Client Services to Meet Your Needs
HomeAgain Microchipping
All too often a pet that has run off fails to return home. This is a terrible, frightening situation. We have all seen the sad lost pet notices posted throughout our neighborhoods. Getting lost is more than an inconvenience: It's the number one cause of pet death.
Studies have shown that more than 10 million pets get lost each year and about 90 percent would not be returned to their owner unless they have some form of permanent lost pet identification. This is why the team at Slidell Veterinary Hospital considers microchip lost pet IDs a fundamental way to protect your pet and an important part of responsible pet ownership. With a microchip, your pet can be identified quickly and easily by animal control officers, shelters or at veterinary hospitals. Microchips are safe, unalterable and permanent identification for pets. The entire implant procedure takes less than 10 seconds.
We use the HomeAgain microchip system. The HomeAgain ID system uses microchips that register the animal with a unique identification number that is filed in a database with important contact information. This information can be updated at any time.
HomeAgain membership also offers benefits such as proactive pet recovery and free access to ASPCA Poison Control. HomeAgain also comes with a number of very useful services to pet owners such as their National Pet Recovery Database, Lost Pet Specialists, Rapid Lost Pet Alerts, Lost Pet Medical Insurance, Travel Assistance for Found Pets, and more. HomeAgain uses technology that is standardized around the world so that your pet's microchip can be read at shelters in a number of countries. The HomeAgain microchip also meets the EU standards for military transfers overseas.
Health Certificates for Your Pet
If you are moving to a new state or traveling with your pet to other countries (even Canada and the Caribbean), you are going to need an Interstate or International Health Certificate, which we can provide.
Because each destination country has different requirements for your pet's entry, we ask that you investigate your destination's requirements prior to your appointment. We can only accommodate the guidelines you provide. Slidell Veterinary Hospital cannot assume responsibility for ensuring that all the requirements are met for your particular situation and cannot be held responsible for quarantine, denial of entry, or costs incurred due to unfulfilled requirements for your pet.
To know what is required, Slidell Veterinary Hospital recommends contacting the visiting country's consulate or embassy. A helpful list can be found at: http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco.
International Health Certificates are issued by USDA-accredited veterinarians only and must be endorsed by the state's USDA Veterinary Services office. The state veterinary services office oversees all export documents for pets departing from the US and ensures that the veterinarian issuing the document is accredited and that the forms have accurate information. For additional questions concerning requirements for travel, please visit the US Department of Agriculture website for a complete list of travel regulations and alerts.
Tips for Traveling with Your Pet
The following pet travel tips will halp you make sure that your trip is safe, fun, and relaxing for both you and your pet:
Wellness Checkup Before your trip, you need to have your pet examined (usually within 10 days of travel) to ensure that he or she is healthy enough to make the trip. All dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old and must have been weaned before traveling by air. They must be up-to-date on all vaccinations and free of internal and external parasites.
Safe Travel Carrier If traveling by air, your pet must be in a kennel that meets regulation standards for size, strength, sanitation, and ventilation. Below are some specifics taken directly from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service:
- Size and Strength: The kennel must be enclosed and allow room for your pet to stand, sit, and lay in a natural position. It must be easy to open, strong enough to withstand the normal rigors of transportation, and free of objects that could injure the animal.
- Sanitation: Carriers must have a solid, leak-proof floor that is covered with litter or absorbent lining. Ventilated sub-floors are generally allowed; pegboard flooring is prohibited.
- Ventilation: Kennels must be well-ventilated with openings that make up at least 14 percent of the total wall space. At least one-third of the openings must be located in the top half of the carrier. They also must have rims to prevent ventilation openings from being blocked by other cargo. Grips or handles are required for lifting to prevent cargo personnel from having to place their fingers inside the kennel and risk being bitten. They must also be marked "LIVE ANIMALS" or "WILD ANIMALS" on the top and one side with directional arrows indicating proper position.
- Animals per kennel: Each species must have its own carrier with the exception of compatible cats and dogs of similar size. Maximum numbers are two puppies or kittens less than 6 months of age and 20 pounds each and of similar size, 15 guinea pigs or rabbits, and 50 hamsters. Airlines may have more restrictive requirements, such as allowing only one adult animal per carrier. Be sure to check with your airline for their requirements.
- Pet Bird Travel Abroad: Bird owners that take their pets with them while traveling abroad are generally exempted from some USDA quarantine and foreign certification requirements. This exception applies only to birds from the US and is permitted as long as the owner makes special arrangements in advance. If you wish to take your bird abroad, you must obtain all necessary documents from the USDA and the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service before departure. For more information on traveling abroad with your bird, contact the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services' district office serving Louisiana at 345 Keyway Drive, Flowood, MS 20731-1231, call (601) 936-8580, or email VSMSLA@aphis.usda.gov.
We also recommend the following additional measures:
- Prepare your pet by taking him or her on shorter trips beforehand.
- Pack a copy of your pet's health records and rabies vaccination certificate.
- Include a photo and physical description along with your paperwork.
- Microchip your pets and register them nationwide.
- Add a tag to your dog's collar that includes a telephone number where you can be reached if your dog gets separated from you.
- Make sure you have all your pet's medications and get refills if needed.
- Take fresh water with you for your pet to drink and feed him or her lightly before travel.
- Check with hotels and campgrounds regarding pet restrictions and regulations.
- Start your travel preparations 12 months in advance as many countries, such as Australia, Japan, and some European nations, as well as Hawaii, have very stringent requirements.
End-of-Life Planning
Euthanasia and tending to your pet's remains are two of the most difficult issues for many people to consider. Asking the question means confronting fear, guilt, and grief.
Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress. Talk to one of our veterinarians or a staff member at Slidell Veterinary Hospital about an end-of-life plan long before it becomes an issue. Find out about your options, including our cremation services, make some key decisions ahead of time, and ask us to add this information to your pet's record. Taking the time to plan, as challenging as it may be, will lessen the pain and discomfort for you and your pet in the event this option ever has to be considered.
All of us at Slidell Veterinary Hospital will do our best to help you prepare for these important issues with the compassion and sensitivity they require. For our clients and patients who prefer to experience this transition in a more private and familiar setting, we offer at-home euthanasia through the hospital's Mobile Clinic.
For more information about any of our client services, please email or call us at (985) 643-4822. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have.