Traveller Comfort Pack
Global Paws created the Traveller Comfort Pack to provide safety, comfort and security for your pets while they are in transit, traversing the globe, moving home with you.
Relocating your home to another city or country is very exciting but can be stressful at the same time. There is an immense amount of planning to take into consideration, like securing a new job, moving all your belongings, finding a new home, finding a suitable school for the kids and adapting to a different culture amongst other things. This anxiety can unfortunately be transferred to our pets.
That’s why a few years ago we explored the markets and found these amazing natural products, Calming collars for Dogs and Calming gel for Cats. They truly work and do help to reduce the feelings of anxiety and any undue stress for the pet starting their journey.
We’ve noticed the unease in some pets when they are closed in a travel crate for the first time and therefore recommend pet travel crate training and pre-delivery of your pet’s crate 2 – 3 weeks before their departure.
Comfort is of immense importance, especially as the travel crate is going to be their home base for several hours whilst travelling. With this in mind Global Paws has designed and manufactures its’ own Pet Travel Bedding that custom fits every pet travel crate.
And lastly…our trained craftsmen manufacture their travel crates, in compliance with all airline and IATA regulations, from quality timber to be robust, secure and safe whilst still allowing ample ventilation to keep your pets in tip top condition during their journey and after.
You can read more about each product separately.
Pet travel bedding
Our special new Pet Travel Bedding is ideal for short distance as well as long haul travel. While designing our new bedding we have taken comfort of your pet and product durability into consideration.
The Pet Travel Bedding is made of 4 layers:
- The Vet Fur on the top is made out of a very high quality, non-toxic synthetic fur material. The Vet Fur is soft to touch and it offers the comfort and joint support that pets need while they are in transit. It is designed to allow superb heat retention and air circulation.This product was originally designed for vet practices and it is highly used in Europe by most veterinarians for elderly or disabled pets, puppies or kittens where hygiene and warmth is vital, or for pets after their operation. Hence the name – Vet fur bedding.
- Any liquids are absorbed to the bottom of the Vet Fur and it gets captured in an non-toxic gel Absorbent Pad that is under the vet fur material. Once the liquid has been captured in the absorbent pad the top vet fur dries very quickly.The Absorbent Pads are made out of a combination of fluff pulp and very absorbent non-toxic gel beads. The filling has been compressed into a rhombus shape to create a channelling effect which wicks away liquids whilst keeping the top dry to touch. The pad has a waterproof back sheet that prevents the loss of any additional liquids through the pad.
- Under the absorbent pad we have Batting Material that provides a little extra comfort and softness.
- The back of the bedding is made out of a durable Denim material. The vet fur together with the denim material forms a “pillow case”.
Our Pet Travel Bedding can be reused. Once the gel absorbent pad and the batting material has been removed the pillow case is machine washable. The pillow case can then either be used as is or it can be stuffed with a memory foam or a thin mattress.
Calming collars for dogs
The Veterinary Medical Associations and International Pet & Animal Transport Association (IPATA) strongly recommend against tranquilizing your pet and most airlines will refuse to transport an animal that appears to be sedated. So how do you relieve stress in pets in a safe and effective manner?
Most Veterinarians & Global Paws recommend using Calming collars for dogs.
The beauty of this product is not only that it work up to 30 days, but that it works using NATURAL methods.
How does it work?
The calming collar is impregnated with synthetic pheromones which are said to mimic the natural pheromones that the mother produces to calm and reassure her babies. Pets recognize these pheromones throughout life. It mimics the natural way to help them cope with new and fearful situations. The lavender and chamomile provide a soothing fragrance.
The calming collar provides sustained release of these pheromones when activated by the body heat of the animal and the pheromones are received by the vomeronasal organ, which is located between the nose and the mouth.
Features:
- The calming pheromones assist with stress relief and separation anxiety in pets.
- Breakaway design allows your pet to free herself if the collar gets caught on something, reducing the likelihood of choking
- Has a Lavender Chamomile fragrance.
- Lasts for up to 30 days.
Directions for use:
Place collar around pet’s neck, adjust to fit. The collar must be worn loosely to allow for growth of the pet (puppies) and to permit the collar to move about the neck. Generally, a properly fitted collar is one that when fastened, will snugly slide over your pet’s head. Leave 2 or 3 inches (5-7 cm) for extra adjustment then cut off the excess portion of the collar. The collar is designed to release powder when applied, which will activate the pheromones. Wash hands after placing the collar on your pet. The effects of one collar last up to 30 days. Seal collar in a plastic bag when not in use to prolong the effect.
