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Summer Vacation: A guide to pet sitting, boarding, & traveling with your pets

6/6/2017

10 Comments

 
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Summer vacation is here! Time for festivals, BBQs, and - of course - family trips.
As a pet owner, booking your airline tickets and hotel room are only part of the preparation.  Who will care for your pets while you're gone?

There are a few options:​
  • Ask a trusted friend or family member to care for your pet(s)
  • Hire a pet sitter
  • Book a stay for your pets at a boarding kennel/pet resort
  • Take your pet with you!
Everyone's situation is a little different, so let's look at what each has to offer:
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Ask a trusted friend or family member to care for your pets.
Staying at home is the least stressful situation for most pets. The familiar sights and scents will give your pet comfort in your absence, and it is relatively easy to avoid disrupting regular routines.

Even if having someone stay overnight while you're gone isn't possible, having a trusted person visit throughout the day for meals, potty breaks, and play time will often suffice - especially for shorter weekend trips.
​
If your pet is familiar with your friend/relative's home, he may be comfortable staying there. Make sure that he gets along with other pets in the sitter's household to avoid fights and undue stress.

Tip: Many clients will call us before a trip to let us know who will be caring for their pets. We appreciate this and take note, but still strongly recommend that you leave a letter of authorization with your pet's caretaker in case of emergency.
  • Link: Downloadable Pet Care Authorization Form (AAHA)

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Hire a Pet Sitter
​You want your pet to stay at home while you're gone, but perhaps you don't have family nearby and your friends are unable to help. Or maybe your pet has special medical needs that would be best left to someone with training and experience.

Do your research when choosing a pet sitter. Ask for recommendations, read reviews, and make sure your sitter is reliable and responsible. There's not much worse than getting a phone call from your coworker's cousin's daughter that she "just can't handle the poop" and that you'll have to find someone else.

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Boarding Kennel or Pet Resort
​Boarding kennels were created for this very purpose: to provide a safe, secure environment for pets while their owners are away.  That being said, not all kennels are created equal.
  • Don't just pick a kennel out of the phone book at random. Ask for recommendations here, too. Visit the company's website, and if possible - visit the facility itself to make sure it's clean, safe, and comfortable.
  • Consider your pet's health (daily medications, special diet) and personality (does she become easily stressed in a cage? Is she aggressive with other dogs?) These are challenges, not necessarily barriers. Talk to the staff about your concerns.
  • Check the facility's requirements well before you plan to board.
    • ​Your pets will need to be up-to-date on core vaccines:
      • Dogs: Rabies, DHPP or DAPP
      • Cats: Rabies, FVRCP
    • Bordetella, or the "kennel cough" vaccine, should be administered at least 1 to 2 weeks before boarding.
    • Some facilities require a negative stool sample within a certain time frame prior to boarding. Allow time for fecal testing (24 hours) - and let us know where you need the results sent.
    • At least one local boarding kennel requires a current Canine Influenza (H3N8) vaccine. This is not considered a high-risk disease in our area, so it is only administered on an as-needed basis. Dogs receiving this vaccine for the first time will need a booster 2-3 weeks after the initial injection. It is then given once annually.

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Take your pet on vacation with you!
This might not always be practical, but it's a fun option for dogs that are used to being part of the action. Look for pet-friendly hotels and resorts near your destination, and make memories together!
  • Link: A how-to guide for traveling with your pets (Huffington Post, 2013).

If you plan on flying, review your airline's policies and fees in advance. Know where in the airplane your pet will be traveling, and if a health certificate from your veterinarian is required before the flight.
  • Link: The best airlines for your pets (Trupanion, 2016).
Anytime you plan to be away from home with your pet, make sure you bring an updated copy of her vaccinations. [Note: you can access your pet's vaccine records 24/7 with any smartphone or computer through your Petly.com account.]
  • Link: Missed your Petly invitation? Fill out the form on our website here and we'll send you another!

Have an updated photo of your pet in case you get separated, and be sure that his collar ID tags include your cell phone number. Also, if you haven't yet, now is a good time to have your pet microchipped. Collars and tags offer quick ID, but they can fall off or be removed. A microchip is a permanent, positive identification for your pet.
  • Link: Microchips: What you need to know (Tender Touch Veterinary Hospital, 2016)

Remember that we're always here to help you, so if you have questions or concerns about your pet travel plans, call us!

10 Comments
Kenneth Gladman link
6/5/2018 05:56:48 pm

I like that you mentioned asking yourself how your dog would react at a pet facility. We have a couple labs that get along really well with other dogs. They would probably love to spend some time in a boarding facility.

Reply
Ridley link
7/13/2018 03:12:35 pm

Thanks for the tips for traveling with dogs. We're hoping to travel a lot this year, but we won't be able to take our dog with us most times. It sounds like choosing a good boarding facility will be good, especially since they were created for this purpose.

Reply
Sarah Smith link
9/6/2018 10:00:21 pm

We're going to Ireland for a family reunion and we can't bring our pets with us. Since our kids are coming with us, we won't have anyone to watch them at home either. I really appreciate the information you provided on animal boarding services; hopefully we can find a veterinarian who offers this service.

Reply
Shirley link
9/9/2018 06:53:45 am

Thanks for the tips that if you are going to board your pet, it is best to reserve your spot early. My husband will be going on a business trip and no one will watch his dog while he’s gone. My mother-in-low suggested leaving it to dog boarding and shared this article with him.

Reply
Sarah Smith link
10/18/2018 04:07:05 pm

My sister is going out of the country for her honeymoon and no one is able to watch her cat due to allergies or not being in town. She has started looking into cat boarding facilities so that she can be sure her cat is in good hands. Your information that she will probably need to give her cat a rabies, FVRCP, and bordetella vaccine before boarding him is really helpful.

Reply
Bob link
5/23/2019 07:29:06 pm

I like your tip about testing dogs for DHPP. That makes sense considering you want to keep your dogs healthy against all possible diseases. I'll have to consider your tips so that I can take care of my pets.

Reply
Sam Li link
6/17/2019 12:15:31 pm

I love what you said about asking for recommendations when it comes to selecting a pet resort. Putting your animal in a resort is important if you plan on taking a trip. My friend is leaving for three weeks, so I'll help him find a place that can keep his dog happy while he is gone.

Reply
Fay link
3/19/2020 11:46:33 am

Thank you for pointing out that you can book a stay for your cat at some type of resort, or a kennel. My sister is looking to come to visit me soon, and since I am allergic to cats she is looking to find a professional service that can take care of her pet while she is gone. She should read this article because I think she would really appreciate seeing the fact that I am helping her find options for the safety of her cat.

Reply
Franklin White link
6/30/2020 12:13:57 pm

Thanks for the tip to make sure if you look at an airline's policies before taking your pet to see if you need a health certificate from a veterinarian or not. This can help you know if are allowed to safely bring your pet with you or not. If you can't, then I would suggest finding a different airline or leaving them with their vet if they have serious health conditions.

Reply
Singles Chat Wisconsin link
2/15/2021 02:49:46 am

Good readinng your post

Reply



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