, and I've never done that. So you just
taught me something. Seriously, I've never thought to do that because I guess
the assumption is nothing's going to happen, but something can always happen, right,
We as veterinarians, we are the worst case scenario thinkers of what could
be happening and what we need to know for everything, right right, No,
that's genius, Thank you for that one. Okay, So that's very,
very very important. So have your vaccination records and definitely know where to
go. Like I guess, when you research where you're going to stay right
dog friendly places also research ve hospital nearby. Oh my god, that's brilliant.
Okay, well that's a good one. What else should what should we
bring with us? Besides obviously food and if your dog needs medications and stuff
poop bags? What else is important to bring? Yeah? Try to bring
is like you have a larger dog like I do. You can't necessarily bring
their dog bed, but maybe like a blanket or a pillow or like their
favorite choice, I've something from home. Bring their food bowls if you can,
and if you're flying or driving, so that way they have like they
have their usual bowls and stuff like that, so there's some familiarity where they
are at for them. No, that makes sense. That makes that makes
a lot of sense. And I mean this always makes me crazy just searching
places like a lot of plate. My biggest pet peeve taking a pet with
you, a dog with you. Um. A lot of places say that
they're pet friendly, but they're not really pet friendly because you can't keep the
dog in the room and you know, or or the fee is ridiculous.
Like I get it, everybody, I get it. Everyone needs to pay
a fee because you don't they don't know if your dog's gonna, you know,
have an accident or whatever. I get that, But when a place
is like, Okay, we're gonna charge you one hundred dollars, which is
insane to me, and you have to keep the dog in a crate or
dogs can't be left unattended. This has nothing to do with the interview.
It just makes me nuts, by the way. So yeah, I think
it could be hard, especially for Judge. Like I know my kiddos they
do need to be three out of my forty to be creative when we're not
home, because you get into miss Jeff right. But also like now they're
an unfamiliar place. No, I'm seeing your create that I may or may
not know and be familiar with and be okay with. Right, So it's
good to know, like where you're going if they do allow that, and
if they don't. Another spot too, And I say this because the heart
and palls. Most of us have daycarees. Is there a doggy daycare in
your area that maybe that you can take them to if you aren't able to
take your dog sight seeing with you? Right? Right? That's perfect too?
Sure? Sure, I mean this is all stuff I guess people should
do. Before they head out on vacation. Yes, yep, make sure
see what's around, see if you're able to do you know, double check
with your hotels if there's daycarees in the area, right, you know you
never know, Yeah, you're right. So basically, you know, do
your homework as if you were I mean, they are our children, as
if you were taking humans, human children, not the four legged ones.
So do your homework before you go. So with the personal stuff, I
know you said, you know, blankets and bowls, and of course they're
regular food. What else, I mean, the regular leash, obviously,
extra poop eggs. Is there anything I'm missing that we need to bring them?
He did say medications. I'm making sure medication wise, especially like if
your dog needs anxiety medications, make sure you have enough for the entire trip
and have that ready to go. And don't call your veterinarian last minute,
because at least sometimes run out right right, And what about if people are
taking their dogs flying. I'm assuming that because I'm thinking, of course having
the dog in the car with you, because that's what I do. But
what if you take your dog or your cat, Because it's also all of
this stuff applies to cats, because many of the pet friendly places they say,
you know, we welcome both dogs and cats or whatever. So what
if you decide some of the listeners are flying with their dogs or cats,
are there are other things that they should do besides what we talked about.
Yes, so flying brings them a whole new thing. And there's a second
set to this. But like some airlines require hel certivigts for them to fly,
and if you're going air nationally, there's absolutely health certiicates that you need
to have filled out. But some airlines do require health certificate filled out by
your veterinarian that's done ten days or less. Before these guys fly, you
want to make sure they're used to be in a carrier because like they can't
be out in the open, especially if you have a larger dog going into
cargo. You don't want his first time in a crate or a carrier.
When you're going into cargo, your dog is going to wig out. Dog
gonna do well for that. So minding what carriers or crates they have to
be in, and just know when you're flying, especially now it's hot,
there are restrictions put on by the airlines a certain temperatures either too hot or
if you're flying Laurin time, too cold. They will not fly your animal,
no matter what. It doesn't mean. They don't even care if a
veterinarian has signed off on a temperature change other than what they have listed.
