Take Me Home Pet Transports Policy And Special Conditions Regarding The Transport Of Brachycephalic Breeds:
The owner, sender and receiver acknowledge that their animal/s have not shown any signs of the symptoms or risk factors listed below and have had not previously required treatment for BOAS, respiratory problems or heat stress.
The owner, sender and receiver acknowledge that our driver may assess the animal when collecting it and that any sign of the risk factors listed below may cause them to refuse to accept the animal for transport. Our acceptance of the animal for transport does not absolve the owner/s of full liability in the event of an adverse occurrence or death due to BOAS.
Notwithstanding the above it is entirely the owner/senders responsibility to properly assess the animals condition and suitability for transport. If you have any concerns about the suitability of your pet for transport, we would strongly advise that you consult your veterinarian prior to travel.
In the event that an animal is not accepted for transport Take Me Home Pet Transport is not obligated to refund any prepaid transport fees. Any refund given for prepaid transport fees will be at the sole discretion of Take Me Home Pet Transport and such decision will be made having regard for whether the client should have had a reasonable expectation that the animal was fit for transport. (In the event that the transport is cancelled by the client and Take Me Home Pet Transport is notified a reasonable amount of time in advance a refund may be provided.)
The client understands that in the event of extremely hot weather conditions being forecast Take Me Home Pet Transport may postpone or cancel the transport of seriously affected breeds, we will attempt to contact clients in advance if we have any concerns regarding the temperature prior to the trip. In this event rebooking or refunds will be arranged.
BOAS is a condition that can cause an affected animal to progress from a seemingly normal state of health to severe heat stress within a short timeframe. This can happen even if you pet is in Air Conditioning or mild temperatures. The nature of pet transport is such that your animals can not be individually monitored at all times and we cannot always get quickly to a vet due to geography or the time of day. The combination of these factors means that we cannot guarantee that we may be able to get your pet to a vet in time to save it if it suffers from heat stroke as a result of its condition.
In the event that an animal requires veterinary attention or dies due to BOAS during transport Take Me Home Pet Transport will not refund any prepaid transport fees. (notwithstanding that nothing in this disclaimer is intended to discharge Take Me Home Pet Transports normal duty of care or liability in the event that Take Me Home Pet Transport or its staff are found to be negligent in their care for the animal)
In the event we are required to take your animal to a vet, any costs associated with treatment shall be the owners responsibility. In this event we shall make every endeavour to contact the owner to authorise appropriate treatment. In the event that we are unable to contact the owner, the owner acknowledges that Take Me Home Pet Transport will make such decisions as are necessary based on veterinary advice received and Take Me Home Pet Transport duty of care to the animal.
In the event we are required to take your animal to a vet for issues arising due to BAOS or for any other reason, it is likely that the animal will be required to stay at the vets for an extended period of time and Take Me Home Pet Transport will not be able to wait for treatment to be finalised. This may result in additional costs to the owner for extended care, boarding or alternative transport to complete the journey.
Symptoms Or Signs Associated With BAOS In These Breeds:
· Noisy breathing
· Snoring
· Coughing
· Reverse sneezing
· Nasal congestion
· Shortness of breath
· High blood pressure
· Low oxygen concentration in blood
· Fainting or collapsing
· Excessive flatulence (from gulping air)
· Exercise Intolerance
Symptoms of this condition do not seem to be an issue in young puppies. Symptoms should be watched for in mature animals from approximately 9 months of age.
Specific additional risk factors for these animals include:
Hot conditions
Obesity
Over excitement
Stress
Separation Anxiety
Previous respiratory issues
Previous incidences of heat stress
Signs Or Symptoms That May Cause Take Me Home Pet Transport Drivers To Refuse To Accept A Brachycephalic Breed For Transport
Loud or unusual breathing
Nasal congestion
Shortness of breath
Obesity
Unusually hot weather conditions
Signs of over excitement or stress
If your pet is or does at times show any of the above signs of this problem, you must seriously consider whether it is appropriate to transport your animal. Please note that all major transporters within Australia and internationally have some form of limitation or waiver regarding the transport of Brachycephalic breeds and in the case your pet is severely affected even private transport by car may not be recommended. We suggest that you consult your veterinarian for further advice.
Additional Information Regarding Transport Of Brachycephalic Breeds:
Collars / Harnesses
Dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome should be fitted with a harness that does not tug at the neck area. It is not advisable to use a regular neck collar or choker chain for these dogs, since the collar can put undue pressure on the neck. We ask that owners provide an appropriate harness that fits the dog properly and that the dog is used to wearing. In the event that our drivers/handlers feel that your dog is pulling insistently and that this may be affecting your animals breathing they will limit the animals walks as much as is practical under the circumstances.
Insurance
Take Me Home Pet Transport is fully insured but our insurance policy does not cover veterinary bills, death or loss associated with BOAS or any other Pre-existing physical condition that an animal may have. Such insurance is not available in Australia and to the best of our knowledge no pet carrier in Australia offers such insurance. It may be possible for individuals to obtain cover for their personal companion animals through other insurance providers but it is possible that this condition would not be covered as it would be classed as a pre-existing condition.
Does BOAS affect all brachycephalic animals?
As previously stated not all Brachycephalic breeds are affected to the same degree and not all dogs within a breed are affected. It is more common to affect young animals from about 9 months on.
However we have seen it affect otherwise healthy seeming animals with no typical symptoms. We are aware of animals with symptoms of BOAS being found deceased when no other apparent risk factors were present, autopsies have indicated heat stress as a factor even when heat was not considered to be an issue or the animal was in an air conditioned vehicle.
Air Conditioning
It is important to note that while heat is an exacerbating factor in this condition it is not the cause. Any form of anxiety, stress or over excitement may cause issues in an affected animal.
Specifically affected Brachycephalic breed animals being transported in Air Conditioning may be unable to adequately regulate/adjust their body temperature when taken out for walks and sudden changes in temperature may quickly cause an episode of heat stress resulting in death. The higher the temperature difference the greater the risk. When we do use Air Conditioning in our vehicles, we are careful to ensure that the temperatures are not excessively low to avoid these issues.