micd1111 wrote: I use Homeopet Cough and Homeopet Nose to clear kennel cough quickly. You have to put the drops in their mouth on their gum and understand not to put too many drops, only the correct amount listed on the bottle for their weight (it's not like cough medicine). When we foster it clears a new dog up really quickly and if my dogs get it (we don't vaccinate) it usually clears them in a day also.
An alternative to boarding is to find a pet sitter on Craig's list in the area your visiting who takes dogs into their home and have them dog sit for a day. We've also had a college student dog sitter come sit in our RV when we needed to go to a family wedding in hot weather. They were instructed to call me and take the dogs out to sit in the shade if the power failed. It was pretty cheap. The guy only charged me $40 for two days (about 6 hours total) because he could sit and study. Sounds like you couldn't avoid the one boarding experience but being boarded is really stressful and lowers the dog's immune system, just like ours is lowered when we are under stress. If you do board make sure you personally inspect the areas where the dogs are being kept. I've seen some vet boarding facilities that I wouldn't leave a cold blooded snake in much less my dog.
Michelle
I hear some people prefer not to vaccinate, yeah good point about dog sitting rather than boarding.
I know that my dog doesn't want to stay at some unknown place, she begs to not to stay but she loves checking out all the other dogs that are there (who doesn't?)
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Deb and Ed M wrote: And I'll offer the flip side of Michelle's post: if I must board my dogs - they ALWAYS go to the Vet's. The indoor runs are 5' x 20'; and they're taken outdoors 3 times a day to a 100' "corral" where they can run, potty, and bark at the cows, etc while the runs are cleaned. This way, a dog who doesn't like to potty indoors, can get outside to do their business. The place is spotless, of course - but what I like best, since my Aussie is a "runner" when scared: there's no way they can escape since they'd have to get through 4 sets of doors to be free.
And they must get pampered - because my dogs actually drag me INTO the place!!
I did take my dog to a place that had indoor/outdoor runs basically they could go in/out in the same run I think the indoor was 5x25 or something and had a "bedroom" that connected the inside with the outside and the outside was like 30' long big enough to do business outside also.
For her to have free roam I had to pay extra, etc but that was only good for 30 minutes each time.
They would only feed her once per day (even if I brought her own food) I had to pay extra for a night feeding as well. I could've told them to just give her two cups in one feeding and she can forego the night feeding
but I think with a sitter a dog gets more attention and care that way
I board my dogs. The kennel requires up to date immunization records before accepting a dog. The Lab loves it, has a blast and doesn't want to get in the car to go home. The Dane stresses, drops weight and will knock down anyone between her and the passenger seat. Both come home with callouses on their elbows but are so well behaved. Then, they mostly sleep for 3 days.
Dogs are like kids, IMO. They'll sometimes pick up germs when exposed to others. I once had a kennel cough vaccinated dog pick up kennel cough while being boarded; it happens. Unless the dog has a compromised immune system, they'll get over it without too much fuss. I'm like many of you - I only board (at my vet's office) when absolutely necessary.
For her to have free roam I had to pay extra, etc but that was only good for 30 minutes each time.
They would only feed her once per day (even if I brought her own food) I had to pay extra for a night feeding as well. I could've told them to just give her two cups in one feeding and she can forego the night feeding
but I think with a sitter a dog gets more attention and care that way
My dogs get fed twice a day and it cost $12.50/day. I can't argue about a sitter giving more attention, though!
We take in fosters for a local rescue. They come straight from shelters. These poor dogs are very stressed out when we get them and I think part of it is they are only fed once per day. I would question the suitability of care at a facility that only fed once per day. Even if they allow you to pay extra they are still putting the dog's who's owners don't pay extra into distress by not feeding them. The lack of food is a physical stress then they compound the stress by adding the emotional stress of the unfed dogs seeing a few dogs get fed a second time but not them. Imagine how that makes the dogs feel who don't get fed. Have you ever fed one of your dogs and not the other? Again I would question the compassion of those who run such a facility.
One option, and this is what we do, is we have a dog sitter come to our house when we travel. She comes twice per day to open the dog door and feed them in the morning and to feed them then close the dog door at night. We encourage her to spend the night in inclement weather (we live in CO and she has taken us up on it in blizzards). We also encourage her to watch TV, do her laundry etc. Anything that gives the dogs a little extra companionship. By staying in our home the dogs have minimal stress while were gone. She is happy to give them walks and play with them.
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