When you are unable to care for your pet due to travel or other obligations, boarding them at a dog boarding kennel, cattery, or dog daycare can be a great alternative. At TLC Petcare, we take pet health very seriously and make sure that every visitor has a cosy and safe space. But getting your pet ready for boarding isn’t just about packing their favourite toys and snacks. For the sake of both your pet’s safety and the safety of the other animals at the facility, make sure they have received all necessary vaccinations and health examinations.

Let’s review the necessary vaccination records and health precautions to take prior to boarding your pet. You can make sure your pet has the safest and most stress-free experience possible by following these precautions. This checklist will assist you in covering all the bases for a seamless boarding experience, from check-in to home time, whether it’s safeguarding them against common diseases or ensuring their medical needs are met.

Vaccinations (Essential)

For Your Dog: C5 Vaccine

Your dog needs to be C5 vaccinated in order to be allowed to stay at a pet boarding facility. This all-inclusive vaccination is crucial for pet boarding because it guards against numerous extremely contagious and potentially lethal illnesses.

The C5 vaccine offers defence against:

• Distemper: The respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems of dogs are impacted by this viral illness. Fever, runny nose, coughing, lethargic behaviour, and neurological symptoms are among the symptoms. Often fatal, distemper is especially in young puppies.
• Hepatitis (Adenovirus): Adenovirus-induced infectious canine hepatitis affects the liver, kidneys, and eyes. From moderate fever and congestion to severe and potentially fatal liver damage, there are a range of symptoms. Immunisation offers vital defence against this illness.
• Canine parvovirus: This highly transmissible virus causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea, which can frequently result in potentially fatal dehydration and secondary infections. Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are particularly vulnerable to this danger.
• Parainfluenza: One of the main causes of kennel cough, a highly contagious respiratory illness, is parainfluenza. Coughing, nasal discharge, and decreased appetite are among the symptoms.
• Bordetella bronchiseptica (Kennel Cough): Bordetella bronchiseptica is a common cause of kennel cough, characterised by persistent coughing and, in severe cases, pneumonia. The high risk of transmission in kennels makes this vaccination mandatory for boarding facilities.

A crucial step in preparing your pet for boarding at a dog boarding facility is to make sure they get the C5 vaccination. This keeps your pet safe from these dangerous illnesses and also lessens the chance of illness spreading among the borders. Keeping your pet’s vaccinations current helps to ensure that all pets can travel safely and healthily while having fun.

For Your Cat: F3 Vaccine

Before your cat can visit a cattery, they must have the F3 vaccination. This crucial vaccine is vital for safeguarding cats against several highly contagious and potentially serious diseases, making it an absolute necessity for any boarding stay.

The F3 vaccination provides protection against the following:

• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (Feline Herpesvirus): This virus primarily affects the upper respiratory system, causing symptoms such as sneezing, nasal discharge, and conjunctivitis. In more severe cases, particularly in young kittens or cats with weakened immune systems, it can progress to pneumonia. Vaccination is key to preventing outbreaks in environments like boarding facilities.
• Feline Calicivirus: A common cause of upper respiratory infections in cats, calicivirus leads to symptoms including oral ulcers, sneezing, and nasal congestion. In severe cases, it can result in pneumonia or chronic stomatitis. The F3 vaccine is essential in protecting your cat from this widespread virus, ensuring their health during their stay.
• Feline Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper): This highly contagious and often fatal virus affects the gastrointestinal tract of cats, leading to severe vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, and a significant drop in white blood cells, increasing the risk of secondary infections. Vaccination against panleukopenia is critical to prevent this life-threatening disease.

As you prepare your cat for a stay at a boarding facility, making sure they have received the F3 vaccination is a crucial step. This not only shields your pet from these dangerous diseases but also helps prevent the spread of illness within the facility. By keeping your cat’s vaccinations up to date, you contribute to a safe and healthy environment for all pets during their time away from home.

Dog and cat boarding facilities are invested in the health and well-being of all of their visitors. Making sure your pet are up to date with their vaccinations contributes to keeping the surroundings free from illness, enabling them to enjoy a stress-free and enjoyable stay. The majority of vaccinations take up to 14 days to take effect, so make sure you get them as soon as possible.

