Veterinary care now, pay later! - Find out more
Veterinary care now, pay later! - Find out more
If you’re going away on holidays and thinking of boarding your pet, you may need to start planning early. Kennels and catteries are often full over the festive season, public holidays and school holiays, so you might need to book your pet in early. Also, as boarding facilities place pets in close proximity, there is increased risk of them catching an infection. It’s important your pet is fully vaccinated at least two weeks before boarding.
The choice you make in a kennel/ cattery will come down to a number of factors, such as location, facilities, price and suitability to your pet. It’s also critical that you choose a boarding facility that requires full vaccination of their animals – this will miminise the risk of your pet getting sick during his/ her stay. A few hallmarks of a good boarding facility include:
The recommended minimum requirement for dogs going to kennels is the C5 vaccination. This provides immunity against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and bordatella (which causes kennel cough). It's recommended your dog's vaccinations are fully up to date and if a booster is due it is done at least 2 weeks prior to boarding them.
The recommended minimum requirement for cats going to catteries is the F3 vaccination. This provides immunity against feline enteritis and feline respiratory syndrome (commonly called ‘cat flu’). Your vet may also advise vaccination against Chlamydophila and Feline Leukaemia. The FIV vaccination is also a good idea. It is recommended your cat's vaccinations are fully up to date and if a booster is due it is done at least 2 weeks prior to boarding them.