Holiday Boarding Tips
If you plan to board your pets for the holidays, consider a few things before you head out of town. Choose a good kennel! Ask to have a quick tour to see the conditions the dogs and cats are kept in. Are the pets let outside and if so, where and how often? Is there grass, gravel or concrete? Can you have them walked individually? Can you board your pets together (some kennels offer a reduced fee if they share a space)? Do the people seem compassionate and organized? Is there a veterinarian on the premises, if needed? Selecting a high-quality kennel may be more expensive and sometimes father away but knowing your pets are being properly sheltered, fed and exercised is worth the extra effort!
Have your pets boarded before? My old dog, Oscar, is new to the boarding experience, and during a trial run over the weekend he displayed his dislike for the idea by ripping his dog bed into tiny bits and rubbing his nose raw on the kennel doors. I now have anti-anxiety medications at hand for his future stays. He also now gets to sleep on whatever comfy old blanket they provide for him – not his good, décor-matching, expenso-bed from home.
What do you want back? Most kennels will accept personal belongings but most discourage anything but the essentials because they so often get destroyed or lost. If you insist on leaving it, make sure the label is readable after washing.
What foods should they eat? Ask the kennel what their “kennel diet” is and if you don’t want your pet eating that food, bring their own. But don’t make it too complicated. If your feeding instructions involve the kennel technicians measuring out a teaspoon of whey protein, a half cups of warmed veggies and a squirt and a half of chicken soup, they may charge a medicating fee!
Are your pets on medications? Our kennel houses the animals that are on medication in a separate area (and charges a medicating fee) because the medications are administered by veterinary technicians according to instructions. They are also monitored for specific side-effects related to the medications or the disease they are treating.
What do you want to do if your animal needs veterinary care during their stay? As a veterinarian, it is extremely helpful to have the owner’s permission to do appropriate veterinary care if the need arises. Having a pre-determined budget allows the vet to start any testing right away. Also, having a contact number is essential. If you can’t be reached, be sure the emergency name and number you provide knows they are the contact person and have an idea of what you would allow as far as costs go.
Lastly, be sure to let the staff know if your pet is in the habit of not eating well while boarding, or develops diarrhea after a day or too.
At the end of your pets stay, the kennel should be able to provide a report card or a copy of the boarding activity if you ask for it. Ask the veterinarian if you have any questions, and though sometimes we never see a pet if all goes well, we certainly can get the information from those that provided their care.
--Dr. Olson
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Dr. Olson practices small animal medicine in Denver, CO and is a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.
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