Flea and Tick Prevention (Essential)

Fleas and ticks can seriously bother pets and harm their health. Severe itching, allergic reactions, and in severe cases, anemia, can be caused by flea bites. Serious illnesses like ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Lyme disease are known to be spread by ticks and can have long-term health effects.

There are various ways to prevent these parasites, such as using flea and tick collars, oral medications, and topical treatments. Usually administered once a month, oral medications thoroughly kill fleas and ticks. Tick and flea collars can also provide long-lasting protection, frequently for up to eight months. Only dogs that have received topical treatments—which are applied to the pet’s skin and can offer protection for up to a month—are accepted at TLC Petcare.

Before boarding, make sure your pet is free of ticks and fleas. It shields your pet from pain and illness, but it also contributes to keeping the boarding facility’s environment safe, clean, and hygienic for all the animals. For any pet owner who plans to board their animal, regular prevention against fleas and ticks should be top priority.

3. Dietary and Medicinal Requirements (Essential)

It is important to let the pet boarding facility know about any medications your dog or cat needs when you are getting ready to board them there. This covers over-the-counter remedies, prescription drugs, and supplements. Giving precise directions regarding dosage, when to administer it, and any particular handling needs will guarantee that your pet gets the care they need and keeps up their regular health regimen while they are visiting.

It’s also important to describe your pet’s dietary requirements. A lot of pets have dietary needs because of allergies, sensitivities, or medical issues. Make sure you bring enough of your pet’s regular food with you to the boarding facility for the duration of your pet’s stay. Give precise feeding instructions to avoid any dietary disruptions that might cause health problems. This should include information on portion sizes and feeding schedules.

Giving our staff information about your pet’s prescriptions and dietary requirements will help to guarantee that they receive the right care and are comfortable while visiting. Your pet and you will feel less stressed together because of this meticulous attention to detail, which gives you the assurance that your pet’s health and well-being come first while you are away. Effective communication about your pet’s needs will help us provide an easy and worry-free boarding experience. 

4. Heartworm Prevention (Recommended)

Preventing heartworm disease is essential for your pet’s health, particularly before boarding at a doggy daycare or pet resort. Mosquitoes carry a dangerous and sometimes fatal disease called heartworm. After being bitten, heartworm larvae enter the bloodstream and develop into adult worms that live in the pulmonary and heart arteries, causing serious lung illness, heart failure, and organ damage.

Since mosquito bites cannot be totally avoided, regular heartworm prevention is necessary. Monthly tablets, topical treatments, and long-acting injections are examples of preventative medications that function by eradicating heartworm larvae before they have a chance to develop into adults. Making sure your pet is enrolled in a heartworm prevention program can help prevent this fatal illness.

Make sure your pet has the most recent heartworm prevention before boarding them. This keeps your pet safe from heartworms and shows the pet boarding facility that you care about their well-being.

5. Microchip and Identification Check (Recommended)

For your pet’s protection, microchipping and current identification are crucial, particularly if they are being boarded. A microchip offers a reliable means of identification that is essential in the event that your pet gets lost. Make sure your contact details are up to date with the microchip registry by checking and updating your microchip details.

In the event that your pet strays, proper identification—which includes a safe collar with identification tags—enhances safety and makes a speedy reunion possible. Making sure your dog or cat has up-to-date identification gives you peace of mind and facilitates a speedy recovery in the event of an emergency while they are being boarded.

Ensuring a Safe and Healthy Stay: Trust in TLC Petcare’s Commitment

Preparing for boarding at a pet boarding facility involves more than just packing their favourite toys. Ensuring their well-being means booking critical vaccinations, health examinations, and open communication regarding medications and dietary requirements. TLC Petcare is well known for its commitment to pet health and for giving each visitor a secure and caring environment. Feel free to contact us with any questions about the boarding process.

You can be sure that your pet will be well-cared for and shielded from common diseases during their stay if you follow this thorough checklist. Because of our dedication to upholding strict health regulations, you can expect a stress-free and joyful experience for your pet. Prepare your dog or cat as much as possible and trust us to look out for their well-being so you can enjoy peace of mind while you are away.