Can reduced food intake at dog boarding facilities affect behavior?

It can be difficult going from one place to another since Kane most likely doesn't understand. If he isn't eating I would recommend a physical to make sure there is nothing going on medically with him. If he is fine then I would talk to your veterinarian about how he is behaving. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Not necessarily. If this was his first time away from you, he may have had a touch of separation anxiety. He might also have gotten into bouts of barking with a neighbor. if he is not acting different (scared, anxious, hyperactive, etc.), and if he came back to you clean and bright-eyed, the facility is probably fine.

Hello. Certainly animals can be quite in tune with what is going on around them, especially some dogs that are sensitive. Changes in routine & emotions can definitely play a part. It does not hurt to speak with your veterinarian about this, as they know Apollo's health best, but if he is otherwise acting fairly normal, & just seems a bit off o his appetite, you can monitor things for awhile. If he completely stops eating all food & treats, or develops any vomiting or diarrhea, please have him evaluated as soon as possible. Hopefully, we will all be past this mess soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Oscar. Cats can respond to stress (ie. a boarding stay) with a decrease in appetite. You may want to inquire if he had any vomiting/diarrhea or lack of appetite during his stay. Continue to hand feed him. If his appetite does not return, consult his veterinarian if you can try another diet versus having him seen for an appointment. I hope this information helps!

Hi, the majority of dogs suffers with different degrees of anxiety when they are separated from their owner. How much stress is he going to suffer with will also depends on the facility. Some dogs cope well with being kennelled whilst other just find the experience very distressing. In general dogs have to get used to be separated from their owners, because there will be circumstances in life where they will just have to. If it is possible a gradual approach would be better, i.e. getting to know the new place and facilities beforehand for a few hours at time and helping making this experience as positive as possible. I have a very friendly submissive medium size dog and I have taken her into a kennel for 3 days. The place was recommended by a client of mine who funnily enough has a lot of greyhounds. My dog found the experience traumatising, she did not pass feaces for 3 days and I got home to a very frightened and constipated dog. Since then I have stopped using kennels. I had to take to leave her for another couple of days because my mum fell ill in hospital and left her with her dog walker who said had always dogs staying at her house with her own dogs. My dog was walked with these dogs beforehand, and when I left her at her house as I was about to leave, she got bitten on her ear by one of the other dogs. That was also a traumatic experience. I kept searching and finally found a home boarding place where they board only a few dogs at times, and they are all around her size .. they have huge gardens to run and can be kept separated in different parts of the house, so she had lots of pampering when I had to visit a sick member of my family abroad. We take her with us all the time when we travel for holidays but sadly there are occasions when she can’t be taken and I have managed to find a suitable alternative to our family company. Hope my experience helps ! All the best.

I agree with your vet. That sounds like a reasonable plan. I don't think this has anything to do with what he is eating. If you think he is bored with his dry food you can speak to your vet about changing it but I would not do that just now. Don't change anything this week and see what happens.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chooch. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. Boarding can be stressful for a dog. It can also exacerbate underlying arthritis if she slept on the hard surface of a kennel floor. Her veterinarian will examine her and determine if joint pain is causing her sudden change in behavior. If so, pain medication can be prescribed. Blood work may be recommended to determine if she has any organ dysfunction as well. In the meantime, help her move around if she needs assistance. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!