What do I do if my dog gets sick while traveling in another country? Does my pet need a passport? Should I vaccinate him before leaving on a trip? Will you be able to enter the national parks? Are veterinary fees very different from those in Spain? These are just some of the many questions we ask ourselves if we intend to travel with our pet on vacation. Undoubtedly, the most disturbing is the one that refers to health care in case of illness or accident. The best way to guarantee a peaceful trip is to take out insurance such as Mascotsegur, which offers veterinary assistance in all the countries of the European Union (EU) through a policy extension.
We will always find a veterinary office in any country of the European Union, but, for the most part, the rates are much higher than in Spain and if diagnostic tests are necessary or we have to go to the office during emergency hours, we will see how our budget for the vacation blown up.
Mascotsegur applies the same conditions in the EU as in Spanish territory and will reimburse us 80% of the amount of the veterinary invoice, which we must initially pay to the veterinarian after receiving assistance. In the event that some type of surgical intervention, analysis, x-rays or other types of tests must be carried out or if the admission of the pet is necessary, Mascotsegur offers the same coverage as anywhere in Spain. Remember that you can go to any veterinary center, something that will be especially interesting if you are traveling or in an emergency situation.
The first thing we must take into account is to make sure that we are not going to subject our pet to a situation that could endanger its health or that could be very stressful for it. Cats, as a general rule, suffer great stress if they leave their habitat and it is preferable not to subject them to long journeys. It is more advisable to look for an alternative and that they stay at home with the support of someone who visits them to ensure their food and hygiene or entrust their custody to a residence while we are traveling.
The case of dogs is different, although we always have to make sure that they will travel in the best possible conditions. If we travel by car, it is necessary to make stops every two hours and provide the most comfortable space possible. There are hammocks and dog seats on the market that adapt to the vehicle's interior and provide a more comfortable and safer journey. On the other hand, we always have to carry a first-aid kit with us to deal with any possible incident.
We must be especially careful with larger dogs and, in any case, do not travel with elderly dogs, as it poses an unnecessary risk to their well-being, especially if they have joint problems or suffer from chronic diseases that require treatment such as diabetes.
If we are going to travel by plane or train, we must bear in mind that it is a particularly stressful situation for our pet. From the outset, only if they weigh less than 10 kilos can they travel with the rest of the family. If they exceed that weight, they are accommodated in the cabin where the rest of the luggage travels. The temperature in this aircraft space fluctuates continuously and is not exactly comfortable or healthy. Therefore, if it is not essential, it is better to avoid it. Also, most low cost companies do not accept pets. In the case of trains, the conditions are not ideal for the well-being of our pet either.
If we are going to travel through EU countries, we must make sure that our pet has a valid passport. This document identifies the animal, which must necessarily have a microchip, and its legal guardian, in addition to guaranteeing that it is up to date with the vaccinations required in the community territory. The veterinarian is in charge of issuing this legal document that can be requested at any time when we are outside of Spain.
Therefore, it is advisable to visit your trusted veterinarian before starting the trip and thus make sure that we have all the documentation in order. In the event that we travel to countries outside the EU, it is essential to inform ourselves of the health and vaccination requirements that are required in each territory. Your vet will be able to inform you, although you can also consult it at the consulate or embassy. Do not forget that when returning to Spain from some non-EU countries, a serological test may be required to guarantee that our dog has not contracted rabies.
The Mascotsegur Telephone Service is especially practical both when planning a trip with your pet and when we are already en route. First of all, we have a 24-hour veterinary emergency service. A service in which they will advise us on how we should act in the face of any health problem that we detect in our dog or if, especially due to possible language difficulties, we want to ask a question after visiting a local veterinarian.
Mascotsegur also offers us the possibility of consulting the Telephone Service about stays in residences and animal transport and custody services in order to have solutions for any eventuality. In the same way, any general query that we want to make before starting the trip can also be transferred to the Mascotsegur experts through the general advice coverage that is included among the telephone services of this insurance.
