Pet Boarding: What to Pack?

Everyone who owns one knows how much their owners adore them. Sometimes we must travel or face an emergency, and we cannot take them with us. Pets can stay the night at a facility specializing in pet boarding. When people travel, they often take their pets to a boarding facility.

It’s stressful leaving our pets in a place for them and us. Before dropping your pet off at a daycare or a friend’s home for boarding, you must prepare a few things. The idea is to ensure that your pet has the best possible experience while you’re away from your home. So you can enjoy your vacation without worrying about your pet.

What do we need to pack when taking our pet to board?

A trip to the beach is something everyone looks forward to. Planning a trip is stressful. Going to a boarding establishment is essential to planning your vacation for you and your pet. But, a bit of preparation can make the process easier and less burdensome. Ensure you include these items when sending your dog to a dog boarding facility.

1. Identification

Even if you’re going about your daily routine at home, correctly identifying your pet is one of the most important duties of being a dog’s pet owner. You should update relevant pet records before leaving your pet at a dog or cat boarding facility.

Combining a microchip with a collar with an identification tag is generally considered the most reliable method of identifying a pet. Both must have the pet’s name and your name, phone number, and perhaps your address.

2. Emergency Contacts

Although your information may be included on your pet’s identification card, it is also an excellent idea to record the contact details of a person who can assist your pet in a situation of emergency if you’re not around. It is advisable to leave the contact details of a person you trust to care for your pet in an emergency.

Your veterinarian’s information should also be listed as part of the Emergency Contact Details. This information can be helpful should the boarding establishment have concerns regarding your pet’s health. You can search for your trusted veterinary hospital and check their website to make sure the contact information you provide is accurate. 

3. Medical Records and Medicines

You should leave a copy of your medical records at the boarding facilities in case your stay lasts longer than one or two days. This is so that, in the incident of an emergency, veterinarians will have access to enough information to perform an accurate diagnosis using the original medical records you’ve provided.

Make sure you ask about the pet boarding facility’s policy on medication administration to your dog. The original container that contains the medicine or supplement should be filled with. The pharmacy will request specific directions for dosing and administration times (morning or evening) and any additional instructions you’d like to include.

4. Vaccination Card

For the protection and health of the pet, the other pets that reside in the facility and the staff vaccines must be current before a pet can be boarded. The status of their vaccination will be officially documented with the vaccination certificate.

Maintaining your pet’s current vaccinations before traveling or boarding is crucial to keeping your pet’s health and stopping the spread of diseases. There are vaccines available for some infections that are spread through the air. Boarding requires proof of rabies vaccination.

So make sure to inquire about their boarding policies and you may also ask about their pet vaccinations services if they have so you can assure that your pet gets the needed vaccinations. 

5. Comfort Item

Pets may be anxious during their stay due to the drastic changes in their routine. They might be less nervous when you provide them with something that smells like home. You can use a shirt or a soft cloth instead of a blanket. If there is a familiar scent, pets are more likely to be calmer and more relaxed after a particular time has passed.

Things to relax, such as a favorite toy or snack, could be brought to aid the pet in relaxing. They’ll be more relaxed when they have some familiarity.

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