What To Do With Your Dog When You Go On Vacation

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Summer is vacation time for most American families, but for those of us with dogs, spending time away from home can be a tough decision to make. After all, unless you can take your pet along with you, you will need to come up with a plan for what to do with your dog when you go on vacation. This means either boarding your beloved family pet at a kennel, having family or friends care for your dog, or hiring a professional pet sitting service.

Keeping Your Dog in Her Own Environment is Best

For years, kennels were the go-to solution for what to do with your dog while on vacation. But today we know better, so we should do better for our pets.

The truth is, boarding your dog at a kennel places her in an unfamiliar place where she is surrounded by other dogs, strange humans, and a lot of excessive noise. This is incredibly stressful for your pet. But perhaps even more importantly, being in such an environment exposes her to a wide variety of illnesses, like canine distemper, canine influenza, canine parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, tracheobronchitis (kennel cough), rabies, and more. It also increases the risk that she will come home with external parasites like ticks or fleas. And if your dog suffers from separation anxiety, then placing her in a kennel may even exacerbate her symptoms to the point that she may resort to biting one of the staff.

If you are going to be taking a vacation this summer and you are unable to take your dog with you, then the best option for your pet is for her to remain in the environment she is most comfortable and familiar with – your home.

Having Family or Friends Watch Your Dog vs. Hiring a Pet Sitting Service

Keeping your dog at home means that you will need to arrange for someone to stop by and care for your dog while you are away. After all, your dog cannot feed, water, or walk herself.

To ensure your pet gets the care she needs you can either have family or friends handle the job or you can hire a professional pet sitting service. While you might be prompted to go with the former choice, if for any other reason than it is the most affordable, you might want to think carefully because your dog’s health and wellness is literally on the line.

Relying on family and friends might seem like a logical choice but caring for another’s pet while they are away on vacation is a tremendous responsibility that requires a significant investment of their time and effort. Can you be entirely sure that those caring for your dog will be at your home when they are supposed to be? Can you be entirely sure that they will take your dog outside for exercise or bathroom breaks at different times of the day? Are you confident that they will be able to administer your pet’s medication if she is prescribed them?

By comparison, hiring a professional pet sitting service ensures that your dog will receive all the care and attention she needs to stay happy and healthy until you return from your vacation. Professional pet sitters are trained in pet first aid and know how to properly administer medications, so you can be sure your pet’s wellness needs are met. A pet sitter can also transport your pet to and from her veterinary visit if there is one scheduled while you are away.

So, the benefits of using a professional pet sitting service include:

  • Your dog remains surrounded by familiar sights, smells, and sounds
  • Your dog maintains her regular diet and exercise routine
  • Your dog receives plenty of one-on-one play time, love, and personal attention
  • The trauma of travel or an unfamiliar environment are eliminated
  • No exposure to other animals’ illness or parasites
  • Your dog’s medications are administered properly and according to her prescriptions
  • Any other pets in the home are also properly cared for

If you are going to be away from home for any duration this summer and you are wondering what to do with your dog while you are on vacation, contact Suburban Pets of Long Island for professional dog sitting services. We can give you peace of mind by ensuring that your dog’s needs are fully met while you are away from home. To request service, just complete and submit our online form or call us today at 516-698-7182.

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