Question 1: How
do I know if a boarding kennel is any good?
Answer: By asking for references and checking with local veterinarians. Check with the
Better Business Bureau also.
Question 2: Should I board
with my vet?
Answer: Yes, if you approve of the boarding facilities and feel your animal will be
well taken care of. You know your vet––based on your experiences with his or her
facility, make your decision. Just remember, boarders aren’t checked every day for
health problems. Unless your dog has an illness or an injury, it’s not going to get a
physical every day the way it would if it were a patient in the hospital. If you want your
dog checked before being released, you should request that service.
Question
3: Does my dog need twenty-four-hour on-the-premises supervision when it’s boarded?
Answer: It depends. Actually, when we are at home with our dogs we don’t check on
them throughout the night, so that is probably just a matter of choice. If the dog being
boarded has a medical problem, then the vet will determine the amount of supervision
needed.
Question
4: What if my dog gets sick while it’s being boarded?
Answer: Be sure you leave a signed permission slip authorizing the kennel to take your
dog to a veterinarian for treatment if necessary. Some vets won’t treat an animal
without the owner’s permission.
Question
5: My dog had ticks and fleas when it came home from boarding the last time.
Answer: Always request that the dog be dipped and groomed before its release. Don’t
board there again if things don’t improve. Also, always check your dog for parasites
before you board it.
Question
6: When I picked my dog up from the boarding kennel, it had a cough.
Answer: It may have been in the incubation period of an illness when you left it at the
kennel, or it may have been exposed while boarded. When you have a large number of dogs in
one place, you always run the risk of exposure to disease or parasites (internal or
external). It is extremely important to have all vaccinations for all common diseases
(including kennel cough) up to date. Always have your dog dipped and groomed before
bringing it home. This prevents many problems, for even the best kennels in the world
aren’t perfect all the time.