They won't fly your pet. And then you're going to figure out a way
of getting your pet either home unless you're going to stay home with them,
or to your new destination. So, especially with the heat where you're traveling
to, that could be a no go as well. Yeah, and I
would think, I mean, it seems like this summer we've been having heat
wave after heat wave, and I don't feel like that that's going to let
up anytime soon. So I almost feel like it's probably not a great idea
unless you have to fly with your pet this summer. I don't know.
I just feel like this summer just seems to be like across the whole country,
it's just so hot. It's been bad. It's been really. The
reason they say this, like your dog has to sit on the tarmac for
a little while, and they might not be in a shady area, and
even if they are, like if you're in a human area, that's going
to be rough on then, and they have this small carrier or crate that
they had to be in maybe not the best ventilation to it, so that
could be a problem. So definitely, you know, check with your airlines
on their temperature restrictions and things like that, because that might change your plans
for what you're gonna do. Oh sure, sure, yeah, I mean
I wasn't even thinking about that, but you're right. The dog or catta
on the tarmac, that's I don't know, honestly, personally, I would
never fly with my pet just because but that's just me, um, just
because I just always hear horror stories. You know, Oh the it unlocked,
the crate unlocked and the dog got out. Oh great. Yeah,
yeah, Like I have all big dogs, So I would only flyin this
absolutely necessarily. Like if I'm doing this huge move to like somewhere else,
be an airline flight, so I'm in the same boat where my guys can't
go on on the actual cabin. So right, we're gonna we're gonna drive.
Yeah, No, absolutely, that's how I feel too. Yeah,
because we have a big dog. It's like, I just the thought of
it, it just it. I don't think i'd be able to enjoy myself
because I'd be too freaked out that the worst that could happen would happen.
I know that's being a worry war but still, just because stuff always happens,
you know, and you can't see them. You can't see them,
and it's out of your control, you know. Ye, yeah, and
that's the thing. So m these are all very good. But let's also
I mean, because I know this was always in the front of my head
and it makes me nuts time of year, leaving your pets in a car.
I know people say, yeah, it's all right, and I know
people like, oh, but I'm only going to be in and out in
a minute. But tell let's tell, let's freak everyone out. Tell them
how many seconds it takes minutes before you start to really damage your dog or
cat in a car. I mean a minute or two, not even those
cars can get heart really fast. And let me tell you, the worst
emergency we see are those dogs that are overheated or the cats that are overheated,
because honestly, their body just starts to shut down. And there's a
lot of times we can't do anything about it, no matter how much we
try to intervene and cool them down and get it. You get your body
to that certain temperature for so long and there's just there's no saving them,
right, and it's so preventable, Like we will be in the back crying
because we want to save this pet and we just can't and it could have
just not happened. Yeah, it's awesome. And the biggest thing too,
people don't remember because I had this actually come in as an emergency, is
um, you know, we have those sevs. I have like the second
row seat, in the third row seat, and then you have the trunk
space sometimes where you have our your pets and you gotta be mindful of the
heat throughout your car. Because I had an emergency come in. Where was
the family traveling in the car with their dog and they you know, their
kids were in the second seat and then they had that huge open space.
They took their third row seat out and had a bed for their dog.
Their dog got overheated in the back and she stuffered heat stroke because they didn't
realize while that was cool for them at the front, those vents thro all
towards the front, the dog wasn't getting that coolness in the back and she
went into you know, heat exhaustion and heat stroke and suffered unfortunately, suffered
the same fate as a kid locked in the car. We weren't able to
save her. And they were devastated. They had done everything they thought right
book forgot about the air event flow. You want to be very mindful of
that. Yeah, they it broke my heart. It looks sure, I'm
sure. And they probably felt awful because they they thought they got everything covered.
They and yeah, yeah, well these are they were. They were
devastated. So like I want people to think about things like that too,
so you're not the next person coming in going, oh my god, I
had it right and I didn't have it right right right right, And it
just and it takes such a short amount of time, you know. Yeah,
yeah, if they're older, if they're overweight, if they're short nosed
like hugs or yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. And I
guess, like I mean, for anything else, like you just said,
I think it's just also using common sense. I mean, if you're walking,
like if you take your dog somewhere on vacation or just walking somewhere and
you're hot and you want to get a drink of water, most likely your
dog is gonna be hot too, you know. I yeah, and so
I mean, I guess it's it's a common thing. You should common sense
to bring water. But I think people need to, like we all need
to just pay pay more attention. Like you went to your kids. You
know, if your kid's hot, you're gonna know if your kid is sweating
and hot. And dogs aren't sweating, they're panting, and I think it's
important right that we pay attention to that as well. Yep, see how
they're doing. And if someone's closer to the back, you know, throw
your hands back there and see is it really hot that there is? It
feels still nice and cool, uncomfortable to you or like I mean, even
when my children are in the car, my human children in the car,
like I blast acy higher and like freeze myself up front. No, they're
getting better airflow in the back for me, right, No, No,
it's true. I I you know, I hate air conditioning, but because
of my dog, and you're right, I freeze in my car so that
he's comfortable in the back. Ye, No, it's true. I mean
in a hoodie in the front and they're taint out. Yeah, exactly,
exactly. You're right. It's like people must think like that, you know,
we're crazy because we look like it's winter, Like wait, it's summer.
