While many of us dog owners would take our fur babies with us wherever we go, it’s not always feasible or even advisable depending on where you’re going and/or how you’re getting there. The ultimate goal is to be able to leave your faithful, furry friend with someone you trust so you can rest easy while you’re gone.
If you’re new to dog boarding, there is a lot that you should know about how to best prepare to ensure the best possible experience for you and your doggo. We’ve rounded up some answers to some frequently asked dog boarding questions so that you can ease any worries you have about leaving your precious pup!
What questions should I ask a boarding facility when I visit?
First and foremost, you should ask what the dog vaccination requirements are for entry for the pet into the facility. Pets should be vaccinated approximately two weeks prior to being boarded and if your dog has never had a vaccine, they need to finish their series before they go into a facility. Any reputable facility will require this and you should want that in order to keep your own dog safe from illness and disease. Be sure to check in with our office about your pup's vaccine status prior to setting up boarding so that you don't receive an unwelcome surprises day of drop off!
You should also decide whether you are okay with their level of interaction that they allow between other dogs. Some pet owners long for this play for their pooches, while others don’t want the inherent risk that comes from dogs interacting and potentially roughhousing.
Of course, you’ll want to get a general sense of how clean the facility and kennels are. Any veterinarian or boarding facility employee will likely tell you that it’s nearly impossible to keep it perfectly sterile at all times due to accidents and the busy nature of these facilities, but it should be as clean as possible.
What would I need to know before I board my dog?
As previously mentioned, your dog should be up to date on vaccines—all of them except the Lyme vaccine. But if they're in a Lyme endemic area, they should have that as well. Although Lyme disease cannot be transmitted from one dog to another, there could be ticks in the yard where the dogs get exercise. The core vaccines of rabies and distemper should definitely be in place. The kennel cough vaccine, which is bordetella, is also a high-value vaccine.
As far as the other vaccines, leptospirosis is transmitted by urine from other dogs so consider having that up to date because the dogs share common airing facilities and they'll be put out for a run outside or walked in the same areas another dog has urinated. More & more boarding facilities are now requiring dogs be up to date on the Influenza vaccine - which is a two part series when given initially - so make sure you know whether the facility requires it and/or your pup is vaccinated for it.
Facilities should also be looking at internal parasite load because intestinal parasites are transmitted in a fecal/oral fashion or through the skin, the latter of which is called “transcutaneous” in the case of the hookworm. So if a dog defecates in the yard and another dog comes along and walks through it, licks their feet, and if there are hookworm eggs or roundworms eggs on the feet, eggs can hatch in the intestine and then migrate through the body and into the lungs. The worms can then develop into adults that start producing more eggs. Hookworms can also hatch in the yard or on a dog-friendly beach and can then come up and crawl through the skin of a person or the feet of a dog.
Heartworm is likely not a worry because of heartworm preventatives given on a monthly basis, but hookworms and tapeworms are of concern.
How do I know if a dog boarding facility is reputable?
Google reviews are helpful, but it’s hard to beat a personal reference—somebody that's used the facility without difficulty. If the facility has been around for a long time and has serviced a lot of dogs, it’s likely that this facility is reputable. To be honest, even veterinarians will tell you that it’s very difficult to keep every dog 100% healthy in a facility because the stress of being there will many times cause diarrhea. And if they possibly go off of their normal amount of food while there, it can make them appear a little abnormal.
What do dog boarding facilities do in case of emergencies?
Non-hospital facilities partner with an emergency hospital in the case of an injury. They will also ask to have on record your dogs primary care office and will reach out if needed.
Is it recommended to bring anything for a dog going into a boarding facility?
That can be catch-22 because if you bring something and the dog decides it's going to devour it or eat it, it’s possible for them to experience an intestinal foreign body problem. Many facilities will discourage or all-out ban personal belongings because of this. Make sure to check with whatever facility you choose. If they do allow personal belongings, ensure the dogs are closely monitored. If your dog has been known to chew or eat things when anxious, scrap the idea of bringing something for them altogether.
What if my dog has anxiety, but they still need to be boarded?
There are drugs that can be used to help an anxious pup, although they might be better served by staying at home and getting a petsitter. The owner should also prepare the dog with unexpected comings and goings to get them used to the fact that they're going to be alone. If you work from home, try keeping the dog downstairs while you work upstairs and then only come down for lunch. These sound like minor tweaks but they can have a positive impact. A lot of separation anxiety is brought on by the fact that an owner is so tightly bonded with their pet and they don't wean the pet from being with them all the time.
We have options for anxious dogs at La Cumbre and are happy to check-in with your pet's veterinarian about what can be done to ease the stress. But it really is changes in the owner’s habits and preparing them for being alone that have the biggest impact on a dog’s separation anxiety.
What if I want to know what happens with my dog during the day?
There are elite boarding facilities that have dog exercises, playtimes, and lots of other fun interactions with other dogs. This is certainly a lot less boring for the dog, as long as it's not dangerous and they're with groups of dogs that actually get along. You just need to ask and then make sure that your dog’s personality is a good fit for what goes on at that facility.
If you have any questions about boarding your dog, please do not hesitate to give us a call.