If you share your home with one or more furry friends, you already know how much they contribute to your quality of life. You undoubtedly love spending time with them and really appreciate how much richer they make your life. However, you also probably know that there are times and circumstances where you've got to leave them in the hands of others on a temporary basis. For instance, if you live alone and need to go on a business trip, taking your domestic pet along really isn't advisable. Keep in mind that even hotels and motels that advertise themselves as being pet-friendly have policies against leaving pets alone in the room.

Fortunately, pet owners have a variety of options to choose from when leaving their pets in the care of others, from full-service boarding kennels to leaving the animals at home and having a friend, neighbor, or paid pet sitter feed them and otherwise look out for their well-being. No matter which option you choose as the one that best suits your individual needs and preferences, though, it's essential that you authorize someone to act on your behalf in the event your pet experiences a medical emergency and you can't be reached. Here are just three important points that you need to consider.

Your Pet's Overall Health

While accidents and surprise illnesses can and do happen to domestic pets of all ages, the chances are significantly higher if your pet has existing health conditions or has reached an advanced age. If this is the case with your pet, you're better off leaving it in the care of an experienced boarding professional rather than simply depending on casual arrangements with friends, family, or neighbors.

Your Personal Financial Limitations

This is a difficult subject for many pet owners, but the fact remains that emergency care in an animal hospital is often prohibitively expensive. Establishing a cap on your upper limit on costs and communicating that clearly to the person authorized to make decisions concerning your pet on your behalf during your absence will save both you and your veterinary care provider a significant amount of trouble.

How You'll Pay for Emergency Treatment

No matter what financial limit you ultimately decide on, you'll also need to establish how the emergency treatment will be paid for. For instance, if you're leaving your pet with a good friend or family member, you may want to enter into a casual agreement that the person will pay and that you'll reimburse them upon your return. A boarding facility or professional pet sitter, on the other hand, may require you to fill out a pet care emergency form just so that there are no questions or complications if they need to seek care for your pet.

For more advice, get in touch with a clinic such as Center-Sinai Animal Hospital.