Hate the act of leaving for vacation with pets

I hate the act of leaving for vacation.

Dropped Nugget off at the kennel. It really is a great kennel. They will walk your dog, take him swimming, groom even obedience school him while he is boarded. But Nugget gets terrified. And it's the worst feeling.

Then there's V. God knows what he will look like when I get home. I can't even think about how guilty I feel walking away from a sick fish.

And general worry about the others. Of course since I am leaving the tail damage Motley has had for weeks I guess from spawning behavior now looks, in my head, like fin rot.

The ranchus are of course at the tail end of their minicycle. I tested it by avoiding WC the last two days and they have a very faint nitrite reading still.

I have someone coming to look in on the fish daily. And as I prepare to surrender control of my beloved pets, my brain goes to a crazy place.

This was a surprise vacation, not one I was in any way prepared for. And it's not even 4 days. I leave tomorrow morning and return Sunday night. But I feel like everything will fall apart while I am gone.

Ugh it's awful.

 

hmmm.

vecation is for relaxing...

maybe you should go when you are a little more comfortable with leaving your pets...

I have a good friend who cares for mine while I am gone... but none of them are sick.

 

Oh god, I know that feeling. I stayed home the last two times my family went away just so the dogs didn't have to stay with other people, I worry something terrible will happen. Coming back to bad news would tear me up.

I have been away while my sister has stayed and looked after the dogs but I was on the phone to her once or even twice a day xD We just need to keep telling ourselves we are being stupid.

 

I know how you feel. I was gone for over a week in June and was freaking out also, because my betta Saffron was in a tank that was still cycling and I had just gotten rid of the internal parasites in my cichlid tank and was worried they would come back while I was gone.

So I know exactly how you feel. Everything turned out well tho. Saffrons tank was cycled and he actually grew! I was shocked. And my cichlids were just fine other than a couple torn fins, but that's normal because of them being aggressive.

 

It is always so hard for animal lovers to go on vacation!

 

I know it is rough leaving on a vacation, PI.

Please take the time to relax, rest, and when you come back everyone will be happy to see you and you will have some new and wonderful experiences to share.

I know it is terrible for me to even trust my husband to take care of the fish and I'm right here with him. Make sure your caretaker has full instructions and if you're still concerned, share the phone number where you will be staying. It may give you more peace of mind while you are gone.

I do hope you have an enjoyable vacation!

 

I know it is rough leaving on a vacation, PI.

Please take the time to relax, rest, and when you come back everyone will be happy to see you and you will have some new and wonderful experiences to share.

I know it is terrible for me to even trust my husband to take care of the fish and I'm right here with him. Make sure your caretaker has full instructions and if you're still concerned, share the phone number where you will be staying. It may give you more peace of mind while you are gone.

I do hope you have an enjoyable vacation!

Good advice... Very good advice.

 

Thanks guys.

Believe me...I have. He has just about every phone number within a 10 mile radius of the suite. And a daily checklist, and I trained him on everything simplifying as much as possible.

It's a beach vacation, which I really need. But honestly if I had the choice? I would stay and postpone. But my hope is it's a blessing. I think V has had enough of the meds and they aren't working anymore anyway. Maybe a break from my meddling will do him good. It's hard for me to stand by and watch him deteriorate without doing something but now I'm being forced to.

My hope is that he's not so bad off that he's suffering by the time I return. I just don't want him alone and sick and miserable. But right now he's okay except he is spending a lot of time in his plants and log, but still eats and comes out sometimes. He seems mostly okay and I think the meds are wearing on him more than the rot itself.

So I'm hoping the break from all of it will do him good.

I would give almost anything for this trip to be happening next week. It's kind of the worst time All my stuff for the nursing program is due on Friday as well, so I've got like a 100 balls in the air. I know my dog is safe, as much as I hate leaving him, I just hope the fish will be too.

 

Try catching fish or turtles or frogs on your vacation.

 

Try catching fish or turtles or frogs on your vacation.

