| The resort of Beaver Creek, Colorado is situated at | | | | but the folks at the Ritz welcome dogs as well. You |
| 8,100 feet above sea level. Humans often have | | | | and your pets will bathe in luxurious accommodations |
| trouble acclimatizing to this altitude, particularly when | | | | together; as it should be...in fact they spare no |
| they live at much lower elevations. According to the | | | | expense to make sure that your canine pal has a |
| International Society of Mountain Medicine in Ridgway, | | | | memorable experience. The hotel offers pet |
| Colorado, dogs can too suffer from the extremely | | | | amenities such as: a V.I.P (very important pooch) |
| uncomfortable symptoms of acute mountain sickness | | | | handbook and area guide, overstuffed beds and |
| or AMS. | | | | water bowls, all-natural pet food available by room |
| With cats, it is difficult to tell, but with dogs, the | | | | service, Fido's Spa and Fitness by the Bachelor Gulch |
| signs are very apparent. These symptoms include: | | | | Spa, daily hikes from the Mountainside Terrace, a pet |
| listlessness and/or a change in tongue color. Your dog | | | | retail store, and "turndown treats". You and your dog |
| may also demonstrate unusually lazy behavior and | | | | will not want to leave these unbelievably luxurious |
| simply not want to do anything but sleep. The | | | | arrangements! |
| tongue actually becomes "mildly dusky" (definition: | | | | It is pretty hard to follow the Ritz but the Westin |
| "characterized by little or inadequate light; shadowy. | | | | Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon does it nicely. The |
| Rather dark in color") Humans also can present the | | | | Westin offers easy access to Beaver Creek |
| same unsavory symptoms and other indications such | | | | Mountain via the Riverfront Express Gondola located |
| as dizziness, nausea, nosebleeds, swelling on hands | | | | right outside the lobby door. The 23,000 square foot |
| and feet and insomnia. AMS can progress and lead to | | | | spa and fitness center offer mountain-inspired |
| high altitude pulmonary edema or high altitude | | | | treatments as well as a saltwater lap pool and three |
| cerebral edema. These maladies can be unfortunately | | | | Jacuzzi tubs overlooking the river. Guest rooms |
| fatal, but fortunately uncommon. | | | | feature 32 inch flat screen TVs, and wireless Internet |
| To combat the effects of AMS on our canine | | | | access. Your pet will be welcomed as one of the |
| friends, I would suggest that upscale pet-friendly | | | | family! |
| hotels have come up with an "AMS Kit for Dogs". | | | | So what do you do with your pet for fun? One of |
| These Kits could include an extra large bowl of water | | | | the most prized amenities of the Beaver Creek |
| with two shots of Wild Turkey mixed in, a canister | | | | Resort is the hiking and biking trails. There are literally |
| of Oxygen, and 100 mg of "doggie downers". The | | | | hundreds of miles of well-maintained trails throughout |
| problem might arise: the humans would steal the kits | | | | the area providing guests, human and non-human |
| from the dogs! | | | | alike, with the memorable pedestrian/cycling |
| The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch is the "cats meow" | | | | experiences. |