How quickly will the pet respond once the Calming Collar is placed on their neck?
When the collar is placed around the neck, the perception of the pheromones is immediate. However, as in every behaviour program, the visible improvement in specific behaviours may require some time, depending on a variety of factors: the pet, the nature, duration and severity of the problem and behaviour modification (pet and owner). Usually an improvement in specific behaviours is seen during the first two weeks after wearing the collar, that’s why we will schedule to deliver your pet’s collar around two weeks before your pet’s travel arrangements.
Calmeze Gel for Cats
Calmeze Gel for Cats is a nutritional salmon flavoured gel that reduces stress and anxiety in cats. It stimulates feelings of confidence and gives cats a sense of well-being. The product promotes relaxation and it is often used in stressful situations because it relieves the anxiety that is caused as a result of weaning, separation, transportation to a new environment, boarding in a cattery, hospitalisation and fear of travel.
A couple of weeks before your cat’s travels, while packing up your home, you can use a Calming collar for cats, they work well too, but you cannot use them on the travel day itself as the safety release mechanism may not work properly on every cat and your cats paw might become stuck in the collar and bring additional stress and discomfort. This is why we recommend a Calming gel for cats.
How to use it?
Apply to the back of the cat’s paw or onto the food.
For Individual events likely to cause fear or anxiety (fireworks), administer a dose one to two hours before the anxious event, can be repeated if desired effect is not achieved.
Small cats – 1 pump
Large cats – 2 pumps
1 Pump = 2ml
Over the long term CalmEze can also be used to assist with behavioural problems.
Travel crate training
Crate training is a great way to prepare your pet for their travels and to ensure that your pet feels safe and secure while in route to your new home.
One of the most important things about crate training is to make your pet like their crate and come to see it as a safe place, not as a punishment. The best way, is to take it slowly.
When the crate is first delivered make sure that you don’t close your pet inside the crate. If you do this, it will only make your pet see the crate as a scary place instead of it giving them the security that they require.
It is important that the crate is placed in a room where you and your pet spend a lot of time together. Our wooden travel crates must be kept indoors or sheltered away from the elements outside to ensure that the crates are not damaged or weather beaten prior to travel.
To make the crate more comfortable for your pet we suggest that you put a familiar smelling blanket and perhaps an old t-shirt that you have worn recently into the crate. You can also add one or two of your pet’s favourite toys to entice them to go into the crate. If you have a dog you can start with putting treats inside the crate and if you have a cat you can put a bit of catnip. Always praise your pet when you see him / her entering the crate on their own.
You can also start feeding your pet closer to the crate, you can do this for a day or two. Once you see that your pet is going into the crate to eat the treats or play with the toys then you can move your pet’s food bowl to just inside the crate so that your pet still stands outside the crate to eat. If you see that your pet is comfortable with this then move the food bowl further into the crate so that your pet has to stand inside the crate to eat. It is important that the food bowl is removed once your pet has finished eating.
Once you find that your pet is comfortable with going in and out of the travel crate you can close the crate door for 5 – 10 min at a time without leaving the room. Keep on praising your pet whilst inside the crate. The best time to do it is once your pet has finished eating and had their toilet break or if you returned from a walk with your dog. If your pet becomes upset and barks or whimpers speak to them in a soft voice and open the crate door once they have settled down. When you open the crate door don’t make too big a fuss about it, you don’t want your pet to become too excited, they should be kept calm.
The first time your pet might be a bit uneasy, if you see your pet is getting panicked, rather open the crate and try again a little later or the following day.
Carry on with closing your pet inside the crate for a couple of minutes at a time. Once you see that your pet is comfortable with spending short periods of time inside the crate then you can start leaving the room whilst your pet is inside the crate.
Once you see your pet is comfortable with spending periods of time inside the crate then you can if possible move the crate to your bedroom and try to leave your pet inside the crate during the night.
Once your pet realises that it is not a punishment for them to spend time inside the crate and that you open the door after a while, they will start seeing the crate as a safe place.
A host of our clients keep the crates after their travels because their pets get so attached to their crates, that they prefer sleeping in it.
