When you first adopted your pet, you probably didn’t give a great deal of thought to spending time apart from them. However, it is fairly normal for situations to arise whereby you find yourself temporarily unable to look after your pet. There are many reasons why this might happen. You could be going on vacation or a business trip, having an operation or getting your home re-modeled and it would be best for your pet to have their own mini-vacation whilst the work is carried out.

Whatever your reason for the separation, if you have to leave your pet in the temporary care of someone else, it can be extremely nerve-wracking. You need and deserve the reassurance that your adored animal will be properly taken care of by trained and experienced professionals who will love them like their own. This gives you two options. You can decide to hire a petsitter, or to place your pet into kennels for the duration of the time that you need to spend apart. To help you to decide which is right for your pet, here is what you need to know about both choices.

 

What is a petsitter?

A petsitter is someone that you can hire to come to your home to take care of your pet in your absence, or in some cases, a person who will look after your pet in their own home. If you choose a pet sitter who comes to your home, they may move in for the duration of the time or pop in several times each day depending on the arrangement that you have. Some animals need more care than others. For example, cats are fairly independent and tend to only require feeding and perhaps a litter box change. Dogs often crave human companionship and do not like to be left alone for long periods of time.

If you choose to have a petsitter come to your home, your animal will benefit from being able to stay in the same environment as usual, which will help to reduce the anxiety that is normally accompanied by separation. Many petsitters are also able to adhere fairly closely to your pet’s usual routine, which again will make it easier for your pet to remain calm and happy whilst you are apart. You won’t need to worry about your animal coming into contact with strange or potentially sick animals either.

If you are considering a petsitter, it is essential that you do your research before you make a hire. Not all petsitters have an education background in caring for animals, and others may not have much in the way of experience. This is particularly important to take into consideration if you have a pet that has medical needs such as being given medication.

 

What do I need to know about kennels?

Kennels are sometimes known as boarding, particularly if you have a cat, small mammal or other animals that isn’t a dog. Both names refer to the same thing – a facility that has been designed specifically to offer temporary accommodation to animals. Every kennels is different. Some are huge, purpose-built animal hotels, whilst others are converted areas in homes or yards. When a pet goes into kennels, it is extremely unlikely that they will be the only animal there. However, each pet should have their own accommodation space which is somewhere for them to eat, sleep and relax away from other creatures. Depending on your chosen facility, there may be the option for your pet to interact with other animals, such as during exercise of playtime. Many also offer extra services such as wellness checks, vaccinations, grooming, training and more.

Provided you choose a reputable boarding facility, you can relax and know that your pet is being looked after by trained and experienced professionals. Most kennels should have strict operating procedures that are followed with regards to the care that your pet receives, including elements such as:

-         What and where your pet will be fed

-         How often they and fed and given access to water

-         How often their environment is cleaned

-         When they have access to exercise and mental stimulation

-         What interaction they have with staff

-         What interaction (if any) they have with other animals

-         The administration of medication

-         What will happen if your pet becomes sick

-         Entry requirements (most owners are required to provide proof that their pet is sufficiently vaccinated ahead of their stay)

Any great kennels will be happy to show you around and answer any questions that you have surrounding your pet’s care.

For more advice or information about choosing between a petsitter and kennels, please get in touch with our expert veterinary team today.