As a new dog owner who also works full-time, you certainly don’t want to leave your furry friend at home alone during your work hours or when you have to travel out of town. Dogs getting used to new owners need help socializing and coping with separation anxiety.
Leaving them alone increases the chances of accidents, damage to your property, and more. Therefore, it’s always better to take your dog to a boarding facility. These facilities have rules, especially regarding vaccines. What vaccines do dogs need for boarding?
Penny Paws Animal Clinic, the leading provider of dog boarding in Arlington, TX, covers the details in this post.
The Vaccinations Your Dog Must Have Completed Before Boarding
Most boarding facilities require your dog to be at least ten weeks old before they can admit them. They also have stringent rules on vaccinations because outbreaks are likely to occur in a facility where dogs are in such close proximity.
Vaccinations are the safest and most cost-effective way to keep your dog healthy and keep diseases from spreading between dogs in a doggy daycare or boarding facility. Reputable facilities will require all dogs admitted to have completed their latest shots for the following vaccines:
Rabies Vaccine
Rabies is a disease that can spread quickly between different animals, including dogs. Unfortunately, every dog that contracts rabies will die because there’s no cure for the disease. Vaccination is the only way to protect your dog from it.
The vaccination schedule is straightforward. Dogs receive a rabies vaccine once when they are 12-16 weeks old. Then, they will need booster shots every three years.
The vaccine’s side effects include lethargy on the day of the shot and up to 24 hours after that. Vomiting and diarrhea might follow. Some dogs develop swelling around the injection site, which dissipates after a few days. Feed your dog as usual during this period, but don’t be alarmed if their appetite has dipped.
Bordetella Vaccines
Bordetella, or kennel cough, is a disease that can spread quickly from dog to dog within a boarding environment. You need to vaccinate your dog to prevent them from catching the disease.
Puppies receive this vaccine when they are around six to eight weeks old, followed by booster shots every four weeks until they are 16 weeks old. Adult dogs spending time in a boarding facility will need to receive booster shots every six months.
For a day or two after the shot, your dog may show signs of discomfort, weakness, and a mild fever. You may also notice some swelling around the injection site.
DHPP Vaccines
A reputable facility must mention this vaccine when you ask, “What vaccines do dogs need for boarding?”
The DHPP vaccine protects dogs against:
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Parvovirus
- Parainfluenza
These diseases are highly contagious and can be debilitating to dogs. Vaccinations remain the best way to protect your dog from them. Dogs must receive the first shot of the DHPP vaccine sequence when they are around eight weeks old.
After the first shot, they will need three boosters administered three weeks apart. The third booster shot will last one year, at which point the dog must receive another booster. From this stage onward, your dog will receive booster shots every three years.
The most common side effect of the vaccine is soreness at the injection site. Your dog may be in discomfort for a day or two. Your dog may also eat less than usual, and you might notice a slight increase in body temperature.
These symptoms should resolve within two days.
Leptospirosis Vaccines
Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial infection that can affect your dog’s liver, kidney, lungs, muscles, and nervous system. Infected animals contaminate the soil and water around them with their urine. If your dog contracts the disease, it must be dealt with quickly. Poor or no treatment often means death.
A big point to remember is that leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease. It can spread from animals to people. Thus, by vaccinating your dog against this disease, you’re also protecting your family.
Your dog should receive their first shot of the vaccine at 16 weeks of age. The vaccine requires one booster administered three weeks after the first shot. The booster is good for one year. After that, your dog can receive one shot per year.
The side effects of the vaccine include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, and mild pain or swelling around the injection site.
K9 Influenza Vaccines
The K9 influenza vaccines protect your dog against canine influenza or dog flu, a respiratory illness similar to the flu in humans that makes dogs equally uncomfortable. Giving them these vaccines on schedule can protect them from getting sick.
The vaccines shield your dog against the two main strains of canine influenza virus: H3N8 and H3N2. The monovalent versions of the vaccines protect against one or the other, while the bivalent version protects against both, ensuring broader immunity.
Reputable boarding facilities mandate giving your dog the bivalent vaccine.
Puppies start receiving this vaccine as early as six weeks old. After the initial dose, they will receive a booster shot two to four weeks later. The booster shot is good for one year. Your dog can then get the shots annually.
Like other vaccines, the side effects of the K9 influenza vaccines are mild and short-lived and may include sneezing, lethargy, and mild discomfort around the injection site,
Penny Paws Animal Clinic Offers an All-in-One Service
We hope this post on “What vaccines do dogs need for boarding?” has given you a clear picture of what you need to do to ensure your dog is ready to start using a boarding facility.
Do you need more guidance on the vaccines and the dos and don’ts of getting your dog vaccinated? Are you looking for a reputable facility in Arlington, TX, that will make boarding your dog stress-free?
Contact the Penny Paws Animal Clinic team in Texas today to schedule your appointment or call us at (817) 382-9229.