Pet Boarding For Exotic Animals

Posted on: 12 August 2015

When you're going to be out of town, you may wonder how you can find a good care provider for your pet, especially if it's an exotic animal such as a snake, rabbit, or a ferret. Pet boarding facilities are often your best option for housing an exotic animal, since they can provide knowledgeable care. Here's what you need to know about boarding an exotic animal.

Pet Boarding Provides Critical Access to Healthcare

The main reason to always choose a pet boarding facility for your exotic animal is to protect its health. It can be very difficult to find a trusted source of pet care for an exotic animal, especially when it comes to your pet's health. While the average pet sitter may understand the signs that a dog or cat is sick just by comparing its behavior to that of other dogs and cats they've observed, it's harder for a layman to know when your snake or parrot needs to be taken to the vet based on its behavior and appearance.

If you choose a care facility that has experience in dealing with your pet, you can have more confidence that they will know what your pet needs to thrive while you're gone, and when to seek medical attention for your exotic animal if necessary.

Pet boarding facilities work closely with veterinarians to deliver healthcare that's appropriate for each animal. They understand the habits, temperament, and nutritional needs of your animal; the vet may even deliver a check-up or give needed vaccines during your pet's stay.

How to Find a Kennel for an Exotic Pet

With an exotic pet, you may need to do a bit more screening in order to make sure that your pet will be safe. The first thing to do is to make sure the facility accepts your animal, since not all kennels accept exotic animals. Next, ask about their experience in handling your type of pet. It can be helpful to visit the kennel and see how the staff handle your pet to test their comfort level with the pet. Next, make sure that the safety standards are good for your type of animal. For instance, some kennels won't have specific policies about what kinds of vaccinations are necessary for exotic animals, and this can be a problem if another exotic animal bites your pet. Talk with the veterinarian on staff to make sure that your pet will receive the same care and attention that non-exotic pets receive. 

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