Where your pet is treated like family

Where your pet is treated like family
Text Box: Knowing that your 4 legged family member is safe, content and well cared for is one of the most important aspects of enjoying a vacation or being your most productive on a business trip. Because of this, many pet owners know that finding hotel accommodations for themselves is secondary to finding the best care for their pet while they are away. Common Concerns while boarding: Pet Resorts or kennels have many similarities to a children’s day care. Just like in any place where a group of children are, the virus of the day is likely to be passed around whether it be a cold or stomach flu. A kennel environment is very much the same. Kennel Cough also known as Bordatella is the most common concern for pet owners and kennel operators. Some Vets vaccinate yearly, others every six months. Some studies show that immunity levels don’t stay high enough in some dogs to protect them for a full year. The Fayetteville Pet Resort prefers guests to be vaccinated every six months but will adhere to the protocol of your vet. Unlike other viruses that are controlled by vaccinations, Kennel Cough is not. Kennel cough is very much like the flu—countless strains are out there and the vaccine can only control some. Dogs can get kennel cough anywhere. Getting it in a kennel situation is more likely due to the concentration of dogs. Because it is spread like the common cold, kennels can not be to blame. Kennel cough is self limiting and most dogs quickly recover with owners using children’s dose of cough syrup to relieve the symptoms. Older dogs and young puppies that may not have a full immune system should see their vet. We do not accept dogs showing signs of kennel cough but it is possible for a dog to come in the kennel that has been exposed but not showing any signs. Diarrhea is another concern for pet owners. Some pets never get it while being boarded but some do. Occasionally a pet that has had a normal stool while here will get diarrhea when they return home. Most dogs recover with a bland diet of rice and boiled hamburger, a children’s dose of kaopectate is also an option. If the diarrhea continues, call your vet. What causes this? The most common cause of diarrhea is "stress", which can happen with your pet if he is boarded infrequently . Changes in routine can cause some dogs to stress which will cause runny stools. Dietary changes can also cause diarrhea. This type of diarrhea can be avoided by brining your pet’s own food. The Fayetteville Pet Resort feeds Pedigree brand products. If this is not what your pet is used to, bring your own food. Food from home must be in a container—no bags or baggies. If your pet gets kennel cough or diarrhea after boarding, call the kennel where he stayed and talk with the manager. Kennel management needs to know what is “going around” so they can let other pet owners know their pet has been exposed. It’s important to call your vet but also do research as to how you can relieve the symptoms of kennel cough or diarrhea at home. What to look for in a kennel: Industry experts agree that one should always visit a kennel prior to boarding. Imagine making a reservation on line or on the phone only to show up there hours before you leave on your trip to find that the kennel has been completely misrepresented. When you visit, here are a few questions to ask any prospective caregiver. Is the pet care facility licensed? Kennels in North Carolina are regulated and must be licensed by the NC State Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare section. This is different than having a city business license. The NC Department of Agriculture has stringent regulations that we must follow in order to care for pets. These requirements govern space, temperature, waste removal, sanitation guidelines, building requirements, etc. Anyone having a complaint or concern regarding an unpleasant boarding experience should contact them. Kennels are inspected several times yearly and must reapply for their license each year. Are vaccinations required? Vaccinating our pets is the most important and most basic step we take in protecting them. The Department of Agriculture requires kennels to keep shot records on file. Kennel owners and their employees should know which shots are required and why. Are you allowed to tour the facility anytime during their regular business hours? Kennel owners are often very proud of their facilities and encourage their customers to visit prior to the first day of boarding. Any kennel not allowing you to tour the entire facility should be avoided. What security measures are in place to protect your pet? The areas your pet is exercised in should be securely fenced. If leash walking is required, pets should be walked with proper collars that won’t slip over their heads. The area in which pets are walked should be secure and away from traffic. Kennels should have space that will accommodate escape artists or should not board them. How often are the pet’s taken outside? If a kennel operator tells you each pet is let out for exercise 3 times per day, is there enough staff and space available to accommodate that? If exercise is given by daily leash walking, how often? If a kennel operator tells you 3 times per day for 10-15 minutes, is the employee to pet ratio able to accommodate that? If group play is offered, how do the employees temperament test the dogs for compatibility? Doggie daycare is a fast growing niche in the industry and great fun for the dogs. However, it’s extremely important that caregivers understand the process of temperament testing and the importance of supervision. The kennel operator should be able to discuss this in detail. NC Department of Agriculture requires there be 1 adult over 16 years of age per 12 dogs in a play group.

Boarding Concerns