Welcome to another Wellness Wednesday, Fam!
“Doctor, I think my dog caught something on holiday!”
If I had a naira for every time I’ve heard this after festive seasons or travel, I’d have retired with a farm full of goats, chickens, and Labradors by now.
Vacations are meant for fun, but for pets, travel (or even just a boarding stay while you’re away) can mean stress, exposure to new environments, and sometimes…unexpected health surprises. That’s why a post-vacation health check isn’t just a fancy idea, it’s often the difference between catching something early and battling a full-blown illness.
Let’s walk through the key signs your pet may need a vet visit after your holiday adventures.
Holiday Hangover Signs in Pets
1. Appetite Changes
Why? Because appetite is one of the body’s earliest alarm bells. Long before some illnesses show up on bloodwork, your pet’s food bowl often gives the first clue.
What It Looks Like
- Skipping meals completely.
- Picking at food like a moody toddler.
- Suddenly begging for double portions.
- Or, our favorite, turning up their nose at kibble because Grandma’s smoked chicken is apparently the new normal.
And yes, emotional eating isn’t just a human coping mechanism. Pets do it too.
Why It Happens
What Pet Parents Can Do
- Don’t panic if your pet skips one meal after travel. Jet lag (or “car lag”) is real.
- But if appetite loss lasts more than 24 - 48 hours, call your vet.
- Ease them back into their regular diet; no sudden food switches.
- Monitor for extras: vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or weight loss all signal something more serious.
What the Vet Can Do
- Check hydration, body temperature, and overall condition.
- Run bloodwork or stool tests if appetite loss lingers.
- Treat the root cause: from parasites to organ disease.
- Prescribe appetite stimulants in select cases.
Prevention Tips
- Travel with their usual food to keep meals consistent.
- Set boundaries with relatives (“No suya, please!”).
- Keep water clean and available, especially after long trips.
Treatment and Prognosis
- Stress-related appetite dips: usually resolve in a day or two.
- Diet-induced fussiness: manageable with patience (and a firm “no” to Grandma’s smoked chicken).
- Illness-related anorexia: prognosis is generally good when caught early and treated.
Zoonotic Angle
Bottom line: Appetite changes aren’t always a drama, but they’re never a detail to ignore. Whether it’s stress, spoiled taste buds, or something deeper, the food bowl often whispers the first clue your pet needs a checkup.
2. Coughs, Sneezes and “Holiday Sniffles”
Vacations aren’t just for humans, our pets often tag along for the ride or check into a boarding kennel while we’re away. New places, new friends… and sometimes, new germs. It’s not unusual for pets to come back with a cough, sneeze, or a runny nose. Think of it as the “post-holiday sniffles.”
Storytime: Take Duke, a Labrador I once saw after a countryside getaway. He came home sounding like a grumpy old man who’d smoked cigars his whole life. His worried family thought it was pneumonia. In truth, he’d just picked up a mild kennel cough. With a quick vet visit, some medication, and plenty of rest, Duke was back to his usual self, stealing suya from the kitchen counter.
Why it happens:
- Exposure to other pets: Boarding kennels, dog parks, and travel hubs are social hotspots… and where pets mingle, germs mingle too. Dogs can catch kennel cough (caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica, parainfluenza virus, and others), while cats may pick up cat flu.
- Stress: Travel, unfamiliar places, or changes in routine can temporarily weaken the immune system, making infections easier to catch.
- Environment: Dusty countryside roads, smoky grills, or even a sudden blast of air-conditioning can irritate the airways.
What pet parents can do:
- Be observant: Occasional sneezes are fine, but a hacking cough, thick nasal discharge, or watery eyes should ring alarm bells.
- Isolate if needed: If one pet is coughing, keep them apart from others until cleared by the vet.
- Don’t delay: Mild sniffles can worsen into chest infections if ignored.
What the vet can do:
- Physical exam: Listening to the chest with a stethoscope helps rule out pneumonia.
- Medications: Antibiotics for bacterial infections, cough suppressants, or anti-inflammatories for comfort.
- Supportive care: Fluids, rest, and sometimes nebulisation to soothe irritated airways.
- Vaccines: Keeping Bordetella (kennel cough) and core cat flu vaccines up-to-date reduces risk before future trips.
Prevention tips:
- Vaccinate pets before boarding or travel.
- Pick kennels with good ventilation and strict hygiene policies.
- Reduce stress with familiar bedding or toys when travelling.
Treatment and prognosis:
- Most pets bounce back in 1 - 2 weeks with treatment and TLC.
- Severe cases (like pneumonia) are rare but can be life-threatening if untreated.
Zoonotic angle
Most kennel cough or cat flu bugs stay firmly in the pet world. But a few, like Bordetella bronchiseptica, can infect humans, especially those with weak immune systems, young children, or the elderly. Good hygiene (like washing hands after handling sick pets) keeps everyone safe.
