Minimize Your Pet’s Stress When You’re Away

Vacation Isn’t Always a Time of Relaxation for Pets

It’s that time of year again, and you are all ready to leave the cold weather behind to spend a relaxing week sipping pina coladas from the comfort of your beachfront hotel. While you’ve spent months preparing for this wonderful time of deep relaxation and amazing views, the same can’t be said for your canine and feline friends. The same way they can predict an upcoming storm, they also seem to know that you’ll be leaving them soon and that a stay at a noisy, crowded pet boarding kennel or some other pet sitting provider is inevitable. Que the anxiety.

If you are among the many pet owners who struggle with anxiety-riddled dogs and cats just before a trip out of town, there are several tips you can follow to reduce their discomfort. Before you drop off Rex at a trusted pet boarding kennel or with some other pet sitting provider, read through this list and see what you can do to minimize your pet’s stress ahead of time.

1. Try a D.A.P.® Collar

For dog owners, this is an especially helpful option. The D.A.P.® Collar, which is widely used in rescue centers across the country, can be fitted to a dog 24 hours prior to being dropped off at a kennel or sitter’s house. It works by releasing a pheromone that is pleasant to canines, which has been proven to provide comfort and reassurance to dogs while they are away from their owners and confined to a kennel.

2. Take Some of Your Pet’s Familiar Belongings

When packing to take your pet to the pet sitter’s or kennel, make sure to throw in some of his favorite items, such as a favorite blanket, toy, or treat. Having familiar objects from home will minimize his stress and make him feel more comfortable in his foreign surroundings. Remember that animals often exhibit stress-related behavior only away from home, so only bring blankets that you do not mind getting soiled.

*Don’t forget any medications your pet needs while you’re away.

3. Check Kennel Drop-Off Hours

In order to prevent any additional unnecessary stress, many kennel owners will place a restriction on the times of day pet owners can drop off and pick up their pets. This is to minimize the flow of traffic and noise. So, make sure to drop off your pet at the right time to avoid causing any unnecessary commotion among the other animals.

4. Special Food for Animals with Sensitive Stomachs

For pets with unusually weak or sensitive stomachs, owners should be sure to bring special food from home since some animals do not adjust well to the standard food given at kennels. If you express this concern, most kennel owners and employees will be happy to feed your pet their usual food that you have provided.

5. Make Sure the Kennel or Pet Sitter Has Enough Contact Information

A good way to minimize both your animal’s stress and your own while you are away is to make sure you provide the kennel or sitter with the proper medications and contact phone numbers for your animal’s veterinarian and emergency contacts, such as friends and family who are familiar with the pet. Knowing the kennel has all the necessary information in the event of an emergency is beneficial for everybody involved, including kennel workers.