When you need to spend time away from home, you must arrange care for your pup. The common choice is a kennel or boarding. In this blog post, our Woburn vets share some dog boarding vaccination requirements and what shots your dog should have before its visit.
What shots do dogs need to be boarded?
Dog boarding is a great option if you need to go away, although it's important to consider the policies, such as vaccines, required for boarding dogs. All reputable boarding facilities require your dog to be vaccinated against Bordetella, but many will require that your dog is up-to-date on all shots, including rabies and DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus).
Every kennel and boarding facility is different, so it's important that once you've selected the right facility for your pup, you speak to the staff about their specific requirements. If you want to board your dog at Woburn Animal Hospital, we require your dog to be up-to-date with all vaccinations and free of fleas and ticks.
How long before boarding should my dog be vaccinated?
If your dog needs a kennel cough or rabies vaccine, you may wonder how long they should get it before boarding. Thankfully, the Bordetella vaccine is good for six months, and rabies and DHPP are both effective for one to three years, depending on the type given. If you keep your dog's shots up-to-date, you shouldn't have many worries.
If you missed one of your dog's boost shots, don't fret. Just ensure your dog is vaccinated at least two weeks before its stay.
Can my dog be boarded if they have not been vaccinated?
Most boarding facilities require proof of up-to-date vaccinations before they allow you to leave your dog. If you cannot provide that information, sometimes veterinary facilities that offer boarding can give your dog its shots on the day of drop-off, but this is not ideal. Vaccinations take time to work their magic and become effective, so your dog will not be fully protected from the contagious diseases that can run rampant when dogs are nearby.
If your dog is not vaccinated, it will likely be turned away from the boarding facility. Still, if it is not, you risk exposing your dog to many contagious and often deadly diseases that require expensive veterinary intervention to cure.
How to Prepare Your Dog For Boarding
The following are helpful tips from our Woburn vets regarding how to make your experience boarding your dog as easy as possible.
What are the policies at the kennel or dog boarding facility? What shots do dogs need to be boarded?
Before boarding your dog at a new facility, talk to the staff about their rules and regulations and the services they provide.
For example, ask about the type of food they feed the dogs, what items you can bring from home (toys, blankets, etc.), their emergency procedures, whether they can administer your dog's medicine, and what shots are needed for all dogs scheduled for boarding.
Asking about the facility's policies, procedures, and services can help you choose the best home away from home for your dog.
Have you taken a tour of the boarding facility?
Kennels that house a lot of pets can get messy quickly. While a boarding facility can't be kept fully sterile, a high-quality boarding facility will still look and smell clean. So, before booking your dog's stay, visit the kennel and ensure it's kept organized and clean.
How should you handle drop-off?
Dogs are experts at reading the emotions of their pet parents. Your dog can tell if you are stressed, overcompensating, or saying goodbye. Your dog's mood and behavior will reflect this, making relaxing harder once you leave. Keep things simple, short, and positive to make the separation easier.
What can you expect after your dog is home again?
It's important to understand that they may behave differently during the first few days after your dog comes home from the kennel. Your pup might be clingy, lethargic, or have diarrhea. They may even eat or drink more than usual. However, this is a normal response to your dog's excitement for coming home. But if things don't settle down after a few days, contact your vet.
What if you don't feel the boarding facility is right for your dog?
We believe trusting your instincts is a great first step when choosing a kennel for your dog. If you don't feel comfortable with a place, look for another. If they have a policy you don't like, look around at different kennels until you find one you can trust completely.
Boarding Your Dog at Woburn Animal Hospital
We offer high-quality overnight dog and cat boarding in Woburn.
We are here to help your pet feel at home while you are away. We offer complete general boarding services for all of our patients and medical boarding services for pets with conditions that standard boarding centers may not be equipped to accommodate.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet to accurately diagnose your pet's condition or boarding needs.