What should I look for, when looking over a boarding kennel?
By Christopher Day, MA Vet MB MRCVS Vet FFHOM

As with so many things in life, there is the matter of personal requirements, personal preference and impressions or 'gut feelings'. While all these are very important, I shall set them aside, since I cannot specify them. What I can confidently state, however, is that cleanliness, dry/warm sleeping quarters, exercise facilities, good ventilation with freedom from draughts, natural light, outlook and 'atmosphere' are of supreme importance to your pet and his or her welfare. Design and maintenance of the fixtures and fittings should be compatible with safety and comfort. Security should be good, both from external interference and from the possibility of escape. Fire precautions and procedures should be obvious and be likely to result in the safety of your pet from such hazards. Proprietor and staff should show patience, understanding, a clear love for animals and a generally caring attitude. Details of the specific needs of your pet should be met with respect and concentration. Your questions should be met with clear and open answers. Veterinary services should be discussed. What happens in an emergency, including respect for your own preferences or wishes, should be clarified from the outset. Details of licence, insurance and registration with any official body should be on show.

A look around should show how the current inmates look and feel and how they respond to the management team. In the end, gut feeling must also be heeded.

My dog has always come back very stressed from the kennels. Can I do anything about this, as we are going away for Christmas, for ten days?
Separation from the family is inevitably stressful. Individual dogs handle this differently. However calmly some dogs appear to take the experience, none prefer it to home. Firstly, take a fresh look at the boarding kennel and check it for suitability for your dog. As a precautionary measure, homoeopathic Ignatia and Phosphorus are excellent remedies for separation anxiety. A dose of each can be given at the outset and pills, with instructions for care and administration, can be left with the kennel, in case of further need. Bach's Rescue Remedy can also be very helpful, on a similar basis. Lavender, as an essential oil, can be very calmative. A drop can be put in the car, on the way to the kennel and put in the dog's quarters, daily. If, in the end, these remedies do not work, there is always the undesirable and unattractive option of sedation. Alternatively, seek out a live-in carer or take your dog to an understanding relative or friend, whom he or she knows, instead of boarding in a kennel.

My cat does not eat when in the cattery and comes home very thin. What food should I send and how can I get her to eat?
This may be part of a similar problem to that addressed above. The same remedies may apply. The food should be her usual, to minimise the change that has to be endured. She should be able to have what privacy she needs or access to companionship, at least by close proximity, depending upon her needs.

As we will be away at Christmas, how can I give my pet a Christmas present and what type of present is suitable?
The actual mechanism of giving of the present is subject to circumstance. However, since animals do not observe Christmas, as we do, and if you are to be away at the time, an alternative time of giving may be more suitable. It would be the festive atmosphere and the mood that the pet will perceive, not the date. The giving could be before leaving or after your return.

As to what is suitable, many issues arise. We are tempted to ply our animals with gifts and festive food, sharing the abundance and feel-good factor of Christmas. That's fine, but we must be thoughtful about it. It may be easier to say what may be unsuitable. Plastic receptacles and toys, especially those that are highly coloured, may be toxic. Treats and chews may be full of undesirable or unsafe additives. Depending upon your home philosophy, with which all presents should be compatible, you will want to give wholesome food items and safe toys, bedding, attire, collars etc. Detachable parts can be very dangerous, as can be plastic bags, rubber bands, wire twist-fasteners and bell inserts in chewy toys. Packaging can be dangerous. Be sure to clear up well, before a pet has access to a room in which items have been unwrapped.

Disclaimer:- "Chris is entirely independent and therefore does not necessarily agree with any views or claims expressed in advertisements".