I have 3 dogs, I haven't had Lily my yorkie but a few months so haven't had to take any trips yet. I have boarded my chihuahua 3 different times. Two times for a week each and the last time was for 2 weeks(this was before we had our pom too). I always worried sick about her and called them every day. That last time was extremely hard on her. When I picked her up she came home and had bloody stools and diarreah for a week before my vet figured out the problem, irritable bowel due to the stress in the kennel. I had left her in the same place as the other times which was a veterinarian office. My vet said now if she is ever extremely stressed it could flair up again. She even had to be on a prescription diet for it(I switched her to natural balance). I think it is much harder on the smaller breed dogs, they are so use to being with their family all the time. I knew she didn't enjoy being there and away from me too, but the 3 times I boarded her was because we went on a vacation with another family that doesn't like dogs. Needless to say I will NEVER board her or any of them again. We are going to Cleveland the day after Thanksgiving and taking all 3. We have decided if we can't take them or have a family member watch them then we stay home. It takes a little more planning, like finding pet friendly accomodations, taking 3 crates for the room while we are out. We have traveled with the chi and pomeranian a few times before we got Lily and it has worked out fine. I just can't bring myself to leave them again, and they all love to "go bye-bye". |