The Importance of Timely Vaccinations/Titer Tests

Why should you keep your dog up to date?

I'm not sure if there is something in the air these days, but it seems like so many people are experiencing emergencies or other kinds of urgent or last minute travel needs. And that's the thing about emergencies - they can happen to anyone, at anytime. Whether a family member has unexpectedly passed, or a baby is on the way early, or anything in between, these are times of stress that don't need to be exacerbated by unforeseen problems! That's why we love being able to help people out in their times of dire need! However, our hands are completely tied if  their dogs are not up to date on their vaccinations. And unfortunately we have seen that happen quite a few times in recent months!

Due to an increase in canine respiratory infections nationwide, many kennels (ours included) have shifted their policies on vaccinations, in hopes to better protect the dogs in our care.

Particularly - I'm referring to the Bordetella vaccine (aka kennel cough).  Bordetella is not a core vaccine, which means it is optional and you can either choose to vaccinate your dog against it or not. Furthermore, new evidence is showing that it is not effective immediately, which has lead us to become more strict about this policy. As of the start of 2023 - if a Bordetella vaccine has lapsed (meaning it has been more than a year since the dog has been vaccinated against it), then we would not consider that dog to be fully vaccinated until one week after the new vaccine (and therefore would not be able to board with us until that time frame). This can create quite a problem when it comes to urgent situations! Time is not a luxury at that point, and it can be very difficult to find someone to stay with your dog last minute.

So what do we recommend? Get out ahead of this problem! Our kennel requires rabies, distemper and Bordetella vaccines, as do the majority of kennels. Stay on a consistent vaccine schedule with your dog and follow your veterinarian's advice.  Then, when problems arise, you are well prepared and don't need to play catch up when time is of the essence. There is nothing quite like the reassurance that comes with knowing your dog has a safe place to stay when another part of your life needs your full attention :)