Myths About Boarding

If you’ve ever been afraid to board your pet, you’re not alone. Many people have concerns that their pets will sit in small, dark cages near sick animals and never go outside or interact with humans. This could not be further from the truth! The Northside Animal Clinic is dedicated to providing a comfortable environment for your pet, with a contained outdoor area to play and kennels with plenty of space to relax. To make the decision to bard easier, we are going to address a few “myths” about boarding.

Myth #1: My dog will get sick.

 While your dog won’t directly interact with other animals during its stay, she will be in the same general area. However, the likelihood that your pet gets sick while boarding is probably less than the likelihood of it getting sick at a dog park or other places where dogs interact with each other for the following reasons:

• The Northside Animal Clinic requires documentation of all required vaccinations before an animal is allowed to board.
• The boarding spaces are aggressively cleaned multiple times per day to ensure that they remain safe and germ-free.
• The veterinary assistants keep a close eye on your dog and, because we are a full service veterinary clinic instead of just a boarding facility, they will alert a veterinarian if they see signs of illness. This allows quick remedy of any sickness

There is still a slight possibility of your dog contracting some illness during its stay, just like the possibility of your child contracting an illness at daycare. However, the appropriate precautions have been taken to almost completely eliminate this risk.

Myth #2: My dog will be stuck in a cage all day and will not receive the attention she needs.

Your dog will relax and sleep in a large, roomy cage but will also have the opportunity to play outside and go on walks four times per day. Our veterinary assistants try to play with each dog every day to ensure that they have enough stimulation and exercise to be happy and healthy!

Myth #3: My dog will be so sad when I leave her that she will suffer while I’m gone.

Of course she will miss you! However, we have found that dogs are very dramatic. They will seem upset and agitated during the moment of separation but are happy and excited when you are no longer in sight. Their time will actually fly by faster during their stay because they will have plenty of time to play outside and be stimulated. However, if you worry that your dog will have anxiety or struggle during their stay, check out this post to learn 5 easy ways to ease boarding anxiety. (ON THE WORD “POST” LINK THE ARTICLE 5 WAYS TO EASE BOARDING ANXIETY.)

If you’re still hesitant to commit, feel free to come in for a quick tour of the boarding facilities! Although leaving your pet in a new environment is never fun, we want you to feel as comfortable leaving your pet in our care as possible.

5 Ways to Ease Boarding Anxiety

Ever felt anxious walking into a room of new people by yourself? Just like humans, animals can experience anxiety, especially relating to separation from their owners or being in a new environment. This especially rings true during boarding. While no one wants to leave their pets overnight, sometimes it is necessary. Here are ___ ways to help your pet feel more at home while it boards (so you can vacation without worry).

The Northside Animal Clinic Boarding Philosophy

At the Northside Animal Clinic, we believe that your pet deserves the same care, love, and attention during their boarding stay that you would give them at home. We are dedicated to providing affordable boarding monitored by trained and experienced veterinary assistants. Some boarding facilities charge extra for longer playtime, for providing food, and for medicating your pet. The Northside Animal Clinic recognizes that these are not optional, but are requirements for your pet’s happiness and wellbeing during your absence, so we don’t charge extra for these services.

Upon check-in, your dog will be provided with a roomy cage and plenty of comfortable bedding. But don’t worry – he’ll get out at least four times a day to play in our outdoor puppy park. This fenced area provides the dogs with a place to run, chase squirrels, and relax in the sunshine. He will be provided with Royal Canin’s Gastrointestinal Low-Fat food, which is very easy on his stomach to prevent any tummy troubles. However, we encourage owners to bring their own food, treats, bedding, and toys so that your animals can feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. Before your dog goes home, he’ll receive a free bath and blowout to ensure that he looks and feels his best after his stay.

Cats are also welcome to board with us, although their boarding process is very different! They stay in a quieter, more secluded area away from the dogs to cater to their reclusive nature and keep them more relaxed.

Because we are a veterinary clinic, you can feel comfortable knowing that your pet will be taken care of if it should fall ill during its stay. Our veterinary assistants are trained to recognize signs of illness and carefully monitor each animal to make sure everyone is feeling top-notch. If they notice any sickness, your pet will be able to see a veterinarian immediately to help them feel better as quickly as possible. However, proof of vaccinations is required for boarding, so the likelihood of your pet becoming sick while staying with us is incredibly slim. You can also request to have other services, like a nail trim, examination, ear cleaning or administration of heartworm prevention , while your pet stays with us so you don’t have to make an extra trip to the vet.

At the Northside Animal Clinic, we strive to make your pet feel completely safe and happy staying with us and we do everything possible to make that a reality. For more information about our boarding facility, please call us at (817)-641-7411 or email us at receptionist@northsideanimalvet.com.