Why you guys dressed like that? Oh? Because our animals are need
to be called there. They gotta make sure we're good. Yeah, absolutely
no, But these are great, great tips and reminders. I mean,
you know, from the get go with the emergency hospital you've given me,
and we talked so often and I'm still missing points, which is really funny.
So and I guess, like we said, so, all of these
tips are also very important for cats too as well as dogs, as people
do travel and take their cats with them. Is that correct? Yep?
Absolutely, I have people to travel and from a bench too, you know,
same thing, a piser and you know, making sure you have all
your vaccines, your medications until make sure they're comfortable in that carrier. Not
all cats are, you know, but make sure it's a nice, safe
carrier for them. I could say, if you have the mess side of
carriers, careful. My cat managed to do it, or he crawled enough
at the mess then you need a hole. But he was able to pop
his head out of him and try to escape. Wow, so well you
sure your cat's not like mine a little. He's like people. He's very
smart. He's very smart. That is, so just be mindful of that.
And the same thing with if they're in the car with you and you
know your cat small, you know, but don't let them out in the
loose, like keep them in their terrier because you know, God forbid,
they get freaked out when they jump on your face or something you can't see,
or they go into the brake. They're small enough to sit them on
the brake pedals, so then you're either you know, stomping your cat while
you're hit the brakes, or you're crashing into something because you don't want to
stomp your cat, right right, right, no, no, that's all.
These are all very very valid points. Um in the worst case scenario,
I know this is a horrible thing, but it does happen. Just
say you're on vacation and say your dog gets awf leash, Like, what's
the first thing you should do? Is there a first thing to do?
The biggest thing? You know, your your instinct is to like run and
chase them like that is such a fun game for them. They're like Mummy's
chasing me. Excellent and they're gonna keep running, So you want to try,
like if you can send someone back to like grab the food bag or
whatnot and start shaking the food bag and hopefully they're like, oh they have
my food or my trees, right, you know, walk steadily towards where
they're going. Would try like fight that urge to run after them and just
keep calling their name and stuff like that. Hopefully you're traveling, you know,
in this worst case scenario, if your dogs microchips or cat microchips,
or if they have a collar on with an ID tag on, hopefully that
stays on them. So that way, whoever does get a hold of them.
If you can't and they get further away than you intend, they at
least give you a call and so you can come get them. Sure,
And you just remind me of something else, And I would think, because
I know, like at night, I take my dog's collar off just so
I forget, oh, well, he's sleeping, but probably on vacation,
it's smart to keep the collars on just in case, right, Yeah,
just in case, you know, have someone like walks near your room,
a windows open that you weren't expecting, things like that because they're in an
unfamiliar environment. If you're a hotel and the fire alarm goes off and he's
like, you're unsimilar situation, already in the jar, getting woken up and
don't know what's going on. It's easy to snag them if the collars already
on right, right, right, No, no, these are all you
know, these are all great tips that most of us aren't thinking about.
So you know, doctor Amber car Wacky, you are the best, and
thank you for helping, you know, helping America have a better vacation this
summer. And just with all of your knowledge that you are always so willing
and able to share with my listeners. And I do, but you know,
I do appreciate you because you're just so wonderful, and I appreciate your
time. I know you're busy because you're you know, you took like a
time out of your job right now. It's not like you know, you're
sitting home having a manicure, So I know, I know you wish,
I know, but you're very busy working. So thank you so very much,
doctor Amber car Wacky of heart and paw, thank you for all these
tips. Have a great summer with your human kids, and also you're a
furry kids as well, and I'm sure we'll be talking again and with another
topic about keeping our pets happy and safe. So thank you, thanks for
all you do. Absolutely I love coming here and making sure everyone has good
tips to know what to do, and I hope you have a great summer
and any vacations that you're going on as well. Operator and Seat Operator