My Pet World: Picking Up After Your Dog is the Healthy Thing to Do

By Steve Dale, Tribune Media Services on Jun 6, 2014

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Q: Next week, we're driving from Florida to visit our kids and grandkids near Nashville. Buddy, our little Maltipoo, loves car rides, but we've never gone this far or stayed so long. My daughter has three cats, so Buddy will stay with us at a hotel. Any travel advice? -- H.S., Vero Beach, FL

A: It's safest to keep a small dog in a seat harness. Getting your pooch accustomed to the seat before the big trip is best. Of course, make sure you stop for lots of puppy potty breaks. You'll just have to suffer with fast food from drive-up eateries, or restaurants with outdoor dining that welcomes canines to avoid leaving Buddy alone in a hot car. Every summer, dogs across the country die of heat stroke in cars (even with windows cracked open), or are stolen from vehicles.

I'm guessing your road trip will last two days. If so, book dog-friendly accommodations in advance. The same goes for your hotel in Tennessee.

Contact your vet weeks before departing. Make sure all of Buddy's vaccines are up to date. Tell the vet where you're headed, in case flea or tick products should be adjusted for that region. Geography matters. For example, the canine influenza virus may be a concern in some places but not others. No matter what your destination, a heartworm preventative is necessary.

Be sure Buddy is wearing ID tags with up-to-date contact info and has been microchipped. Be sure you're registered with the microchip provider using current contact info.

Bring along toys and bedding with Buddy's scent. If your dog is crate-trained, it's best (for the benefit of housekeeping staff) for Buddy to be inside the crate when you're not in your hotel room.

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Q: Our 6-year-old tabby likes licking Vaseline off my finger at night before I go to bed. I've heard that Vaseline helps cats expel hairballs. But our cat doesn't have hairballs. Will the Vaseline harm him? -- C.S., Wichita, KS

A: Feline veterinarian Dr. Drew Weigner, of Atlanta, Ga., says, "I don't know why cats like Petroleum jelly (or Vaseline) but they do, and it helps kitties to pass hairballs in their stool." You'd need a heck of a lot of Vaseline to harm your cat; a nightly bedtime Vaseline snack isn't a concern.

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Steve Dale welcomes questions/comments from readers. Although he can't answer all of them individually, he'll answer those of general interest in his column. Write to Steve at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207. Send e-mail to PETWORLD(at)STEVE DALE.TV. Include your name, city and state. Steve's website is www.stevedalepetworld.com; he also hosts the nationally syndicated "Steve Dale's Pet World" and "The Pet Minute." He's also a contributing editor to USA Weekend.