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portliz's avatar
portliz
Explorer
Nov 21, 2015

A delicate question.

We are travelling south with our 16 year old Shepherd/Lab. She is a wonderful old girl. She is stressed when travelling but a thundershirt and some Xanax have really helped. Each year I wonder if she will be with us when we make the trip. She is still with us and this morning was romping in the snow like a puppy.

The delicate question. What do you do if your dog suddenly passes away while travelling. Do you call a vet? How do you deal with the body? Sorry for such a sad question but we know she won't be with us forever and we need to be prepared. It is more likely that she will be sick before and we have had wonderful emergency treatment when we have needed it while travelling. It is the sudden stuff we need to be prepared for.
  • Mr__Camper's avatar
    Mr__Camper
    Explorer
    Nov 22, 2015
    If you see our sig we have had that happen before and once while home. We took a favorite photo engraved on the face of the urn. Wwe have a special shelf in the RV and they travel with us everywhere.
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Nov 22, 2015
    portliz wrote:
    Thanks Dr. Doug. I have bookmarked this site.


    Me too, thank you.
  • dturm's avatar
    dturm
    Moderator
    Nov 22, 2015
    Contacting a local vet is the best advice. If they cannot offer services directly, they certainly can give you information about who to contact in the area. We have provided this service many times over the years to people who were visiting or passing through our area.

    Another bookmark to keep handy is the AAHA hospital lookup search engine. When planning a trip with an elderly pet or when you have an animal that has major ongoing problems this would be a useful tool in keeping track of what's available along your trip.

    Doug, DVM
  • brewjaz's avatar
    brewjaz
    Explorer
    Nov 22, 2015
    Sad, but a VERY good question. Fortunately I've never had this dilemma. I would like to add that it might be a good idea, when checking into the campground, to ask about local vet and emergency clinic recommendations and phone numbers....especially at your pup's advanced age.

    HOPEFULLY this is something that won't come up for quite awhile. :-)
  • LadyRVer's avatar
    LadyRVer
    Explorer II
    Nov 22, 2015
    When I traveled with my spaniel who had CHF, I looked up in the campground phone book Pet Crematory services... found that some funeral homes do this service. My last trip out with Bailey, thought for sure this was going to happen. I did have an emergency vet appt and he said he would come in if needed. Also, there was an all-night Emergency Vet service in town who, when contacted said they would help out. Also, have asked campground owners/employees who they recommended for vets in their local area.

    I would have opted for cremation and waited on the ashes, but fortunately Bailey made it back to home area and lived another 6 weeks.
  • westernrvparkow's avatar
    westernrvparkow
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2015
    Ductape wrote:
    We have been through it. Took the remains to a local crematory and picked up the ashes a couple of days later. Local vets and animal shelters can recommend a crematory wherever you happen to be.
    Absolutely, and realistically, you will probably have some interface with the local vet before your pet passes away. Unfortunately, they don't often go from healthy to just dropping dead in their sleep, though it sure would be nice if they did. We have had several guests over the year have this problem and the local vets were always kind and caring. Cremation and the return of the ashes was very quick. We did have one guest ask us for contact information on local taxidermists. Don't know how that turned out.
  • Ductape's avatar
    Ductape
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2015
    We have been through it. Took the remains to a local crematory and picked up the ashes a couple of days later. Local vets and animal shelters can recommend a crematory wherever you happen to be.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2015
    Excellent question. I've never been in that situation.
    I would contact a vet or animal shelter and inquire about cremation services.
    You could wait for the process to be completed or, have the ashes shipped to your home.
    Personally, I would wait and take the ashes with us.
    Hopefully, you won't have to make this decision while traveling.
  • Johno02's avatar
    Johno02
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2015
    Contact a vet, have them cremated, Send or carry ashes home or wherever. We have discussed this, and the same applies if one of us.

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