Boarding your pet this summer

The weather is warming up which means it is time to start planning your family trips - even if just for a weekend away, taking some time away from Fluffy or Fido is inevitable this summer. We have a few tips to make your time away from your fur baby less stressful for everyone:

1. Keep their diet the same - most boarding facilities will encourage you to bring your pet's diet with you to help decrease the chance of gastrointestinal upset (ie vomiting or diarrhea). To make it even easier on the facility, we advocate that you portion out your pet's meals into individualized Ziploc baggies so that the employees can just dump a baggie into a bowl for your pet. This also reduces any chances that your pet may get under or overfed while you are out of town. 
2. Bring any medical records - Most boarding facilities will want copies of your pet's medical records or vaccine history - often your vet can send these to them via fax or email however I recommend bringing a copy with you as well. Sometimes fax/email doesn't go through and you don't want to be turned away for lack of records
3. Check on vaccinations early! - Each boarding facility requires different vaccinations for boarding - some even require negative fecal checks or heartworm testing. It is also advisable that your pet receive any required vaccinations 10 days prior to their boarding appointment - this is because vaccinations work by creating an immune response to the vaccine, AND this does NOT happen as soon as the vaccine is given. So if you are planning to swing by your vet on the way to the boarding facility, be aware - your pet will NOT be protected by those vaccines it just received. 
4. Visit the facility first - just like a daycare or school situation, you want a chance to see the facility before your baby is staying there. Most boarding places will invite you to come tour the facility and meet staff prior to your pet's boarding reservation. Some may even offer a free trial visit in which your pet will get to stay for a few hours and interact with staff and other boarders. This is particularly important if you plan to do any doggie playtime while your pet is there - you don't want to find out that your pet doesn't socialize well with other dogs when you are far away!
5. Ask about optional services - this can include extra playtime, doggie baths, spa time, one-on-one playtime or even swimming/agility time. Each facility is different but you want to make sure your pet is staying as engaged as possible while you are out of town.
6. Bring some comforts from home - Again, check with the particular facility to see what they allow you to bring but we know that bringing things from home can reduce stress for your pets while you are away. Even their own bed, toys or a shirt that you have recently worn can help reduce the anxiety of being away from home. 
7. Book early - Boarding books up fast - especially around major holidays such as 4th of July, Labor Day etc - make sure you get your reservation in early!
8. Ask about emergency/veterinary care - Often boarding facilities will work alongside a veterinary hospital near by to provide any needed medical care while your pet is in their care. It is best to discuss with them any financial constraints or limits you have in terms of medical care for your pet before you are faced with an emergency decision.