How to Board Exotic Pets

16th May 2015

Locating the right boarding business for your cat or dog can be quite a process. Finding a place for any exotic pets you might have could prove downright difficult. Where to leave your parrot or your bearded dragon will be a challenging task, more than likely, because finding someone with enough knowledge of these unusual pets to give you the peace of mind you need to leave town can sometimes require a lot of research. Any pet outside of the normal feline or canine will bring about strong reactions in other people. It’s amazing how many people are frightened of birds! And how many people are going to raise their hands when you ask for someone to volunteer to keep your boa constrictor for the week? What about that cuddly tarantula you call “Baby”? Caring for exotics takes experience and know-how in case any medical issues should arise. The average person wouldn’t be capable of realizing a snake or a bird was exhibiting signs of an illness.

The first option to consider is whether you might be able to leave your exotic pet at home and have someone come in to feed and care for them while you’re gone. Birds, in particular, do much better in familiar surroundings and are easily upset by change. If a person could come in twice a day and stay for maybe 15 minutes, your exotic animals should be good for 2 or 3 days. If you plan to be gone longer than that, the helper you’ve hired should spend more time in your home with the animal. Care should be given to keep the pet on the same schedule they’re used to, feeding the same things, and observing the same cage habits (i.e. covering at night). It’s best to spend time with the helper before you leave, showing them exactly how you care for your pets on a daily basis and letting them know what to expect from each animal.   Perhaps you could return the favor sometime for your pet caregiver if they have exotic pets of their own.

A second option might be to ask your exotic pet’s veterinarian if your pet could possibly stay in the office in your absence. Even if the business doesn’t offer pet boarding, they will sometimes help out in the case of an exotic pet. If this plan works out, you will want to move all of the animal’s required equipment: lights, cage or aquarium, food bowls, water dishes. Keep the set up just like home as much as possible. Odds are you can reach an agreement on the daily charge for boarding and care.

Your third possibility for help with your three pet scorpions while you’re at Aunt Esther’s would be finding a pet boarding service that welcomes and is well-versed on the care of many different types of pets. If you’re from a rural area, this might involve driving a distance to the nearest large city. Although this might be taxing, it would be worth it to know that your parakeets or turtles are in good hands. Normally, the business is also operating as a veterinary service for exotics, so an experienced doctor would be available for any issues that might come up. This service will not be inexpensive, but the peace of mind you’ll get from leaving your pets with a reputable boarding service will be worth it.

When you own an exotic animal, travel should definitely be the exception to the rule. All domestic animals are affected by their owner’s absence, but exotic animals seem to react in negative ways more often than cats or dogs. Birds, in particular, often react badly to being left by their owner. If traveling is a regular event in your life, you might want to reconsider how feasible it is to maintain care of an exotic pet.    

If you are an exotic pet owner and know of a great place to leave your pets, why not Suggest a Business you know of, and help others find their ideal exotic pet boarding solution? Off course we would also love for you to write a review too. We are always here to help. So if you need anything at all, please feel free to contact us at anytime.

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