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.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and