Lol. Not sure how many of those I'll be finding on the beach, but, I'll keep an eye out.

 

Try catching fish or turtles or frogs on your vacation.

Yes, this is what I do when I'm on vacation to kind of sooth my need for animals around. Every time I see a body of fresh water I have to go look in it and see what's living in it. It calms me down and distracts me so that's some very good advise

 

Yes, this is what I do when I'm on vacation to kind of sooth my need for animals around. Every time I see a body of fresh water I have to go look in it and see what's living in it. It calms me down and distracts me so that's some very good advise

I always bring my net and bucket.

 

I spend most of my time actually in the water when I'm at the beach. But we used to dig for sand crabs as a kid. And once there was a young seal that somehow ended up on the beach. They fenced him in till wildlife care units could be dispatched. We became fast friends. With my mother screaming at me not to get too close, haha, of course I did not listen. I still have photos.

There was also this beach in CA where the water got deep really fast. In my early teens, I used to go there all the time to surf because it wasn't too crowded. I was way out behind the breakers and just hanging out on the board where the water was still and a herd of dolphins came through. So close I was able to touch them. One of the single greatest moments of my life.

But I've always had to feel that animal need. In Hawaii, we used to catch lizards and keep them in an empty 5 gallon water jug. And it's nice, I do need it, but it's not QUITE the same as not having my pets with me. It's a control thing. I'm only leaving 4 days and I've certainly gone 4 days without messing with my tanks besides feeding them, but I'm still nearby if something happens.

I don't suppose any of you feel like taking a 4 day vacay in Pittsburgh haha? You could camp out at my house.

 

I always bring my net and bucket.

Me too!! Haha and a battery operated air pump if it takes awhile for me to study them.

 

I spend most of my time actually in the water when I'm at the beach. But we used to dig for sand crabs as a kid. And once there was a young seal that somehow ended up on the beach. They fenced him in till wildlife care units could be dispatched. We became fast friends. With my mother screaming at me not to get too close, haha, of course I did not listen. I still have photos.

There was also this beach in CA where the water got deep really fast. In my early teens, I used to go there all the time to surf because it wasn't too crowded. I was way out behind the breakers and just hanging out on the board where the water was still and a herd of dolphins came through. So close I was able to touch them. One of the single greatest moments of my life.

I wish I could find some crabs....... all I have found is one dead normal crab...... maybe because this is MA.....

 

I wish I could find some crabs....... all I have found is one dead normal crab...... maybe because this is MA.....

Maybe haha. Sand crabs are kind of weird. You have to dig into wet sand for them. Beach crabs crack me up, all with the running sideways and hiding in burrows with just their eyes exposed. I saw one last year at the beach and I laughed till I cried.

 

I hear you. When I got back from my last vacation, my dog Baron had kennel cough (despite getting vaccinated), a fever and a sprained tail. That was the first time I've ever boarded him, and it was only done because no one could watch him. I won't board him again.

 

I hear you. When I got back from my last vacation, my dog Baron had kennel cough (despite getting vaccinated), a fever and a sprained tail. That was the first time I've ever boarded him, and it was only done because no one could watch him. I won't board him again.

Oy. Thank you for that nightmare. I have a hard time with it. I try to be cool dropping him off so he doesn't freak out but I always end up in tears. I've only ever done it twice. He did much better this time until they actually took him away. That was too much. He came back from the kennel with a scrape on his nose, but he has that enormous nose and he uses it like a wedge to sneak into the door and stuff. He's whacked his nose of our door many times, I couldn't really blame them for him having done the same there. But he's been anxious around other dogs since he was attacked.

I have mixed feelings about leaving him in someone else's care. I feel like there's a lot more uncontrolled variables and things that could go wrong. People will automatically revert to how they are used to having their dogs, sometimes in ways they don't even realize, and that's not always what's best for your dog. I feel I have more control this way. I hate the idea of sticking him in a cage for 4 days except for walks, but I like the idea of him being safely contained in a cage for 4 days. I think there needs to be a fish sitting company that will come and look in on your fish with experienced fish keepers.

