Bedding:
For their comfort, all guests receive hypoallergenic lambskin blankets (dog guests staying in suites also receive Poochy Cots). Any bedding brought from home must be washable. We are not responsible for damage to any personal belongings.
Food:
We feed our guests Hills Science Diet Advanced Nutrition Food. If you prefer to bring your pet’s food from home, please bring only the amount that your pet will need for his or her stay, as our kitchen space is limited. We are sorry but we cannot accept raw food diets.
Homecoming:
Cats
Indoor/Outdoor: Most cats adapt easily to being home again. However, if your cat is allowed outdoors, keep her exclusively inside for a few days after returning home.
Dogs
Relief:
- Give your dog a chance to relieve himself outside before getting into your vehicle for the ride home.
- It is not uncommon for dogs to have loose stool upon returning home. If your dog has diarrhea, offering bland foods like boiled chicken and rice may help. Withholding food for 12-24 hours to give his system a chance to rest may also help. If your pet is vomiting, not eating, or the diarrhea is not improving, Call your veterinarian to discuss treatment options.
* If your dog vomits immediately upon getting home, it is possible that it is from the car ride or excitement. Allow your pet to rest and try to minimize excitement. If the vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
Food & Water:
It is best to wait at least 30 minutes after returning home to offer your dog water.
This will help prevent any vomiting that may occur from the car ride or from the excitement of being home. When offering water, offer only small amounts at first or if your pet eats ice cubes, try those. Drinking large amounts of water quickly can cause dogs to vomit. Wait at least four hours after returning home to offer your dog food. This will give him time to settle in and calm down. After four hours or at your pets next regular meal time (if after 4 hours), start by offering small amounts of food.
Sleep:
After the excitement of being away, it’s normal for your dog to sleep more than usual for the first few days after returning home.
Coughing:
If your dog starts coughing within a week of coming home, he may have tracheobronchitis, a contagious condition in dogs similar to the common cold in humans. The condition is not contagious to humans. Symptoms include:
- Dry hacking cough
- Discharge from eyes or nose
- Lethargic behavior
- Loss of appetite
If you notice any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
All dogs staying at PetSmart PetsHotel must be vaccinated against tracheobronchitis. However, the Bordetella vaccine does not provide protection against all of the viruses that can cause this disease, so a dog may become ill even if he’s vaccinated. PetSmart PetsHotel follows strict sanitation procedures. However, no amount of supervision, sanitation or personalized care by any boarding facility can prevent a dog from catching an airborne virus.
