We understand that leaving your dog behind in a kennel while on vacation can be stressful, especially if your pet has medical needs. Here, our Rochester vets share tips to help lessen your anxiety about leaving your dog while on vacation and choose the best place to leave your dog while you're away.
Where To Leave Your Dog While On Vacation
Whether you're going on vacation for a few weeks or on a business trip for a few days, you'll need to find appropriate care for your canine companion. Our veterinarians at Stoney Pointe Pet Hospital understand that deciding which type of care is best for you and your pet can be difficult, but doing some research into the options available near you, as well as what features each service offers, can help to make your decision easier.
Dog Boarding For Vacations & Time Away
While pet boarding facilities used to be grim, dingy places where animals were locked in cages for extended periods of time, times have changed! Nowadays, your dog can have fun socializing and playing while you're away and stay in a clean facility with lots of love and attention.
Animal boarding facilities today range from pet spas and doggie summer camps to medical boarding for dogs that require extra attention, with price points that range from extravagant to affordable.
If you are in the process of deciding which boarding facility to take your dog to, be sure to check out a few different places in your area to find a facility that best suits the needs of your pet, and your wallet.
Facility Features
The price of a dog boarding facility is usually a good indicator of the level of service provided. You'll pay more if your dog is treated to luxurious hotel-like spaces with comfy sofas to lounge on and a tv to watch than if you board your pet at a standard facility with roomy crates and fenced dog runs.
If you want your pup to enjoy an active adventure while you're traveling, a fun camp experience may be ideal. Dog camps across the country offer loads of time for your dog to explore outdoors, as well as added facilities in some cases for swimming and playing with other dogs.
However, it's important to keep in mind that extravagant facility features don't necessarily add up to better care for your pet.
Choosing The Level of Service That's Right for Your Dog
Pet care while for while you're on vacation will typically be priced based on the level of service you choose. Luxury accommodations will be far more expensive per day than a standard kennel.
Standard care for dogs at most pet boarding facilities includes:
- A clean, roomy kennel for your pup to sleep in
- Exercise time outdoors before breakfast so your dog can stretch their legs
- Breakfast served in the kennel
- Out of kennel playtime in the middle of the day to allow your pooch to burn some energy
- Dinner served in the kennel
- Evening bathroom break
Other services commonly available at pet boarding facilities:
If you are looking for something a bit more special than a standard boarding facility, many facilities also offer the following services:- Specialized veterinary care
- Training
- Grooming
- Shuttle services to and from the facility
The Pros & Cons of Boarding Your Dog While You're On Vacation
- Pros: Pet boarding provides your pet with a standardized daily routine that many dogs crave, including meal times and regular exercise times. Boarding also allows pets to socialize with other animals. If your dog has a medical condition that necessitates medications or treatments, facilities with on-site vets and a team of veterinary professionals may be the best option for your pet while you're away.
- Cons: Being away from home can be hard for some animals. Pets can become nervous or anxious in new environments which could lead to altercations with other animals at playtime. Pets in boarding facilities also face an increased risk of contracting contagious illnesses such as kennel cough in dogs or Feline Upper Respiratory Infection (colds) in cats.
Hiring a Dog Sitter
When interviewing for a dog sitter, always ask for a list of references as well as a list of qualifications. The cost of a pet sitter is determined by the level of service you select for your pet.
Dog sitters can help to protect your home by keeping your place looking lived-in to any passers-by. Hiring a live-in pet sitter will allow you to rest assured that someone is caring for your home at night.
Extra Services Available From Some Pet Sitters:
If your dog requires more care than just feeding and being let out a few times a day, some pet sitters offer additional services such as:- Training
- Grooming
- Frequent walks
- Housekeeping
The Pros & Cons of Hiring a Pet Sitter
- Pros: The primary benefit of hiring a pet sitter is that your dog may find it less stressful to stay at home. Other benefits of hiring a pet sitter include the increased security of having someone in your home, and pet sitters can be less expensive than some boarding facilities.
- Cons: Bringing a stranger into your home to care for your dog can be unsettling, and it's not for everyone. You may also discover that popular dog sitters in your area book up quickly and may not be available when you need them, especially during peak holiday periods like March break.
The Choice is Yours
Choosing the best dog care for your vacation, or time away from home will ultimately come down to personal preference, price, and availability in your neighborhood. With a little research into the services available in your area, you will be able to find just the right level of care for your fur baby, at a price you can afford.
Medical & Standard Boarding Your Pet at Stoney Pointe Pet Hospital
At Stoney Pointe Pet Hospital we understand that it can be stressful to leave your pet - especially if they are ill, or when they are recovering from a procedure or surgery. Our goal is to put help put your mind at ease by providing your dog with the care they need while you're away. We provide complete boarding services for pets with a disease or medical condition that requires medication and/or monitoring that some standard boarding facilities may not be equipped to accommodate.
We also offer standard boarding for healthy dogs who need a safe and friendly place to stay while you're away.