Tips From A Vet

Huang Xin, head of Guan Zhong Animal Hospital's branch in Yizhuang, Beijing, shares his tips for those who want to entrust their pets to others' care.

A 3-month-old dog should already have received all the necessary vaccines, he says. If not, it's better to entrust it to the care of a friend rather than a pet shop, to avoid the risk of getting an infectious disease.

He adds that pets with skin disease should be sent to a pet hospital for veterinary care rather than a pet shop. A pet hospital would care for the pets that need treatment in cages.

"Young and middle-aged pets, usually from ages 1 to 4, can be entrusted to the care of a pet shop or a pet-care institution. As for the old ones, it's better to ask a friend to take care of them, especially if they have never been entrusted like this before."

He says old cats and dogs are sensitive to noises, especially when there are firecrackers for celebration of the Spring Festival. Small dog breeds, including Yorkshire Terrier and Pekingese, are good examples.

"If they're scared, they won't eat. In a serious situation, they will have a stress response in the heart, which may cause sudden death."

He says pet owners check out a facility in person before making a decision. Is the place regularly disinfected? Are other pets healthy? Will the staff communicate with the owner in an emergency? The right answers ensure good care and give owners peace of mind.

He says some pet-care institutions in urban areas have spacious playgrounds for dogs to have fun, allowing each to enjoy a space of 2 or 3 square meters. But there can be dozens of dogs in such an institution, so it's not easy for staff to take very good care of all dogs or observe their health condition.

As for those who look after others' pets at their home, he says pet owners look for good circumstance - their pets will be transferred to another family and can enjoy freedom. However, when strange dogs live under one roof, they may fight with each other and scramble for food.

"I think it's best to raise each pet separately in a confined space, be it a cage or a tiny room. You can observe its feces and urine, and if it has diarrhea, you would know and identify the problem in time."

He says the prices for entrusting pets differ in accordance with the circumstances, such as the area of the living space. One can choose the places that offer each pet a relatively big room with good facilities and professional care. But that is more expensive, as much as several hundred yuan per day.