Boarding your pets

Include your dog in your vacation plans. You need to take a few precautions after which he too can have a good holiday with you and the family. First of all inquire at your holiday destination whether pets are allowed and the status of the facilities they provide for the same.

Just in case you plan to leave your dog behind, make sure he is in safe hands. Conduct a mini survey of kennels offering boarding facilities and locate a comfortable one to leave him behind.

Pay a couple of visits to the kennel and ensure that the pets here are well cared for and appear to be happy. Also ask people who have left their pets in the same kennel about their level of satisfaction with the food and boarding facilities in the kennel. Check in your dog in the kennel that has your wholesome approval.

If you take him with you:

Before the trip (if you are planning to motor), ensure that the dog is comfortable traveling in a car. If he shows signs that he is not, take him on very short trips in the beginning and gradually increase the duration of the time he spends in the car, every day, until he can withstand a longer journey without discomfort.

Take care to see that you do not leave the dog in the car for hours on end. Besides creating a premise for a possible heat stroke, this may also lead to your dog being stolen.

Ensure that your pet has been micro-chipped. This helps trace him, should he go astray. Rabies, Bordetella and Lyme vaccines should be administered to the dog, well in advance of the journey, preferably a month before.

You need to pack the dog’s bag with the following essential items

1. Certificates that profile his health status and vaccines administered
2. A good stock of dog food, in case the specific brand is unavailable during the journey
3. Clean safe drinking water, his food and and water bowls
4. An extra collar, leash and id tag
5. His bedding
6. His toys

The first aid kit you carry for him, in case of any emergency should include

1. The vet’s contact numbers
2. A poison treatment clinic hot-line number
3. A vet approved list of poisonous plants that may include poinsettias, Japanese yew, oleander, dumb cane, rhododendrons, English ivy and azalea
4. His regular and prescribed medication
5. Disinfectant and antiseptic lotions
6. Bandage material and gauze pads
7. A cloth strip that can be used as an emergency muzzle
8. An extra blanket and his towel
9. Old newspapers and disposable absorbent paper for cleaning up “accidents”

Following these guidelines will ensure that you can undertake a hassle free journey with your dog and help both of you enjoy every moment of the holiday.

At a time when more American households have pets than ever before and are spending more on their pets than at any time in history, we can only speculate as to why consumers are spending approximately $43 billion per year on care, accessories, toys, garments, jewelry (yes, jewelry!), grooming, pet sitters, boarding and daycare as well as travel, kennels, crates, bowls, food, collars and leashes, and other pet “necessities”, we may wonder why we care about our pets so dearly and why we are willing to spend so much on them - especially in any economy that offers us anything but an optimistic outlook.

For so many of us, our pets are beloved family members - loyal, steadfast and true who provide us with unconditional love and loyalty - who are nonjudgmental and offer us everything they have to give - unlimited affection and attention and the desire to share our joys and sorrow, failures and successes - and above all, to be there for us regardless of our religion, politics, position, attire, appearance, eccentricities, educational background and socioeconomic status.

There are 10 things only a beloved pet can do for us:

1). Love us unconditionally

2). Offer us unconditional loyalty

3). Refrain from judging us

4). Teach us to “live in the moment”

5). Allow us to be genuinely who we are without pretense, affectation or façade

6). Offer empathy

7). Provide comfort and support

8). Forgive us no matter what

9). Accept us just as we are

10). Teach us gratitude and humility

Our animal companions are truly our friends, teachers and guides. Some of our most joyous experiences and memorable moments are spent with these friends. Just by spending time with and observing them, we can learn so many of life’s simplest yet profound lessons. We simply need to change our perspective and remind ourselves of this fact.

You may worry about your pet if you have to go out of town for a long period and cannot take him along. A better idea than a pet sitter in this case, is a pet grooming and boarding facility.

The pet grooming and boarding facility should be such as to take proper care of your pet in both physical and emotional terms, in your absence. So, you should look for a facility that has a complete package of all your pet’s needs.

The grooming aspect of your pet involves nail clipping, cleaning the ears, controlling parasites like ticks and flea, brushing teeth and most important, looking out for infections, lumps and any other internal or external health problems, all this along with the regular shampooing and hair cutting.

It is important to find a professional pet grooming and boarding facility because the trained staffs are adept at tackling all needs of the pets properly. A trained person can safely do medical bathing, remove harmful substances, odours and matted fur and carry out other procedures that an untrained person cannot do easily.

The pet grooming and boarding facility should be clean and well lighted all over. The employees must handle the pets gently, should be aware of and accordingly meet their physical and emotional needs. The pet must be given special care and supervision so that he does not feel your absence and should not be under stress.

The trained staff should be quick to spot any health problems. The pet grooming and boarding facility should provide a complete record of medical, grooming and vaccination schedule. Some facilities even have report cards for the pets so that you can know how your pet behaved in your absence.

In spite of all the care and supervision, there are some drawbacks of leaving your pet with a pet grooming and boarding facility. The most important thing is that even though they may be looked after well, a pet could feel greatly stressed while living with strangers in an alien place. He may miss you a lot. Apart from this, being in close contact with other pets could lead to exposure to some health problems.

However, with no other alternative, it is best to leave your pet in the safe hands of a pet grooming and boarding facility with the hope that your pet will feel at home there.

Animal hospitals are hospitals that provide veterinary care for sick or injured pets like dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and small mammals. The doctors specializing in animal medicine are known as veterinarians. These hospitals include 24 hour emergency veterinary services in addition to surgical, standard medical and dental veterinary care. They also provide specialized treatment including advanced diagnostic services, internal medicines and surgery. The other services include orthopedic care, radiology, and cardiology. Exotic pets like reptiles, ferrets, pocket pets etc., are also taken care of there. Pharmaceutical products are available in the animal hospitals to provide total pet care. Animal hospitals also conduct a variety of pet wellness programs, including vaccinations and routine health examinations. Animal hospitals play a vital role in the prevention of diseases of animals that can be transmitted to man.

