Dr Liesel van der Merwe is a small animal medicine specialist. Send her your questions: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dr Liesel van der Merwe

There has unfortunately been some attrition in my canine clan, and we are down to four dogs.
It’s cheaper taking them all on holiday than getting a house sitter for two of them. Plus, I always feel guilty about leaving two behind. This December break could degenerate into chaos with all four.

There is a certain amount of planning which needs to occur. With all the dogs, there is no place for luggage, my husband will be lucky to squeeze in. So, make sure the trailer is licensed and the tyres are good.

The property we are using over the break is fenced. Make sure pet friendly also means pet safe!  I have been to places where there is no individual fencing, which means that the doors either have to be closed with the dogs inside or the dogs have to be on a leash. Not conducive to relaxation.

Then you need to make sure that you have sorted them out for possible parasites. I don’t have ticks on my property, but before any trip to the bush or the coast I make sure that all my dogs are treated for tick prevention. 

If your dog is on any chronic medication or has a chronic disease, make sure you have enough information regarding the current state of affairs so that you can give this over to a local vet in your holiday destination if needed.

Don’t rely on the vet calling your vet for a history; things often happen over a weekend or in the evening when practices are closed. It is the owner’s responsibility to have this information at hand and it really does allow the attending vet to manage the case properly. There are many subtleties of treatment which make a difference in case approach.

Regarding special diets – phone ahead to make sure that the local vet stocks what you need. Smaller practices cannot afford to hold all stock and may need to order in especially.

During the actual trip – some dogs may require some form of anxiolytic or motion sickness medication. And then, windows open or windows closed or open, closed, open, closed because I want to look out every 10 minutes.

I stop for doggy breaks on smaller side dirt roads about three to five kilometres in and let everyone out for a run and to do their business. It’s wonderfully peaceful and time for a nice cup of coffee myself. Much better than stopping with them at the service stations.

And then there is the issue of manners: Dogs on the coast are used to walking with other dogs – mine are not. Walking is a tug of war, barking at each dog in every house we walk past. Now they have to behave and not drown me in shame.