Download Spring Break Vacations—for You and Your Pets

Spring Break Vacations—for You and Your Pets!
by Shannon M. Pecora, M.A.
Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital
For many of us, Spring Break is just around the corner, giving us the chance to
relax and unwind after the often-hectic winter months. We look forward to a week
without our normal responsibilities, chores, or errands. Our upcoming getaways may
have taken months of careful planning: plane tickets, time off work, hotel reservations,
packing…but don’t forget about your pets! Since you may not be able to take Fluffy or
Max with you on vacation, you’ll have to find someone to care for your pets while you’re
away.
Finding a boarding facility for your dog or cat can be relatively easy, especially if
you plan ahead. To prepare your dog or cat for a boarding stay, you’ll want to make sure
that you have up-to-date vaccine and health records. For instance, it is very important,
and in most places required, that your dog have current vaccines against rabies,
distemper, and bordetella (or kennel cough). Cats should be vaccinated against rabies
and distemper as well. You’ll want to check with your boarding facility in regards to the
required frequency or duration of the vaccines. For instance, Stream Valley will
recognize a three-year rabies or distemper vaccine but will only recognize a bordetella
vaccine given within the last six months. It can be equally as important to make sure that
your pet is tested for and protected against heartworms, internal parasites, fleas, and ticks.
Many boarding facilities offer play group time during your pet’s stay; heartworm and
flea and tick preventions can protect your dog or cat against parasites that may be passed
through contact with other pets.
Some facilities, like Stream Valley, have the ability to board certain exotic pets,
including rabbits, birds, and reptiles. As a pet parent, you’ll have to do some questioning
or investigating to make sure that the facility has the proper space and/or equipment to
house your pet. Additionally, you may need to provide certain supplies, such as food or
bedding, that the kennel may not regularly have on hand. Again, be sure to check with
your kennel about any vaccines, preventives, or tests they may require.
For some pets, of course, transportation can be too much of a hassle. For
instance, getting an aquarium full of fish from your home to a kennel can be nearly
impossible. In those cases, leaving your pets while you go on vacation may require a bit
of creative thinking. For hearty fish, like guppies, tetras, or goldfish—in filtered
aquariums—you may be able to leave them with slow-dissolving food blocks or timed
automatic feeders, which can be found in many pet supply stores. If you’ll only be gone
for two or three days, some fish, like betas, can go without feeding altogether. However,
whether your aquarium houses hearty or delicate species, it is always a good idea to have
a friend or neighbor check in once or twice a day to make sure that your fish have clean
water and that the tank itself is in good condition.
To ensure that any type of pet gets the proper care while your family is away, it is
best to check with your veterinarian. Arranging care for your pets can be as complicated
and demanding as planning your Spring Break trip, but the extra time and attention will
be worth it. With boarding or well-involved pet-sitting, your pet can have just as much
fun as you while you’re on vacation!