When your pet is scheduled for a veterinary procedure or if they are recovering from illness or injury, medical boarding may be a good option. Today, our Perry vets share some information about pet care options and how medical pet boarding allows your cat or dog to be monitored through recovery from a procedure or condition, giving you peace of mind.
What Are the Options for Pet Care?
If you are going to be gone for a prolonged period and can’t take your pet with you, there are three standard categories of pet care: pet sitting, pet boarding, and medical pet boarding.
Pet Sitter
Hiring a pet sitter is the equivalent of hiring a babysitter for your furry friend. Your pet sitter can be a professional that you hire or a friend or family member. The level of service from a pet server can vary. The primary role of a sitter is to check on your pet periodically and dispense food, take care of their bathroom breaks, and provide social playtime.
Pet Boarding
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.
Medical Boarding For Cats & Dogs
Medical pet boarding is similar to normal pet boarding with an added perk. Medical pet boarding allows for your cat or dog to be continuously monitored by a veterinary team and trained staff during their stay.
When to Choose Medical Pet Boarding
When deciding whether or not medical boarding is right for your pet you should consider whether they will be having a procedure, are recovering from illness, trauma, or veterinary care, or if they are a senior or very young pet.
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 who can understand your pet's medical history 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 medical pet boarding in Perry?
One of the main requirements for boarding of any kind is that your pet is up-to-date on their routine vaccinations. 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. You should always speak with the team at the boarding facility of your choice to ensure that you know the policies.
You will be expected to bring any medication your pet is currently prescribed. It is often recommended that you bring your pet's 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. Please make an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition.