Pre-Vacation Grooming Checklist for Your Pet

Schedule a professional grooming appointment two weeks before your trip. This gives the coat time to settle and ensures your pet starts the boarding or sitting period clean and mat-free. Inform the groomer about the trip so they prioritize hygiene areas.

Address any existing mats, skin issues, or coat problems now — not the day before you leave. A groomer who discovers severe matting during a pre-vacation groom may need to do a shave-down, and you want that done with you available to assess the result.

Trim nails two weeks out so they're comfortable length during boarding. Overgrown nails are the most common grooming issue sitters encounter, and they cause slipping on kennel floors and discomfort during walks.

Do a home brushing session to check for any new tangles forming since the professional groom. Pay special attention to friction zones — behind ears, under collar, armpits. Leave sitters with a brush and written instructions if your pet needs mid-stay brushing.

Clean ears and check for odor or discharge. Ear infections that start during boarding are common, especially in floppy-eared breeds. Starting with clean ears reduces the risk.

Verify flea and tick prevention is current. Boarding facilities and new environments expose pets to parasites. Apply prevention according to your vet's schedule before drop-off.

Write a grooming brief for your caregiver: coat type, brushing frequency, tools to use, areas prone to matting, and any sensitivities (e.g., 'don't touch paws,' 'hates ear cleaning'). Most sitters aren't groomers and need explicit guidance.

Leave your groomer's contact information in case the pet develops matting or a hygiene issue during a long stay. Some groomers offer mid-boarding touch-up appointments for regular clients.

For long-haired breeds boarding more than two weeks, arrange for a mid-stay brush-out or professional groom. Matting can develop in as little as seven to ten days without brushing in prone coats.

Quick brush to remove any debris from outdoor time. Clean eye corners and check for tear staining. Wipe paw pads clean.

Sanitary trim check: if your dog has long feathering or a fluffy rear, ensure the area is clean and trimmed so fecal matter doesn't accumulate during boarding. This is the number-one hygiene complaint from boarding staff.

Pack grooming supplies if the sitter agreed to maintenance brushing: the right brush, detangler spray, and treats for cooperation. Label everything and demonstrate the technique before you leave.