Holidays and Your Pet

Planning for an upcoming holiday often involves planning the accommodation arrangements for your dog and/or cat. There are several options people choose, although these may not be available to all. These include leaving your pet at home. This can be best achieved by arranging for a friend or relative to live in during your holiday.

In this way the pet remains in their normal surroundings, and may be exercised and cared for by someone who knows them. There are also private individuals who can provide this service for you, some of whom we may be able to recommend. More commonly, a dog is boarded at a boarding kennel, and a cat at a cattery. Many dogs spend very happy holidays in kennels and look forward to going. Plan the visit well ahead, just as you do with your own holiday and make sure that you visit the kennels beforehand to satisfy yourself that the accommodation is up to your expectations.

All commercial boarding kennels today have to be licensed by the local authority but standards do vary and it is worthwhile obtaining recommendations from friends and neighbours.

Reference to Yellow Pages is another useful way to prepare a short list. When choosing a suitable holiday stay for your special friend it is always a good idea to arrange to view the kennels prior to making your final decision.

Remember that your dog or cat's vaccination status should be up-to-date, since it is a hallmark of a good kennel/cattery to insist upon full vaccination prior to admitting your special friend. Often a certificate to provide proof of vaccination is required which is available from your Veterinarian. 

At Cooroy Veterinary Surgery, we recommend vaccination for dogs against Parvovirus, Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, and Parainfluenza viruses, as well as against Bordetella bacterium. For cats for effective protection against contagious diseases, we choose to vaccinate against Feline Enteritis virus, Calicivirus and Rhinotracheitis virus, as well as Chlamydia.