For many people, the holiday season becomes a problem because they do not know what to do with their pets.
The dilemma is whether they take them on a trip, leave them at home with a relative or in a hotel. There are many options, you just have to make a good decision.
According to doctor Iliana Céspedes Guevara, coordinator of the Animal Welfare program of small species from SENASA, the first indication they give to vacationers is to take their pets with them if they can.
But if it is not possible and the pet is finally left at home, she suggested to ask a trusted person to visit it and keep all the right conditions: that’s a good alternative in order not to change the animal’s routine, especially cats’.
Another option is to leave the animal in a relative or friend’s home.
In the meantime, when the option is to leave the pet in a hotel, Guevara recommends consulting the veterinarian about which establishments is appropriate. It is important that before leaving an animal in a hotel, you visit the place to know the conditions it offers: observe their hygiene, the size of the cages and how they look after the animals that are already there.
In the case of cats, the doctor declared that you can leave them in a hotel that has a section for cats only, because they can get very stressed if they are not used to being with dogs and their barking.
During the trip
According to Doctor Federico Pereira, from Dr. Marcial Arrieta veterinary clinic, if the dog is left in a hotel, it is very important to also take it vaccinated and dewormed and it is better to use a flea collar.
Pereira also informed that there are hotels that offer a service with cameras and photographs, which allows the owner to see the dog online.
If there is no such a service, it is important to call every 48 or 72 hours to know about the animal’s state, because it can get depressed and it could stop eating.
If you are taking your pet with you, it is good to include a first aid kit for it. According to Pereira, this should have antihistamine tablets for insect bites, as well as some cleaning products for wounds, its dishes, the food they daily consume, etc.
Finally, as mentioned by Pereira, it is important to teach the dog to use the kennel: This is very useful because if during the holidays the owner decides to go out, they can leave it in the kennel at the hotel for a short period (no more than three hours).