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(480) 608-5885 / TLC House & Pet Sitting Service

5 Tips for Vacation Pet Care

Going away on vacation is a fun time for you and your family. Feeling comfortable with your vacation pet care can make things a little more difficult. However, you can rest easy when you know that your furry family members are well taken care of during the time you’re away. We’ve put together a few tips that will help.

Detailed Instructions

Make sure that whomever is watching your pets has detailed instructions. You may have someone coming over to take care of the pets, or have them boarded. Either way, you’ll have to leave detailed and clear instructions on their care. Vacation pet care instruction helps eliminate confusion or guesswork of any sort. These instructions should include exactly how much food your pet should be given for each meal, how many treats they get, what medication (if any) they’re on and how much of that they need to take, and any other vital information. If you’re going to have a pet-sitter, it’s a good idea to have them come over in advance so you can show them where everything is and walk them through the routine, as well as introduce them to your pet.

Mention Important Personal Details

If your animal has any quirks, do the babysitter a favor and mention them so that they know what to expect and are prepared to keep the pet safe. For example, does your dog tend to get into fights with the mailman? Will Fluffy socialize well with other animals? Does your pet behave well when on the leash? Does he bolt after squirrels or cats? Point out these behaviors to the sitter so they aren’t taken by surprise.

Update Pet ID Tags

While not common, animals in strange surroundings or with strange people may get nervous and make a run for it. If so, you’ll want to ensure that their pet ID tags are updated and that they’re wearing the phone number you’re using on vacation so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Leave a Few Little Comforts for Your Pet

You’re not going to miss your pet all on your lonesome; it’s going to miss you quite a bit as well. Take some steps to keep it as comforted and content as possible. This becomes crucial when a sitter is doing the job. Leave an old shirt in its bed or sleeping place to comfort it with your scent, or a treat leaving toy so it’s occupied. Let the sitter know what its exact routine is, so everything is as familiar as it can be.

Say Goodbye Normally

The more dramatic and long drawn the goodbye, the greater the chance that your pet is going to start feeling anxious. Leave the pet like you normally would when you go outside. The swifter your departure, the more relaxed your pet will feel. It may be hard for you to remain so calm and composed when you’re going to leave your beloved pet for a stretch of time, but it’ll only make the reunion all the more worth it.