3. Tummy Troubles
Ah yes - the post-holiday gut drama. Vomiting on the rug, diarrhea at 2 a.m., bloating that makes your pet look like a furry balloon, or enough gas to power a village generator. It’s messy, it’s smelly, and it’s one of the most common after-travel complaints we vets see.
But why does it happen? Let’s break it down.
Why It Happens
- Dietary indiscretion (a.k.a. “the buffet life”): Pets are notorious opportunists. New treats, spicy table scraps, or those mysterious “snacks” they find while roaming can all upset the gut.
- Water changes: Even small shifts in mineral content can trigger tummy troubles. Worse, contaminated water may bring along bacteria or protozoa like Giardia.
- Parasites: Soil, puddles, or contact with other animals can be a free bus ticket for worms and protozoa into your pet’s gut.
- Stress colitis: That long car ride, strange kennel, or noisy environment? Your pet’s gut sometimes rebels by producing diarrhea.
Storytime: Max, a cheeky Beagle I once treated, came back from an Easter village trip with a belly full of regrets. He’d been roaming freely, “helping himself” to bush-meat leftovers. By the time he got to me, his stomach was staging a full-blown protest rally. A round of deworming and some gut-soothing meds restored peace within days - though his owner’s carpets weren’t so lucky.
What Pet Parents Can Do
- Hydration first: Always offer fresh, clean water. Dehydration sneaks up fast with diarrhea.
- Go bland: Plain boiled chicken and white rice (no oil, no spices) for 24 hours often helps settle the storm.
- Know when to call the vet: If vomiting persists, diarrhea turns bloody, or your pet seems lethargic or refuses water - stop the home remedies and get professional help.
What the Vet Can Do
- Assess hydration: Sometimes fluids under the skin or through a drip are needed.
- Prescribe medications: Anti-nausea, anti-diarrheal, gut protectants, or probiotics can help restore balance.
- Run stool tests: To check for parasites, bacteria, or other infections.
- Rule out serious causes: Not all vomiting and diarrhea are “simple tummy bugs”, sometimes pancreatitis, toxin ingestion, or even foreign objects are to blame.
Prevention Tips
- Bring bottled or boiled water when traveling.
- Keep pets leashed or supervised to stop scavenging.
- Stick to familiar diets instead of introducing new foods on the road.
- Follow a regular deworming schedule - your vet can tailor it to your pet’s lifestyle.
Treatment and Prognosis
Most tummy troubles resolve with supportive care and a bit of patience. But severe dehydration, parasite infestations, or infections can turn dangerous quickly. The good news? With timely veterinary attention, prognosis is usually excellent.
Zoonotic Angle
Some parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and Giardia don’t just bother pets, they can infect humans too. Kids playing with the dog, or adults cleaning up diarrhea, are at risk. The rule is simple: wash hands thoroughly after handling sick pets, and keep deworming on schedule.
Bottom line: Post-vacation belly upsets are common, but they’re not always innocent. A little vigilance, early vet care, and a healthy dose of prevention go a long way in keeping tails wagging and carpets safe.
4. Itchy Skin and Unwanted Hitchhikers
Vacations are supposed to leave you and your pet with happy memories - not itchy skin, bald patches, and a household flea circus. But here’s the catch: our furry companions sometimes return from their countryside getaway, farm visit, or kennel boarding with a few extra passengers - fleas, ticks, mites, or even flare-ups of old skin conditions.
Think of it as the wrong kind of “holiday souvenir.”
How (and why) it happens:
- Rural or farm stays = tick territory. Tall grass, livestock areas, and bushy spots are paradise for ticks and mites looking for a warm body to latch onto.
- Boarding kennels = flea hotspots. With so many dogs and cats in close quarters, fleas don’t just thrive, they throw a party.
- Stress + skipped grooming = flare-ups. Travel can disrupt routines, lowering your pet’s immune defenses and letting pre-existing skin allergies or infections worsen.
What to watch for:
Spotting a hitchhiker isn’t always straightforward, but your pet will give you clues:
- Constant scratching, licking, or chewing at the skin.
- Bald patches or thinning hair that look suspiciously moth-eaten.
- Red, irritated, scabby, or flaky skin.
Storytime: Ginger, a gorgeous Golden Retriever, once returned from Jos with so many ticks her owner nearly fainted. The car ride to the vet was short, but the lecture on prevention was long.
Moral of the story? Always pack tick prevention in your pet’s holiday kit.
What pet parents can do:
You don’t need a veterinary degree to catch the early signs:
- Run a “tick check.” Use your fingers to feel carefully through the coat - don’t forget ears, armpits, groin, and between toes.
- Bathe after trips. If you notice flea dirt (tiny black specks) or irritation, a gentle bath can help before things escalate.
