I could use some decision-making help here.
On the 8th of September I have my first appointment with my new specialist, who is in London. We won't be gone overnight and there are a couple of options for Ben's care during the day. 1) My SO will take me, and my father will come over and look after Ben. 2) My father will take me to London, and Ben will be alone for the morning, let out and played with at lunch by my SO, and then alone for the afternoon until SO gets home from work. Either way I am unlikely to get back before early evening. The third option is kenneling Ben for the first time for the day. That isn't strictly necessary because as you can see there are other options, but.....
My current (or now previous I suppose) specialist said that my new specialist's MO when he gets a referral case like mine is to put the patient (me) in the hospital and run every test known to man so that he gets a complete medical picture. That means I am very likely going to be hospitalised in London. If I am, my SO will of course want to be with me...and it's too far to commute every day, not to mention lethally expensive. My SO can come to London with me and stay with some family I have there, and work in his company's London office, but that means he's not at home to take care of Ben. His suggestion is to kennel Ben when I go for my first appointment, so that if I DO end up being hospitalised then at least Ben will have spent some time at a kennel already. My father CAN look after Ben while I'm in the hospital, and they adore each other, but I am wondering if it might not be time to introduce Ben to kennels. Not because I am planning on making a habit of kenneling him, but I know there are going to be times in the next year when he will have to be.
The thing is, I will need to make this decision BEFORE going for the first appointment, and thus before I know whether I will be going into the hospital at all.
Is Ben too young, or would it be good for him? He'll be 5 months by the time the appointment rolls around.
Opinions?
Kate