"What should I bring?" comes up in almost every pet hotel. The client wants to prepare their pet well, and the hotel wants to avoid finding out on arrival day that food, vaccination proof, medication instructions, or an important health note is missing.
It is worth answering this once, clearly, instead of rewriting the same message every time. A short packing list can be sent before a first stay and reused before busy periods.
The list should not be long for its own sake. It should help the client pack what is actually useful and avoid items that make daily work harder.
Documents and vaccinations
Health information comes first. Say exactly which vaccinations are required and how the client should confirm them.
In practice, ask for:
- a health booklet or a photo of current vaccinations,
- deworming information if required,
- veterinary contact details for pets with health issues,
- a list of medicines with exact dosage,
- allergy information.
If these requirements are stable, put them on your website and in the pre-stay message. The client should not learn about a missing vaccination only when standing at reception.
Food and feeding routine
For many pets, a new place is already enough stress. Changing food at the same time can make the stay harder.
Ask the client to bring food for the whole stay, ideally with one extra day of reserve. Also collect the practical details: how many meals per day, portion size, treats allowed or not, foods to avoid, and any stomach problems after food changes.
Food should be labelled with the pet's name. During a full week, small habits like this save a lot of searching.
Bedding, blanket, or something familiar
Not every pet needs its own bed, but many dogs and cats settle faster with a familiar smell. A blanket, mat, or small bed is usually a good compromise.
Make the expectation clear: things can get dirty or damaged. Clients should not bring expensive or sentimental items. The same applies to toys. Some hotels allow one or two, others avoid them for safety reasons. The rule matters less than making it clear before arrival.
Lead, collar, and safe arrival
Arrival and pickup are easy moments for chaos. The pet is excited, the client is in a hurry, and another family may be arriving at the same time.
Remind clients to bring a well-fitted collar or harness, a lead, an ID tag if the pet wears one, and a carrier for cats or small dogs. Even if the hotel has spare equipment, the pet should arrive safely and under control.
Medicines and instructions
If a pet takes medicine, the instruction must be specific. "One tablet in the morning" is not enough. Write down the medicine name, dose, time, method of giving it, and what to do if the pet refuses.
Medicines should be in original packaging or clearly labelled. For longer stays, ask for an extra day's supply. This information cannot live only in a phone conversation.
What is better left at home?
Clients often pack with good intentions, but not everything belongs in a pet hotel. It helps to say what not to bring:
- expensive or sentimental toys,
- too many accessories,
- unlabelled open food packages,
- treats without ingredient information,
- items the pet can destroy or swallow.
This does not need to sound strict. Explain that the goal is safety, hygiene, and easier care.
How to send the list
Send the list after confirming the stay and remind the client a few days before arrival. Keep it short and consistent.
The hotel gets clearer arrivals. The client gets fewer doubts. The team does not give slightly different answers depending on who picked up the phone.
AnimalAdmin helps keep client records, pet profiles, vaccinations, notes, and reservations in one place, so preparation does not depend only on memory or the last message in a phone thread.