- Stick to grooming. Even when routines shift on holiday, brushing and checking your pet should stay on schedule.
What the vet can do:
When the scratching doesn’t stop, it’s vet time. We can:
- Prescribe anti-parasitic treatments (spot-on drops, oral meds, or long-acting injections).
- Treat secondary infections caused by all that scratching and biting.
- Run blood tests for tick-borne diseases like ehrlichiosis or babesiosis, especially after heavy infestations.
Prevention is everything:
Think of prevention as your pet’s travel insurance:
- Start flea/tick preventives before the trip, not after.
- Avoid tall grasses and bushy areas when out in rural or farm settings.
- Wash bedding and travel blankets after each trip to cut off parasite life cycles.
Treatment and prognosis:
- Early treatment = smooth sailing. Most skin issues clear quickly once the bugs are gone.
- Delayed treatment = stormy waters. Heavy infestations can cause anemia, skin infections, or serious tick fevers.
Zoonotic Angle
It’s not just your pet at risk, some of these freeloaders share the love:
- Fleas can transmit tapeworms to pets and people.
- Ticks don’t mind biting humans and can carry diseases along.
So yes, when you treat your pet, you’re also protecting yourself.
Bottom line: Post-vacation, a few extra minutes checking your pet’s skin can save you weeks of scratching, vet visits, and late-night flea hunts.
5. Mood and Energy Changes
Is your usually bouncy pup suddenly sulking in the corner? Or your zen-like cat pacing the living room as though they just downed three espressos? When pets start acting out of character, it’s their version of waving a bright red flag that says: “Something’s up!”
What it looks like
- Lethargy: Your pet seems drained, sleeping more, and less interested in play (that’s the body’s way of whispering: “Hey, something’s wrong.”).
- Clinginess or restlessness: They’re either stuck to you like Velcro or can’t sit still.
- Unusual aggression or irritability: Even the gentlest pets can lash out when stressed or uncomfortable.
Why it happens
- Stress or separation anxiety: Boarding, travel, or even rearranging furniture can rattle your pet. Storytime: my cat Simba came back from a stay with family acting like he’d just fought in a war zone. He wasn’t ill - just seriously unimpressed with his “vacation.
- Underlying illness: Fatigue is one of the earliest and most nonspecific signs of disease, from infections to metabolic issues.
- Injury or hidden pain: Pets are pros at hiding discomfort. A limp, bruise, or sore muscle picked up during play or boarding might show up only as a change in mood.
What pet parents can do:
- Watch the clock: If your pet’s odd behavior lasts more than 24 - 48 hours, give your vet a call.
- Re-establish routine: Pets thrive on predictability. Restore feeding, play, and sleep schedules quickly after travel.
- Offer comfort: Favorite toys, blankets, or a piece of your clothing can work wonders in easing them back into normal life.
What the vet can do
- Physical exam and tests: Check for fever, infections, or subtle injuries. Bloodwork or imaging may be recommended if something deeper is suspected.
- Targeted treatment: Address pain, inflammation, or other medical causes as needed.
Prevention
- Practice runs: Gradually expose pets to boarding or travel instead of dropping them into a brand-new environment cold turkey.
- Comfort kits: Send along a familiar blanket, toy, or even a worn T-shirt that smells like home when your pet is away.
Treatment and prognosis
- If stress-related: Most pets bounce back quickly once they feel safe and settled.
- If illness or injury is the culprit: Prognosis is usually good with early detection and treatment.
Zoonotic Angle
Mood changes themselves aren’t contagious. But if your pet comes home with a scratch, bite wound, or skin infection, those can get infected. If you’re nipped, scratched, or even handle the wound barehanded, that’s when the risk can pass to you. Always clean any wounds promptly, practice good hygiene, and keep an eye on both your pet’s injuries and your own.
So, Do All Pets Need a Post-Holiday Vet Visit?
…it’s better to be safe than sorry. Pets can’t tell us what happened during their “vacation” - but their bodies show the signs.
Final Takeaway: The Vet Check is the Real Souvenir
Vacations are meant to recharge us - sunshine, laughter, new places, and way too many photos. But for pets, those same trips can be a strange cocktail of - excitement, stress, and little health hiccups. Think about it: changes in routine, long car rides, exposure to new environments, boarding kennels, or even just missing you for a week, it’s a lot for their bodies to process.
So, as you unpack your bags, sort laundry, and scroll through those “too many” selfies, take a moment to unpack your pet too.
Here’s the kicker: pets can’t tap you on the shoulder and say, “Mum, I don’t feel so good after that road trip.” Instead, their bodies whisper the truth - you just need to pay attention.
Watch closely. And if something feels off? Book that vet visit.
Because at the end of the day, the only souvenir worth bringing back is a happy, healthy pet curled up beside you.
Now it’s your turn:
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