Helpful Hints When Leaving Your Pet with a Sitter

We all have to leave our pet at home from time to time. Here are a couple of helpful hints to make your vacation (and your pet's) more relaxing.

Remember that advance planning prevents problems. Ensure that your petsitter has the phone number of both your regular veterinarian and the closest trusted pet emergency center. They should have directions to both hospitals. You should provide them with emergency contact numbers so you can be alerted in the case of an emergency.

Your petsitter should have the ability to leave a deposit for necessary medical care. There are emergencies that require immediate authorization and deposit. You may not be reachable at that time and most veterinary practices require a deposit BEFORE medical care is instituted.

The petsitter should also have an idea of how far you would like to go with medical care. This becomes particularly important if you are not reachable, even for a few moments. The petsitter might be making LIFE or DEATH decisions about your loved one. Be as specific as possible. It is OK to speak in terms of prognosis, finances or pain and suffering. For example, you might wish to discontinue care if the prognosis is poor. You may not wish to put your pet through painful therapy if the prognosis is unknown. Remember any decision is OK, while no decision can lead to extended pain and suffering for your pet.

There is no way to prevent all emergencies or even to foresee all possible events while you are away, but proper preparation can prevent undue distress for all parties involved.