Whether your animal friend is a loyal dog, or perhaps a finicky cat that requires special care, it can be difficult locating a good place for them to stay when you head out for vacation. If you don’t have the luxury of acquaintances or relatives who can visit your pet at home every day, you will have to find a suitable pet boarding facility.

Coming up with the best option for boarding your pet may take some time and effort. It isn’t a good idea to just pick a place because it’s cheap or easy to get to. First, check around and see if anyone you know can recommend a facility. Then, consider the tips below when making a final choice. Your pet’s health and well-being is at stake.

Don’t board your pet anywhere until you have personally visited and observed the conditions there. Some boarding facilities are filthy, poorly run, and represent a health hazard for your pet. Take some time to check out the cleanliness and general appearance of the operation.

Do not leave your pet at any facility which does not mandate proof of current vaccinations. This should include a worm check.

Some veterinarians offer a pet boarding facility as part of their practice. One thing may come as a surprise to you, however. A veterinary hospital might be a less than ideal choice for boarding your pet, unless they have a dedicated staff and facility just for performing this service.

Look at it this way. How would your cat enjoy staying in a hospital environment? Vet hospitals are designed to care for sick pets, with the surroundings to match. Your cat is not likely to get much thought or individual attention in a place like this.

Most vet clinics are ill equipped to provide boarding services. The staff in those facilities is typically going to spend most of their time taking care of sick pets, and those awaiting or going through surgery. It is a pretty good bet, if your pet is boarding at such a facility, he will be cared for only after all the pet “patients” have been taken care of.

While checking out various facilities, observe whether the pets are being watched while outdoors. In some places, animals are simply let out to play and are loosely supervised. This is not good. Check the fence wire and gates to make sure they are strong and designed to securely contain the animals.

A couple of notes regarding boarding cats and dogs. Cats should be kept in a separate area from dogs. Having barking dogs nearby will stress your cat out totally and is not recommended. For all animals, check to see what sort of schedule they will be on. How often will they be fed? Will there be frequent exercise and play time? Can you provide your pet’s own food for them?

Finally, the one intangible you need to look at. How do the people working at the pet boarding facility work with the pets? This is not an easy job and requires a special person with lots of patience and desire. If the workers seem hurried and stressed with their job, this is probably not the best managed environment for your pet.

Take enough time to visit different places and evaluate your options. Pick the one you feel will best serve your pet’s needs while you are away.

Keeping your pets healthy and happy plays a big role in being a caring and responsible pet owner. Stay in touch of the latest healthy pet news and pet products.