Car Safety For Pets

Do your pets travel with you?  
Pet travel is at an all-time high with tens of millions of dogs traveling with their families every year.  So what's the safest way to travel with your pets?

Front Seat Vs. Back Seat
Dogs want to move around and explore in the car unless they are restrained.  Just like children, dogs should stay in the back seat so if an accident occurs, they are safe from the dashboard air bag impact.  Air bags deploy at 200 miles per hour and the force could injure or kill them.

Carrier Vs. Seat Belt
The best way to transport your pet is in a well-ventilated carrier that has a secure door and latch (big enough for your dog to sit and lie down).  The carrier should be facing forward so your dog will get plenty of air during the trip.  Most importantly, secure the carrier to the car so if you stop short or have an accident, the carrier doesn't get thrown around the car.

Though not as effective as a carrier, pet seat belts are better than having a loose pet.  There are many different brands and types of pet seat belts on the market.  Each company has their own testing and standards so it's difficult to compare product to product.  There are no specific safety standards on animal restraints currently and testing by the manufacturer is not a requirement.

Another benefit of a restrained pet in a car is a decrease in distractions for the driver.  According to a 2010 American Automobile Association (AAA) survey, 2 out of 3 pet owners engage in distracting behaviors (playing with, feeding or petting their dog, or letting their dog sit in their lap) when pets are in the car.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that approximately 20% of injury crashes involve distracted driving. 


Are There Any Studies in Progress on Pet Seat Belts?
A pilot study was done by the Center for Pet Safety, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in 2011 where they tested four popular animal travel harnesses.  Their testing was done according to the conditions of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 for child safety seats.  A realistic crash was tested on "crash test dogs".  No live animals were used in this study.  The study indicated 100% failure rate.  While travel harnesses may offer some protection in a crash, none of these products can guarantee safety for your pets during a crash. For more information on this study click here.

Another website that has done some research on the different types of pet restraints is Pet Auto Safety.  Their research consisted of ranking four different car harness brands based on comfort, tangling, cost, and manufacturer testing.    

With pet travel at an all time high, we hope studies continue on these products and safety standards are put into effect for the protection of our pets.

References:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012petsafety/06pilotstudy/prweb9612738.htm

http://www.petinsurance.com 

http://www.barkbuckleup.com/whybuckleup.asp

http://www.petautosafety.com/
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Hot-Cars-and-Loose-Pets.aspx

Canine Influenza

WHAT IS CANINE INFLUENZA?

Canine Influenza is a relatively new disease caused by a "flu" virus.  It causes respiratory infection and only affected dogs.  It spreads quickly and may cause serious illness such as pneumonia.

IS IT CONTAGIOUS?

Very.  And you don't know which dogs are shedding the virus.  Just like human flu, the clinical signs appear after the shedding.  First reported in 2003, canine flu quickly reached 30 states by 2009.  Then with increased awareness, cases were identified in an additional 8 states.

HOW DOES IT SPREAD?

In 3 ways:

• Through direct contact between dogs (licking, nuzzling)
• Through the air (coughing, sneezing)
• Via contaminated surfaces (such as a shared toy or when a person picks up the virus on their hands, then pets a dog)

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF CANINE INFLUENZA?

About 80% of dogs that show signs of influenza will have mild disease.  Signs include:

• Lasting cough
• Low-grade fever
• Nasal discharge
• Lack of energy
• Loss of Appetite

In about 20% of the cases, more severe signs will occur, such as:

• pneumonia
• high fever

 HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

It's hard to diagnose canine influenza.  It can be confused with Bordetella (kennel cough) because the signs are very similar.  Your veterinarian will treat the clinical sign most likely with antibiotics, but to confirm flu, she would need to collect blood or nasal swab samples.

IS MY DOG AT RISK FOR INFECTION?

Most dogs, regardless of breed or age, are at risk for canine influenza.  However, certain venues and activities can raise your dog's risk of canine influenza infection even higher,  Review this list of questions to see if any of these places or activities apply to your pet.

DOES YOUR DOG:

• Come from a shelter, rescue center, breeding kennel, or pet store?
• Board at a kennel or go to doggie daycare?
• Attend group training or "dog kindergarten"?
• Visit a groomer or dog parks?
• Enter dog events?
• Travel with you across state lines?

If you answered "yes" to one or more of these questions, tell your veterinarian and ask what can be done to protect your dog from canine influenza.  

Protection in the form of an effective vaccine is available through your veterinarian.  This vaccine has been clinically proven to significantly reduce the severity of influenza and the length of time that a dog is sick.  The initial vaccine required 2 doses given 2-4 weeks apart, followed by annual revaccination.  If your dog is presently being vaccinated for kennel cough (Bordetella), it is a likely candidate for Canine Influenza (CIV).

At South Des Moines Veterinary Center, we require the Canine Influenza Vaccine for dogs who board and groom with us as well as those dogs who attend doggy daycare here.  If you have any questions regarding Canine Influenza, we encourage you to call the vet center 515-285-5523

References: Merck Animal Health 
www.doginfluenza.com