The services provided by a good animal hospital include complete health care, diagnosis, animal sheltering, animal behavior and training programs, and pet population control. Some hospitals also offer kennel-boarding facilities. These boarding facilities are doctor supervised and are safe and comfortable for a pet while the owner is away. The kennel boarding facilities can be day care for working owners or for long stays. Animal hospitals also provide pets for adoption.

To provide better health facilities to animals, the American Animal Hospital Association was founded in 1933 by seven veterinary professionals. AAHA serves more than 3,000 hospital members in the U.S. and Canada, and over 36,000 veterinary care providers in North America and overseas.

With owners willing to spend money on their pet’s well being, the availability of luxury services and products has considerably increased. More animal hospitals are now coming up with the objective of providing full support for the total health care of animals.

A dog-boarding kennel is a safe and secure place for your pet to stay while you are on vacation or at times when you may not be able to have your pet with you. One of the best benefits of having your pet in a boarding kennel as opposed to leaving your pet with family and friends is that you know your pet will be kept safe, secure and well looked after by the kennel owners and staff. The best boarding kennels fill up quickly over the holidays and at favorite vacationing times. If you intend to go away at this time, make sure that you book your pet into the facility as early as possible.

Putting your dog into a boarding kennel will provide you with the peace of mind that you need in order to enjoy your vacation. A professional facility will provide around the clock care of your pet. The employees will be well trained and have experience in detecting the signs of distress or illness in your pet. There will usually be a vet either on premises or on call at the boarding kennel at all times.

Most of the time, a boarding kennel facility will be a member of the boarding kennel association. This means that the facility has been provided with proper training and direction and will adhere to strict guidelines in the quality care of your pet. A qualified and professional center will provide you with a tour of the facility and provide information about the care of your pet including the type of food it will be given and how often it will be exercised.

If you have special needs or your pet needs to be given medication, the staff at the boarding kennel will be able to provide this for your pet. You should make sure that the boarding kennel that you are thinking using is well ventilated, clean and comfortable for your pet. You ensure this easily by going to visit the boarding kennel and taking a tour of the facility. It will help ease your mind if you visit the boarding kennel and meet the people who will be taking care of your pet. This is a great time to ask any questions and express any concerns that you have about leaving your pet while on vacation.

Many boarding kennels will require that you bring proof of your pet’s immunization history and have your pet come to the center free of fleas and ticks. This is in the best interest of both you and your pet as you will know that the other pets in the facility are clean and free of parasites and disease.

Prices for boarding are quite reasonable and usually start as low as $12 per day. Luxury suites will be more expensive. There are many kennels that provide discounts for long term boarding. When leaving your pet at a boarding kennel it is a good idea to make your farewell quick and formal. This will reduce the amount of stress that your pet will suffer after you leave.

Lancelot and Sheba, my two Rottweilers, along with Tama and Cheetah my cats were the reason I looked into boarding pets and dog boarding. Can you imagine taking a 135 pound Rottweiler with a freaky Siamese to vacations even for a day or two?

1- Make Your List And Check It Twice.

Make a list of all the dog boarding facilities around, call them and make sure they are still in business. Last year’s yellow pages may not be very reliable. Ask them if they have opening and if they have limitation on size. Some veterinarians accept boarding for cats and small dogs only.

2- Ask For The Vaccination Requirements

Dog boarding facilities should require proof of vaccination and if they don’t you know that you should just hang up and move on. Clarify exactly what type of vaccination and what type of proof they require and make sure that you have it. Canine Kennel Cough (Bordetella) is one of the requirements.

3- Who Supervises The Supervisors

Ask for the credentials of the person in charge and how often he/she is around. A super doc who runs twenty boarding facilities cannot pay attention to any one so he/she must delegate. Find out about the qualification of the person who actually runs the facility.

4- Visual Inspection

Stop by and see if the facility looks and smells clean, has enough light and ventilation and if the temperature is comfortable.

5- Talk To The Staff

Do they give you a warm and fuzzy feeling and show knowledge and care for the pets?

6- Running Wild

Do dogs have enough room to move inside their kennel and some place to run outside? How often are they taken for a walk? I had to pay a little extra for them to take mine for a walk twice a day. Make sure that the outdoor area is protected from wind, rain, snow if dogs spend too much time there. This is easy in California where I live but I don’t know about Toronto in winter.

7- Comfy Cozy

Make sure that your dog has a place to lie down besides the concrete. Sheba, my female Rottweiler would go crazy if she didn’t have a little cushion between her and the hard floor. The funny thing is that she puts her back end on top of the cushion and rests her head on the hard floor. Go figure!

8- Dog Food

How often and what type of food are they given. Again my Rottweilers have sensitive stomach and other than a very specific brand of food, all other brands would cause them severe diarrhea. So I had to make sure that the dog boarding facility would allow me to take my food after I found out they didn’t carry what my dogs needed.

9- Services Provided

Make sure they have the ability and access to veterinary services and check out the luxury items like grooming and bathing. I asked them not to bathe Sheba and Tama. They would both stress out. I may have been too particular but I rather to keep them calm than clean. A warm bath and personal touch worked better for me.

10- Don’t Forget The Rates

Make sure that you understand exactly what is offered and what is optional and how much it will cost including checking out time that could cost you an extra day.

I had a wonderful experience with the dog boarding facility I found. May you be as fortunate.