ANYONE taking their pet on holiday this month or leaving them at home while they get away can get free advice from a Somerset veterinary clinic throughout July.

White Lodge Veterinary Clinic in Minehead and Williton wants owners to be aware of their options.

Companion Pet Practice Manager, Maggie Lewis explained: “If staying in a boarding kennel, routine vaccinations must be up to date, and an intra-nasal spray vaccine for ‘kennel cough’ is a very sensible add-on.

“For those wishing to travel abroad for the first time, a microchip, rabies vaccine and passport followed by a three-week run-in period is essential for all foreign travel. We offer up-to-date advice on prevention of European diseases for which UK pets have zero immunity.

“July is one of the busiest holiday months of the year with more and more people taking their pets with them on their trips. We felt it was vital to offer plenty of free advice to help everyone have a safe and happy break together or apart.”

Pet Passports are essential if you’re travelling out of the UK. Your dog, cat or ferret must have a pet passport issued in the UK or EU to enter or re-enter both jurisdictions.

Maggie added: “It is also important to consider the implications of heat or travel sickness on animals, for example dogs should never be left in a car on a warm day even for a few minutes with a window open. According to the RSPCA, if it’s 22°C outside, within an hour it can be 47°C inside a car. With cats apply a pet sunscreen, which can’t be licked off, to the nose and ears of pale-coloured cats when they do go outside.

“Like humans, animals can also suffer from motion sickness. Fresh air does wonders, so open the window a little when travelling in the car. There are also medications available from your vet to help alleviate motion sickness. Dogs cannot regulate their body temperatures as efficiently as humans, so make sure it isn’t too hot or too cold in the car. These are just a few of the tips we can offer to people travelling with their pets during the summer months.

“If you leave your pet in the care of a responsible person, you also need to consider their welfare. Any dogs preparing to go into kennels while you are away ought to have treatment for Kennel Cough and we’re offering a discount on this during July at our practices.”