If your fur baby is elderly or facing health challenges it can be hard to leave them behind when you need to travel. Medical boarding provides a great solution to the challenge of boarding pets with additional needs. Our Rainbow City vets explain what medical boarding is and how it could benefit your pet.
Options for Pet Care When You Need to Be Away
Whether your pet is young and spry, in their golden years, or facing health challenges, finding care you trust can be a nerve-racking problem. So what are your options? What is the best choice for your pet?
Let's take a look at the 3 standard categories of pet care: pet sitting, pet boarding, and medical pet boarding.
Pet Sitters
Pet sitters are similar to babysitters except that they care for our furry family members. Your pet sitter can be a professional that you hire or a trusted friend or family member. The level of service offered by pet sitters varies so it's important to do a little research to find out how much time the sitter will actually spend with your pet, and whether that is suitable to meet your pet's needs.
In most cases, a pet sitter will visit your home periodically throughout the day to check on your pet, dispense food, take care of their bathroom breaks, and provide social playtime. That said, there are professional pet sitters who can be hired to stay at your home and care for your pet full-time, but this sort of care can get pricey.
Pet Boarding Options
Pet boarding is a service where you take your pets to be taken care of. You may be more familiar with the other name for pet boarding which is a kennel. In recent years the level of service available has increased significantly. Some places are bare bones and will take care of the essential needs of your pet, while others are more like going to summer camp with a range of activities to keep them occupied, and others are more like spas for pets to be pampered to their heart's content. Since service can vary we recommend that pet owners check out any facility to make sure it is where they would like to leave their pet.
What is Medical Pet Boarding?
Medical pet boarding offers your pet the extra medical and emotional care they need, while operating much like a standard pet boarding facility. Many medical boarding facilities are an extension of veterinary clinics, which means that trained nurses, technicians and vets are available if your pet falls ill or needs any medical care while you are away. Having trained staff attend your pet in your absence can be reassuring if you have to travel.
When Does My Pet Need Medical Boarding?
Medical pet boarding is ideal for very young animals, elderly dogs and cats, and pets that are recovering from accidents, surgery or illness, or those with pre-existing conditions.
Medical boarding is for pets that may need extra care or have existing medical conditions. A pet sitter or normal boarding facility may not be trained in the proper way to administer medications, especially if it involves needles. This is a major advantage of medical boarding; the staff is trained professionals that can understand your pet's medical history and give medication and adjust doses if there are issues. They also know what symptoms to watch for based on your pet's medical condition/history.
What Are The Requirements for Pet Medical Boarding?
Most regular pet boarding requires that the pet being boarded is vaccinated with a list of required vaccines. They will also state whether or not you are allowed to bring toys, bedding, or food for your pet. With most medical boarding the rule still holds for the vaccination requirement but double-check with them to see what their policy for vaccination is for pets being medically boarded.
While locations may allow toys and bedding from home for pets under normal boarding circumstances they may or may not allow it for the pet that is being medically boarded, for the reason of keeping the environment hygienic. Double-check the specifics of the policies on medical boarding at your chosen boarding facility.
You will be expected to bring any medication your pets in currently prescribed. It is often recommended that you bring your pet's own food, especially if it is a prescribed diet from your vet.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.