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Spending the Summer holidays together with our pets is possible, but it is important to be aware of the problems our pets can face when we are leaving. They have indeed to deal with a new situation, different from the usual one. For this reason, the owner has to find the best way to calm them down in order to save them from stress. Spending hours in a crate, being carsick and ending up in a completely new setting is not so easy for our pets. If our pet is particularly nervous, you should consult the vet and ask for a mild tranquilizer or specific medicines to relieve the symptoms of a possible disease. There are also some effective stratagems: providing your cat or dog a piece of clothing and placing one of its favourite toys or a blanket inside its own carrier, will provide reassuring olfactory references for the pet.
TRAVELLING BY CAR
Article 169 of Highway Code of Italy states that "it is forbidden to transport more than one pet and it is forbidden to transport pets under conditions which can represent an obstacle or a danger for driving. Transport of more than one pet is allowed on condition that pets are kept in a special cage or carrier or in the rear compartment, which has to be separated through a mesh or other suitable means that, if permanently installed, have to be authorized by the appropriate department of M.C.T.C General Management"Thus, under the law, if you travel with one dog, it can be free but only if kept in the rear compartment. Cats are animals that cannot stay still, so they must be secured in a crate. Trip is a stess factor for our four-legged friends and it is advisable that they be on an empty stomach and medically fit when departing. Make sure that your pet always has fresh water at its disposal: during the trip you should make regular stops to let it drink, walk and "do its business". Pay attention to the temperature. Heat can be fatal for cats and dogs that, especially in the Summer, must never be left in a parked vehicle, even if the window is slightly open. Putting on the windows sun shade curtains, which can be easily found in service areas, can be very useful. Lastly, it is convenient not to expose our four-legged friends directly to air-conditioning. It is also important not to allow them to travel with their head outside the window for a long time. If your pet suffers from car sickness, ask your vet for suggestions about how to minimize the unease due to nausea. HOW TO AVOID CAR SICKNESS Car sickness or chinetosi is more common than we think. It manifests itself when the brain receives contrasting stimuli from the organs of balance. It can affect dogs of all ages, though puppies and young dogs are predisposed to it (one out of every six dogs: more than 17%). The typical signs of chinetosi are: agitation, breathlessness, excessive salivation, belching and vomiting. This unease can manifests itself before getting into the car, because of memories of previous experiences. This condition takes the pleasure out of the trip, which can turn into a stressful experience for the owner, too. There are some new safe effective medications for pets which must be given them before departing and do not cause adverse reactions such as apathy or drowsiness. Car sickness can be opposed through the following devices: - Partial opening of the window, in order to enable the passage of fresh air - Try to drive as gently as possible, avoiding useless braking or accelerations - Make sure that the car interal temperature is not too hot or too cold - During long trips make regular stops in order to permit your dog to get out of the car and drink - Get your dog used to car trips, starting with short rides and then increasing the journey time - Connect the ride to a pleasant activity, like a walk once the destination is reached. It can help in reducing fear and anxiety - Place in the car your dog's favourite toy or its blanket in order to make the enviroment more familiar to it - If during the trip the pet remains calm, reward it with tender words or caressing it - Avoid reassuring it when it becomes restless, barks or moans, otherwise you are likely to increase its unease FIDO PARKS Autogrill company has opened several Fido Parks areas, places for our four-legged friends where it is possible to find fresh water and kennels in the shadow of a gazebo. Kennels are insulated against heat in order to provide the best temperature even during the hottest months. They are equipped with an unblocking system to remove all the organic waste and with spray-disinfection system. Fido Park areas have been created so that they can function without on-the-spot services: regulations in English and Italian are placed in every Fido Park area. Here the detailed of list Fido Park areas (see the map below) 1. Stura Est A26 - Alessandria / Voltri, Belforte Monferrato (Northward direction) 2. Badia Alpino Ovest A1 - Firenze Roma, Arezzo (Southward direction) 3. Murge est A14 - Canosa Bari, Bari (Northward direction) 4. Secchia Ovest A1- MI/BO, Modena (Southward direction) . In this Autogrill an Agility course with a vast green area and a pallet dispenser is available . 5. La Macchia Est A1- NA/Roma, Anagni (Northward direction) 6. Montefeltro Est A14 - Ancona/Bologna, Riccione (Northward direction) 7. S. Ilario Nord A12 - Sestri/Genova, Genova Nervi (Northward direction) 8. Conero Ovest A14 - Ancona/Pescara, Numana (Southward direction) 9. La Macchia Ovest A1 - Roma/Napoli, Anagni (Southward direction) 10. Stura Est A26 - Alessandria/Voltri, Belforte Monferrato (Southward direction) 11. Tevere Est A1 - Roma/Firenze, Civitella d'Agliano (Northward direction) 12. Brianza Sud A4 - Milano/Venezia, Caponago (Northward direction) 13. Po Est A13 - Bologna/Padova, Ferrara (Northward direction) 14. S. Ilario Ovest A 14 - Upcominig opening 15. Torre Cerrano Est A 14 - Upcominig opening 16. Flaminia Est - Upcoming opening The service area "Vispa" highway Savona - Turin in Carcare (SV) is worth mentioning too: here is an area for dogs with a little fountain where they can drink.
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