Is your dog ever stressed after boarding?

[nkereina]

We have an 11 year old Pomeranian that we board 1-2 times a year when we travel. We had him boarded last week for 10 days, picking him up this past Monday. Since then, he's been acting normal but has thrown up twice and has some mushy, light tan colored bowel movements. We've been feeding him boiled chicken, white rice, and canned pumpkin which he eats with no issue. Still playing with his toys. The boarding facility (also his vet) said he did not have the symptoms while he was there, and there's nothing going around the kennel that they know of.

We have a vet appointment for him tomorrow, but I'm wondering if an upset stomach can be a common thing after you bring a dog home from boarding? Between the stress of the facility and change in environments maybe? We'll be getting it checked out, but just curious if anyone has experienced anything similar with their dogs. Thanks!

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes stress after boarding is not unheard of. That is exactly why we do not board our older dog. She gets so stressed out and then very excited when we get home that she's a mess for a week after.

 

[Poohforyou]

Yes, and that's why for the last few years we've had a pet sitter stay at our house. We haven't had any issue since. The sitter is,actually cheaper than boarding but that actually doesn't matter as much as having a happy and healthy dog.

 

[Christine]

My dog gets horribly stressed, so we don't board her anymore, but she usually "acts" stressed.

Or maybe your dog is not stressed and just picked up some gastric irritation from the change in routine.

 

[nkereina]

Thanks all. He's been boarded probably 4 times or so in the last 2 years and he hasn't had this reaction before, however this was a longer stint for him. Appreciate the experiences, I feel better and will look for other options in the future! Thanks!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes, absolutely.

My dog has gotten kennel cough both times he was boarded. (And horrible eye gunk from one place.)

Perhaps your dog just isn't feeling well after his stay.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes, and that's why for the last few years we've had a pet sitter stay at our house. We haven't had any issue since. The sitter is,actually cheaper than boarding but that actually doesn't matter as much as having a happy and healthy dog.

Same here. It is cheaper for us to have an overnight sitter and dog walker then it is for the dogs to go to boarding. They are also much happier in their own environment.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Mine loves the boarding place, hates the car ride there & back

 

[Hikergirl]

We used to board our dog for our long trips but she was stressed when we came back. Just like the pp, our dog would be a mess for a week after. We started planning vacations we could bring her, and if that isn't possible she stays with family.

 

[katie01]

Curious for those of you who have an overnight sitter in the home, how much do you pay?

 

[Snowysmom]

My dog sometimes shows stress after boarding. If he we board him for a week or a bit more, he tends to show anxiety more. But he really showed it when he would have to spend the entire day, from 9-4, at the groomers. The vet explained that our dog gets so anxious and stressed that it overwhelms the good bacteria in his intestines so he gets the loose stool and a bit of vomiting. We changed to a groomer who only keeps him 2-3 hours, just long enough to bathe and clip him, and he is fine now. He is a rescue dog with anxiety so that doesn't help.

 

[chiisai]

Curious for those of you who have an overnight sitter in the home, how much do you pay?

It will vary by city and by sitter. Some charge $30 a night, some $70 (in your area it might be lower or higher). Check out rover.com - we used a sitter we found through that site recently.

 

[katie01]

It will vary by city and by sitter. Some charge $30 a night, some $70 (in your area it might be lower or higher). Check out rover.com - we used a sitter we found through that site recently.

Thank you!

 

[Nettester]

Our dog is almost 7, and he is extremely tired after boarding. He sleeps a lot more than usual the first day back. And he although he's very excited to see us pick him up, he really does seem kind of pissed off at us for a day or so once he settles in back home. The older he gets, the more anxious he gets about checking in to boarding and the more depressed he seems at home afterwards. When he was a puppy and a younger dog, it seemed like he just loved going, and there wasn't any "adjusting back to home mood" He's not awful with it now, it's just changed for him as he gets older. Now we try to bring him to grandma's house or we don't all travel at the same time so he can stay home more often.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Our dogs were always tired after picking them up from the kennel and would sleep for a day. As they got older they started being more stressed at the kennel and would have digestive upsets.

They are 12yo now with fatty tumors and arthritis, so we try and have someone come in to dog sit instead of boarding.

 

[aprilgail]

I boarded my dog when we went to Florida- the 3rd day they called and said we needed to come get him, he would not eat or drink or leave his kennel. Luckily my brother was around so he went and got him and brought him to my house and looked in on him a few times a day. After that when we went away we had someone come in and feed him and let him out a few times a day and it was fine.

 

[sam_gordon]

Is your dog ever stressed after boarding?

Only if he's flying United.

 

[Sydney2977]

Ours is. Our older dog never had a problem and the younger one didn't used to. We've used the same AKC certified facility with vet care available bright next door for 15 years. The older dog passed away Dec. 2015. When we left the younger one in March 2016 for a week she hardly ate anything and lost weight. We thought she just missed her sister. We left her for under a week in Nov. when we went to visit family- she escaped out of the gated enclosure outside and then almost got in a fight with a bigger dog. In Dec. when we went for less than a week to visit DS she somehow almost hung herself trying to get out so now the facility can't board her due to the risk for her.

All three times she has come home and not been herself for at least a few days. Thankfully the staff has communicated to us about her diet and behavior and interactions while she was there. Do they require a kennel cough vacine before boarding?

 

[Jennasis]

We've been very fortunate to have found a (so far) great boarding place for our two girls. We go away 3-4 times a year either to Disney or quick trips up to NY to visit my family. Every time we've picked them up they seem happy and healthy. More importantly, when I drop them off they are very excited/happy to get in the place and are practically leaping over the counter to get inside.

Maybe they had a dog(s) there who somehow upset your dog? Or she could have picked up some cooties. Might be worth just calling and asking them if anything happened orif anyone else reported their dog feeling under the weather?

 

[ols386]

We only boarded our dog once and when we brought him home, he ignored us for a couple days, so we figured he didn't like being boarded. Have never boarded him again.