 

Aww, I'm sure you know this, but he'll think he has a reason to be upset if you're upset. To compound that, the person he goes to comfort won't be there to comfort him. You really have to be the happiest person in the room when you drop him off. I know it's hard. The place I took Baron to did not even wait around long enough for me to get upset about anything. They were out from behind the counter and whisked him off before I could do much of anything but pat him on the head. I'm sure it was intentional to make things easier on my dog.

 

Aww, I'm sure you know this, but he'll think he has a reason to be upset if you're upset. To compound that, the person he goes to comfort won't be there to comfort him. You really have to be the happiest person in the room when you drop him off. I know it's hard. The place I took Baron to did not even wait around long enough for me to get upset about anything. They were out from behind the counter and whisked him off before I could do much of anything but pat him on the head. I'm sure it was intentional to make things easier on my dog.

Oh I know. The blubbering starts after they take him away lol. I don't know that I'm the happiest person when I drop him off, but i'm under control. I have slight OCD issues (no, really?) and I have a ritual surrounding leaving my pets that helps chase away some of the intrusive, irrational thoughts.

I could deal with him being at the kennel. That's just plain old sadness. It's the fish that have me worried because it's a bit more than that. Things aren't quite stable. I think the ranchus will be fine. If he has to do a WC in that tank, which I highly doubt, it's really easy to do. But mostly I just taught him to run the ammonia/nitrite tests and told him how to dose the tank with Prime every 24 hours.

It's V's tank I'm really worried about. Since a WC in his tank is totally unfeasible. He'd have to match the temp from the sink, dose the water. I have no idea what his cycle looks like post medication because I don't give ammonia time to build up anyway, trying to keep his water pristine and he's one betta in a moderately planted 10 gallon so it doesn't show up quickly. So I'm hoping with that and one feeding a day, the levels will be okay.

I only have him feeding V at all to keep him strong. If he's suffering from the fin rot I'm not having him hungry at the same time. And the goldies are getting one, tiny, pre-portioned pellet meal (thank you pill boxes) to keep them shredding my plants. I fenced in my water sprite, which is keeping my nitrates below 5ppm, with anacharis. Hopefully that'll do the trick.

I just have this terrible fear I am going to return home and he will have body rot. And will have been alone and suffering. Ugh. I have to stop doing this to myself haha.

Stupid surprise vacations.

 

Try not to worry too much, PI. I am hoping you will return home, look at V and think "Wow! Your tail is starting to look better!"

I truly hope you can relax, take life as it comes rather than worrying too much and enjoy your time.

I know that is hard to do, but sometimes you have to think of you.

 

Have a nice trip! I'm not too active on the forums but it seems like you give a lot of your time and energy to your fish and animals, which is great, but it also about balance.

 

I spend most of my time actually in the water when I'm at the beach. But we used to dig for sand crabs as a kid. And once there was a young seal that somehow ended up on the beach. They fenced him in till wildlife care units could be dispatched. We became fast friends. With my mother screaming at me not to get too close, haha, of course I did not listen. I still have photos.

There was also this beach in CA where the water got deep really fast. In my early teens, I used to go there all the time to surf because it wasn't too crowded. I was way out behind the breakers and just hanging out on the board where the water was still and a herd of dolphins came through. So close I was able to touch them. One of the single greatest moments of my life.

But I've always had to feel that animal need. In Hawaii, we used to catch lizards and keep them in an empty 5 gallon water jug. And it's nice, I do need it, but it's not QUITE the same as not having my pets with me. It's a control thing. I'm only leaving 4 days and I've certainly gone 4 days without messing with my tanks besides feeding them, but I'm still nearby if something happens.

I don't suppose any of you feel like taking a 4 day vacay in Pittsburgh haha? You could camp out at my house.

I would so do it but I don't think I can afford a flight to PA from here...lol

He'll be fine, I mean, worrying won't do any good.

try to enjoy it a little bit...

I'm so sorry about V.:'(