Boarding Your Senior Dog? 3 Questions To Ask Before Their Stay
Making sure your dog enjoys their stay at a boarding kennel can be difficult since you can't communicate with them about your upcoming trip. When your dog is in their senior years, between 6 to 12 years, depending on its breed, it's important that you make special accommodations for their stay.
Since boarding kennels generally offer multiple packages and services for pets during their stay, you'll want to understand what's best for your dog. Instead of your dog having an unpleasant visit to a boarding facility due to their age, consider the following questions and how they can help you schedule a stay while you're on vacation.
What to Bring
If you're eager to schedule a trip but worried about keeping your dog comfortable, ask the kennel what you should bring with them. While some items are obvious, such as their usual food and any medications, you may be unsure about bringing toys, blankets, and other items.
Since your dog will be more comfortable surrounded by familiar scents from home, it's best to check with the kennel. Due to your dog's age, it's even more important for them to be comfortable with items from home and their usual diet during their upcoming stay.
Socialization
Boarding kennels often have play groups that make it easy for your dog to socialize with other dogs and the attendants. Since your dog may have different socialization and energy needs than young dogs, finding kennels that separate senior dogs from younger dogs is a good idea. This will ensure that your dog can play without being rough-housed and overstimulated.
You may also prefer your dog to have one-on-one play sessions. These sessions could include brushing and sitting next to your dog chatting, making this a great alternative to playing groups if your dog doesn't do well with other dogs.
Medical Care
With a trip coming up, you may have concerns about your dog getting access to medical care. Whether your dog has health problems that can affect their stay or you just want special attention from attendants, you'll need to check what the kennel does in case of any medical concerns.
Getting ready for a vacation away from home means finding a kennel that you're comfortable with your dog staying at. When your dog is a senior, finding a kennel that can meet all your dog's needs becomes even more essential. With the above questions to inquire about, you'll have a better chance of choosing a kennel that can take great care of your dog.
Find dog boarding services to learn more.