Want to include the family pet in this summer’s travel plans? Before you do so, it’s important to know the rules and regulations of your vacation spot when it comes to bringing your favorite pooch or kitty. Pet travel can be lots of fun, but it can turn into a real hassle if you don’t know how your dog or cat will be cared for. A few policies of the most popular vacation spots:

Beaches:
- Ocean City, MD: Pets are not allowed on the beach or boardwalk between May 2 and September 30.
- Dewey Beach, DE: Dogs are allowed year round, but from Memorial Day through Labor Day, they can only be on the beach before 9:30am and after 5:30pm. You must obtain a Dewey Beach Dog License before bringing your dog at any time of year.
- Virginia Beach, VA: Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, pets are not allowed on the beach from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
- Hilton Head, SC: Leashed dogs are permitted at any time of year.
- Ft. Lauderdale, FL: This beach has an area set aside in which leashed dogs can be brought Friday through Sunday from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. You must obtain a dog license.
- Long Beach, CA: A special “Dog Zone” is available where dogs can run without leashes. All dogs must have tags and vaccination paperwork.

Amusement Parks:
- Disney World and DisneyLand: Both offer kennels and pet daycare service.
- Sea World: The park offers an air-conditioned kennel outside the main entrance.
- King’s Dominion: Pets can be boarded in an air-conditioned facility.
- Busch Gardens: Pet care is available in a ventilated facility, but it is not temperature controlled.
- Universal Studios (Orlando and Los Angeles): Pet kennels are available during park hours.
- Six Flags (Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, San Antonio, Arlington): Dogs and cats can be boarded in a kennel located at the main entrance
- Six Flags (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Louisville, Baltimore/DC, Springfield, Jackson, Lake George): Pets are not permitted.

Cruises:
- Carnival Cruises: Pets cannot be brought on board.
- Queen Mary 2 Cruises: Pets can be brought onto the ship, where there is a kennel that is open throughout the day to allow vacationers to spend time with their pets.

If your vacation destination does not offer pet services, you may want to look into any number of pet friendly hotels where you can stay with your dog or cat. Before heading to any destination, however, make sure to confirm their policy in advance. As noted, many amusement parks offer pet daycare, but some will require reservations and most will ask that you bring vaccination information with you. Many of those that offer kennel services require you to bring your own food as well, so make sure you’ve got some of your pet’s favorite natural pet food on hand to take with you!

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Just wanted to take a moment to introduce you to Sandy, my beautiful five-year-old dog. She just celebrated her birthday – a miracle considering that her meager beginnings made it uncertain she would see age two.

I adopted Sandy four years ago from a shelter. I saw her picture on the group’s website and immediately fell in love with the barely one-year-old girl. I was very excited to bring home the new addition to my family and couldn’t wait to get her settled.

All was not well with Sandy, however. She was malnourished, and her coat was horrible. I did the best I could with her, and after numerous vet visits, I was finally able to get some weight on her, and she began to improve. Her coat was a mess for the longest time though; nothing I did seemed to help.

One day our vet asked if I had ever tried natural dog food and pet supplements like those offered by Halo. At the time, I hadn’t heard of the company, and I really didn’t know much about holistic dog food. I was already buying Sandy what I thought were the best pet foods, so I didn’t see how this would help. I was willing to give it shot, though, and I started Sandy on Spot’s Stew Adult Dog dry food, as well as the Dream Coat pet supplement.

Turns out she loved the food (Particularly the wholesome chicken flavor!), and I actually started to see a difference. Within a month, her coat was definitely improving, and after some time she had beautiful, shiny fur. Now I think she gives any show dog a run for their money – it’s hard to believe this girl started as a shelter refugee. Thanks Halo from me and Sandy!

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With summer right around the corner, help naturally protect your pet from flea bites and be on the look out for pet allergy symptoms. Try natural pet grooming supplies to keep your pet free from the skin itch of summer!

Flea Control Recipe

Try the following recipe for natural flea control to enjoy a flea-free summer!

Add to the food for each adult pet:
- level teaspoon brewer’s yeast
- level teaspoon garlic powder

Brewer’s yeast and garlic also come in tablets if your pet is unwilling to eat these powders in their food.

This flea treatment helps repel adult fleas from your pet but does not kill the fleas. You will need to follow the advice of your veterinarian to achieve successful flea control in your home. To learn more about pet allergies, visit our pet education area.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.

Clients commonly search for effective flea and tick control products for dogs and cats. There are several excellent products, which many people attempt to find more cheaply online than at the vet office.

However, there are counterfeit versions of these products going around….(which customers have been purchasing almost exclusively online). Go to this EPA link to read a description of how to tell if they have the real or counterfeited product.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.

Dog Arthritis is a common painful joint problem affecting approximately 20% of dogs older than one year of age. The symptoms of arthritis vary tremendously and can range from mild stiffness to severe limping. If your best friend is slowing down, it may not be “old age”. Consider that arthritis may be the culprit and have your veterinarian perform a thorough examination for arthritis. Work with your veterinarian to create a plan for your dog’s diet, exercise and pain relief.

A diet like Halo natural dog food that promotes strong lean muscles and helps to avoid obesity is crucial to maintain health in dogs with arthritis. Low-impact exercise (e.g. swimming) is also essential to maintain muscle strength. When diet and exercise are combined with anti-inflammatory medication or natural arthritis supplements like glucosamine-chondroitin and pet supplements rich in omega-3 fatty acids your dog’s joint health and quality of life can be improved greatly. Pain relief from arthritis can return your dog to his spunky self and give him a new lease on life!

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.