How To Plan Your Vacation Minus Your Pet

Your plans to have an enjoyable vacation may be dampened by the prospect of what you would do to your pet dog or cat. This problem is solved by making thorough preparations to ensure your pet is safe and comfortable.

Here are a few tips to plan a vacation minus your pet: 

Explore various options for pet care like local boarding kennels, pet sitters, a friend’s or relative’s house, or a responsible neighbor or friend to check in.

Plan in advance for boarding or sitting your pet as the schedules for good pet sitters and kennels fill up fast.

Next you need to acquaint your pet to the boarding facility, neighbor, friend, relative or pet sitter. It would be great to take advantage of the free days that most kennels have. It would help to do a few play dates in the person’s house where you wish to leave your pet to get them acquainted to the new surroundings. Hiring a pet sitter or a person to check up means they could come a few times before the trip to check up. All this would make the pet relaxed. 

Make sure your dog’s vaccinations like Bordetella vaccination, the rabies vaccine and the DA2PP (distemper) vaccination are up to date and your cat has had FELV vaccination and typically the rabies vaccine. Your boarding kennel would tell you in advance of the vaccinations required and those that should be current. If any of the vaccinations are lapsed make sure they are given at least 5 days before the boarding as most vaccines take 5 days to become active and provide immunity.

Ensure that you always prepare an emergency sheet for the pet’s caretaker containing your contact information while travelling, the name, address and contact number of your vet and the contact information of the  nearest 24-hour pet hospital, in case your pet requires emergency care after hours.

Next specify the type of decisions the caretaker can take and the monetary extent; also specify when you should be contacted. All this would make the caretaker comfortable with whatever decision-making power you want to give to him/her.

It would help to take your pet’s bed, a familiar toy and/or an old shirt that smells like home while taking your pet is to a kennel or to another person’s house; check up with the kennel for restrictions.

Know from your vet how you can help your pet to relax; you may have to give some medicine once you come home from your trip. He/she may be able to suggest some natural supplements to help reduce your cat/dog’s anxiety.

It would help to spend some quality time with your pet before you leave on the vacation. Also get your pet’s carrying case out a few days early, so your cat or dog gets used to seeing it.

Once you return your cat may seem aloof for a few days; you need not worry if he/she is eating and using the litter box. Contact a vet if your cat is hiding and not eating. Diarrhea may occur in your dog too; you could avoid it by the dog eating consistent food. If the diarrhea continues for more than 2 days and the dog is not eating or acting normally and has vomiting and is lethargic, contact your veterinarian.

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