Boarding FAQ

• Bedding - Please do not bring bedding from home. To ensure the cleanest environment possible, we provide all our guests with clean bedding daily.
• Food - Veterinarians do not recommend a sudden diet change. You must bring your pet's regular diet from home in pre-measured Ziploc baggies labeled with the date/time (AM or PM) it's to be given. If you choose to have us provide your pet's food (at no additional charge), we feed a high-quality, gastrointestinal food for sensitive stomachs to help avoid an upset stomach due to a sudden food change.
• Treats - Rawhides, bones, and other chewies are not permitted while boarding. Peanut Butter Kong treats are available for an additional charge.
• Medications - We are happy to give your pet's medication while they're staying with us and also welcome special needs boarders like diabetics that require blood glucose monitoring and insulin injections. There will be an additional daily fee for this service. All medication must be in the original container. We will only give prescription medication as indicated on the label, or as directed by a veterinarian. Any over-the-counter medication or supplement is also subject to the veterinarian's approval before being given.

Of course!! Oscar was fed the food that his owner brought when he was dropped off, or if his pet owner didn’t drop of his food, Oscar was fed our high-quality dry food. Occasionally, pets do not eat as much while they board, so it is “normal” for them to play catch up once they return to their homes.

Unless it is a puppy, pets are not fed lunch. Just like my 3-year old son when he gets home from school, they have usually built up a huge appetite playing all day!

Of course, it goes without saying that after a surgery/dental, pets are hungry because they were fasted the morning of the procedure!

All pets have access to water during their stay. That being said, when they are here just for the day, they are given water when they are walked. This is to prevent them from splashing and turning over water bowls in the cages (and getting dirty). It is also normal for pets to feel more comfortable drinking water when they return home.

Chances are, Fido is worn out! If we did our job, Fido had lots of playtime and exercise while staying with us. There is so much activity in our hospital that Fido is likely overstimulated and excited. Because of this, his sleeping pattern changes in the time he was here with us. He just needs to catch up on his zzzzz’s!! Typically after a good night’s sleep, Fido feels like playing within the next 24 hours. I usually feel like sleeping a lot when I come home from vacation as well!

We can assure you, if Maggie was having diarrhea, the staff and doctors would have contacted you and started Maggie on medicine. That is the good thing about boarding your pet at a veterinary hospital…if they develop problems, the issues are addressed immediately.

Additionally, pets often experience excitement when returning home. Plus, they are often rewarded with treats/chews upon arriving home. So this “excitement” leads to colitis, a common cause of loose or watery stool. Some pet owners expect it and we arrange to send home medication to prevent diarrhea.

We take every precaution at Cedarcrest Animal Hospital to prevent viruses and parasites from being passed along. Stalls/runs and cages are sterilized. We require dogs to be checked every 6 months for parasites (unlike annually at most vet hospitals). This is the reason: some of the parasites we see are easily spread between dogs (Coccidia and Giardia) and are not prevented by monthly heartworm preventatives. We have staff that clean/scoop fecal material as soon as it hits the ground.

So, to recap, loose stool/diarrhea is common but please let us know if it continues for more than 24 hours.

Our goal and hope is that your pet returns home happy and healthy! Of course, there is always a chance your pet may get sick while at our hospital, but we do everything we can to prevent it. We aim to have smiles and wags all around!