Those who have a pet also deserve to relax during the holiday season, and many people choose to take advantage of the holidays to rest and travel with their dog or cat.
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However, their well-being needs to be considered. According to Thais Matos, a veterinarian at DogHero, a service platform of Petlove, they are not always benefited during these leisure moments on trips.
“When the owner decides to travel with their pet, they are forced to spend many hours in the carrier, especially on longer trips by plane or bus, for example. The stress of the journey can be so great that it can cause a drop in the animal’s immunity, and it may start to develop certain health problems,” considers Thais.
The specialist also emphasizes that leaving the pet alone at home, even with enough food and water and their favorite toys scattered around the space, is not a viable alternative. Besides being left without proper care, they may face problems such as separation anxiety, suffering too much from the lack of company.
“No matter if the owner will be away for a few or many days, there needs to be a qualified person to attend to the needs of the animal. Another reason not to leave it alone is that many breeds need a daily dose of exercise, and by being without company at home, they can experience depression, even refusing to eat,” warns the veterinarian.
Therefore, it is ideal to look for professional caregivers so that the animal’s physical and psychological needs are met. Some options such as pet sitting and home boarding can address this need and ensure the well-being of the dog or cat in the absence of the owner.
Murillo Trauer, director of DogHero, explains that these services exist precisely to cover the moments of the owners’ absence and adds that the heroes, as the company’s partners are called, are designated to maintain the care routine that the dog or cat are already accustomed to.
“Owners want to take advantage of the rest time and need someone they can trust to attend and take care of the pet. In this way, DogHero presents itself as a responsible alternative capable of promoting the necessary care through categories such as pet sitter, when the hero goes to the pet’s house, boarding or daycare, when the animal is received by a host,” highlights the director.
How to choose the ideal option?
The pet sitter service is the most indicated for the animal to maintain its routine without leaving its environment, since the responsible professional makes regular visits to the home, which is an important differentiator to provide more comfort to the animal, as many can become skittish in new environments.
Cats, for example, do not like change very much. Therefore, leaving the feline in a pet hotel may not be a good idea, as it may become stressed and go through difficult times. The pet sitter plays, puts food and water, changes the mat, and attends to everything the animal needs, in case it is elderly, undergoing special treatment, or taking medications.
In home boarding, the dog or cat spends the day and night at the host’s residence, receiving all the attention and care it deserves, as if it were at home, being ideal for owners who need to be away for many days.
In this service, the pet may share the stay with other animals, being an important option for socialization for dogs, allowing them to interact with new friends. The heroes can even send videos and photos during the animal’s stay so that the owner can be at ease and follow the routine of their pet.
In the case of boarding, it is important to pack a kind of suitcase for the animal, containing items such as the vaccination card, food with the bowl that the dog or cat is used to, bed, mat, medications, and everyday items, to maintain the routine as close as possible to the usual, ensuring the well-being of the furry companion.
