Those traveling with cats and dogs over the Lunar New Year holiday should be aware of potential stress factors, a veterinarian said.
Dogs and cats are particularly sensitive to changes in the environment, and are easily frightened by stimuli such as firecrackers, veterinarian Lin Wei-chen (林瑋真) said.
Pets can remain nervous after being frightened, during which time they might be unwilling to eat, she said.
Photo: the New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office
“It is especially important for those traveling with pets to prepare a small, safe space wherever they are staying during the holiday for their pets to hide in if they become frightened,” she said.
“Allow cats and dogs to hide, and prepare familiar blankets, small toys and other items” for them, as these put them at ease and can help to soothe them, Lin said.
For pets that are too sensitive, or in cases where sources of stimulation are unavoidable, owners should ask their veterinarian about nutritional formulas or medications that can help calm their pet, she said, adding that sensitive pets should always be kept on a leash or in a cage when in loud or crowded places.
Meanwhile, veterinarian Hsieh Ming-jui (謝明瑞) said owners should avoid feeding their pets unfamiliar snacks or table scraps during the holiday, as this can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, vomiting, abdominal pain or other problems.
Owners should ensure that any new snacks they plan on giving their pets comply with the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials or the European Pet Food Industry Federation, she said.
Royal Canin general manager Chang Chin-chi (張堇琪) said that the best pet foods are often wet foods that replenish moisture and are balanced nutritionally.
Veterinarian Lin Yu-wen (林郁玟) said that pet owners should always remember to ask their veterinarian for backup medications prior to long holidays such as the Lunar New Year, when animal hospitals are generally closed.
Separately, New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office official Hsieh Yu-ta (謝侑達) said that people who leave their pets at a pet hotel should ensure that the hotel is partnered with an animal clinic that is open during the holiday.
“When looking for a pet hotel, make sure the place you choose is licensed, and make sure your pet is chipped and vaccinated for rabies before sending it to a hotel,” he said. “It’s also a good idea to visit the hotel with your pet in advance to familiarize them with the environment there.”
Finally, owners should inform the hotel of their pet’s diet and habits, and sign a contract with the hotel to ensure any potential disputes are easily resolved, he said.
Those looking for a pet hotel can check the Ministry of Agriculture’s Web site for a list of licensed hotels in every city and county, he added.
TRAGEDY: An expert said that the incident was uncommon as the chance of a ground crew member being sucked into an IDF engine was ‘minuscule’ A master sergeant yesterday morning died after she was sucked into an engine during a routine inspection of a fighter jet at an air base in Taichung, the Air Force Command Headquarters said. The officer, surnamed Hu (胡), was conducting final landing checks at Ching Chuan Kang (清泉崗) Air Base when she was pulled into the jet’s engine for unknown reasons, the air force said in a news release. She was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment, but could not be revived, it said. The air force expressed its deepest sympathies over the incident, and vowed to work with authorities as they
A tourist who was struck and injured by a train in a scenic area of New Taipei City’s Pingsi District (平溪) on Monday might be fined for trespassing on the tracks, the Railway Police Bureau said yesterday. The New Taipei City Fire Department said it received a call at 4:37pm on Monday about an incident in Shifen (十分), a tourist destination on the Pingsi Railway Line. After arriving on the scene, paramedics treated a woman in her 30s for a 3cm to 5cm laceration on her head, the department said. She was taken to a hospital in Keelung, it said. Surveillance footage from a
BITTERLY COLD: The inauguration ceremony for US president-elect Donald Trump has been moved indoors due to cold weather, with the new venue lacking capacity A delegation of cross-party lawmakers from Taiwan, led by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), for the inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump, would not be able to attend the ceremony, as it is being moved indoors due to forecasts of intense cold weather in Washington tomorrow. The inauguration ceremony for Trump and US vice president-elect JD Vance is to be held inside the Capitol Rotunda, which has a capacity of about 2,000 people. A person familiar with the issue yesterday said although the outdoor inauguration ceremony has been relocated, Taiwan’s legislative delegation has decided to head off to Washington as scheduled. The delegation
Another wave of cold air would affect Taiwan starting from Friday and could evolve into a continental cold mass, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Temperatures could drop below 10°C across Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday next week, CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張竣堯) said. Seasonal northeasterly winds could bring rain, he said. Meanwhile, due to the continental cold mass and radiative cooling, it would be cold in northern and northeastern Taiwan today and tomorrow, according to the CWA. From last night to this morning, temperatures could drop below 10°C in northern Taiwan, it said. A thin coat of snow
RSS