If you plan to be away from home for any reason, it may be a good idea to look into bringing your pup to a kennel. You will, however, need to meet the dog boarding vaccination requirements. Here, our Citrus County vets discuss what shots your dog needs for boarding and why they are important.
What shots do dogs need to be boarded?
If you are looking to board your dog while you take a vacation, you need to do some planning to ensure that all requirements are met. This includes ensuring your pup is up to date with the vaccines required for boarding dogs, such as the Bordetella, rabies and DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus) vaccines.
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 would like to board your dog at Dunnellon Animal Hospital we require your dog to be up-to-date with all vaccinations and free of fleas and ticks.
How long after vaccination can my dog be boarded?
Fortunately, the rabies vaccine and DHPP are both effective for one to three years, depending on the type given, but the Bordetella vaccine is only effective for six months. As a result, if you keep your dog's vaccinations current, you shouldn't have too many concerns.
It's fine if you forgot to get a booster shot along the way! We ask that you vaccinate your dog at least two weeks before it needs to be boarded. However, three days should suffice if you're wondering how long it takes for a vaccine, such as kennel cough, to take effect before boarding.
What happens if I don't get my dog vaccinated before boarding?
Most dog boarding establishments require proof of current vaccinations before allowing you to leave your pet. If you cannot provide that information, veterinary facilities that offer boarding may be able to administer your dog's shots on the day of drop-off, but this is not recommended. Vaccinations take time to take effect, so your dog will not be completely immune to contagious diseases that spread quickly when dogs are close together. For example, if your dog needs the kennel cough vaccine, how long before boarding should they get it? In this case, the vaccine needs at least three days to take full effect.
If your dog is not immunized, they will most likely be denied entry to the boarding facility. However, if they are not, you risk exposing them to various infectious and often fatal diseases that require expensive veterinary treatment to treat.
Boarding Your Dog at Dunnellon Animal Hospital
We offer high-quality overnight boarding services for dogs and cats in Citrus County.
We can offer your animal companion a warm and cozy home away from home while you are away. We offer complete general pet boarding services for all of our patients, as well as medical boarding services for pets with conditions that standard boarding centers may not be able to accommodate.
In order to stay at our facility, pets must be up to date with all vaccinations and free of fleas and ticks to stay at our facility. All pets must be up to date with parasite prevention (dogs must be on both flea and heartworm prevention). You must ensure that your pup has the required boarding shots for dogs, such as rabies, DHLPP, BORD, and FLU vaccines, and have a fecal and heartworm check.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.