Kennel cough and vaccinations: setting health rules for day care and boarding

Responsibility for dogs in your care

Looking after someone else’s dog comes with responsibilities beyond providing companionship, exercise and a comfortable place to rest.

Simply speaking, that means understanding each dog’s needs, noticing when something isn’t quite right and knowing how to respond.

Asking owners about existing health conditions, medication, behaviour and routines can make it easier to provide suitable care. It also gives you the opportunity to agree what should happen if their dog becomes unwell.

Why kennel cough needs a place in the plan

Kennel cough is a contagious respiratory infection involving several possible viruses and bacteria. Dogs can catch it wherever they mix, including day care, boarding, grooming and training settings.

A hacking cough is a familiar sign. Infection can spread through shared air and contaminated items, and some dogs carry it without showing symptoms. A dog appearing well at drop-off therefore does not rule out infection.

Vaccinated dogs can still catch kennel cough. Vaccination reduces the risk and can lessen symptoms, but it does not guarantee protection.

For a service provider, this explains why vaccination checks sit alongside hygiene, monitoring and arrangements for illness. Each addresses a different part of the risk.

Dog vaccinations & sensible checks

A clear vaccination policy is one of the simplest ways to manage potential health risks before a dog arrives.

It also makes life easier for owners. If they know what’s required when booking, they have time to check their dog’s records, arrange any necessary appointments and provide evidence before their stay.

Which boosters do dogs typically have?

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) identifies four core vaccinations for dogs in the UK:

1. Canine distemper: Protects against a serious viral disease that can affect several parts of the body.
2. Infectious canine hepatitis: Protects against a virus that can cause liver disease and other complications.
3. Canine parvovirus: Protects against a highly contagious infection that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness.
4.  Leptospirosis: Protects against a bacterial infection that can cause serious illness and can also affect humans.

Kennel cough vaccination is also commonly recommended for dogs regularly mixing with others, particularly those attending day care or boarding.

Booster timings aren’t necessarily the same for every vaccination. Many authorised distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines have booster intervals of at least three years, while leptospirosis and kennel cough vaccinations generally require annual boosters.

A dog’s own veterinary schedule and the vaccine manufacturer’s instructions determine when their next dose is due.

It’s also important to distinguish between veterinary vaccination and alternative treatments. The BSAVA advises against homeopathic options because there isn’t evidence that they provide effective protection. Vet titre testing can sometimes provide useful information about immunity, but it isn’t an alternative for every vaccination, particularly leptospirosis.

Is kennel cough vaccination compulsory for boarding or day care?

There is no single blanket requirement covering every UK day care and boarding service.

Many kennels require it, and day care providers may do so too. PDSA notes that many boarding and day care settings request vaccination two to three weeks before attendance.

Typically, a 14-day waiting period can therefore be part of a business’s admission policy. The relevant timing depends on the vaccine, veterinary advice and the establishment’s requirements.

Why checking vaccination cards matters

Vaccination cards provide a practical record of treatment dates and the vaccines given. It’s the simplest.

Most dog owners will have a vaccination card or record supplied by their vet. If it’s been misplaced, their veterinary practice should usually be able to confirm which vaccinations their dog has received and when.

When an unwell dog arrives or develops symptoms

A vaccination record does not establish that a dog is well enough to attend on a particular day. Recent coughing, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy or known exposure to infection can change the picture.

A planned admission process brings those concerns into the conversation before dogs mix. For example, a report of coughing at home could trigger a discussion about postponement and veterinary assessment, rather than a decision made in reception.

PDSA advises keeping dogs with kennel cough away from other dogs while symptomatic and for two to three weeks afterwards. A cough stopping is therefore not, on its own, confirmation that group attendance can resume.

Written collection and rebooking arrangements give owners a clearer understanding of what happens if care cannot start or needs to end early.

Other health concerns when dogs mix

Kennel cough is one of several situations your day care or boarding business may need to plan for. Think about what you and your team can manage safely, when you’d ask an owner to collect their dog and when you’d seek veterinary advice. Setting this out in your policy and sharing it before owners’ book gives everyone a clearer idea of what to expect.

Vomiting & diarrhoea

If a dog develops an upset stomach during their stay, your team should know what to do. Agree how you’ll record symptoms, where the dog can rest away from the group and who will contact the owner. It’s also worth explaining when you’d ask for an early collection and how you’d arrange veterinary advice if needed.

Stress, conflict and injuries

Some dogs need a little more space to settle in. The RSPCA highlights the value of assessing dogs before they attend day care and giving them somewhere quiet to retreat. Think about how you’ll respond if a dog becomes withdrawn, distressed or less comfortable around others. A break from the group may be enough, or you may need to speak to the owner about whether a different arrangement would suit their dog better.

Have a plan for injuries too, including who will contact the owner and how you’ll arrange veterinary care if needed. It’s worth checking how your pet business insurance would respond if a dog were injured in your care.

Existing conditions and medication

Some dogs arrive with a routine that includes medication, a special diet or limits on exercise. Be clear with owners about which needs your team can accommodate before you accept a booking.

If you do take on those responsibilities, agree the routine with the owner, record it so everyone caring for the dog can follow it, and seek veterinary guidance where needed.

Daily routines that put the care plan into practice

A written policy becomes useful when it guides everyday care. Build short, consistent observations into arrivals, feeding, exercise and handovers.

Record meaningful changes in appetite, drinking, toileting, movement and behaviour. These observations can help you explain a concern to the owner or vet and show whether it is getting worse.

Your routine should also cover:

• Cleaning and disinfection of accommodation, equipment and transport.
• Safe handling of waste, soiled bedding and food.
• Suitable ventilation, temperature and access to water.
• Rest periods and appropriate social interaction.
• Accurate medication records and secure storage.
• Arrangements for separating potentially infectious dogs.

Kennel boarding requires written procedures covering cleaning, disease prevention and health monitoring, together with a preventative healthcare plan agreed with the registered vet.

For home boarders, consider how these arrangements work alongside resident dogs. Isolation needs to be workable: the guidance requires appropriate facilities, which may be provided elsewhere through a documented arrangement, such as with a veterinary practice.

Make health checks part of the daily routine

Respond promptly if a dog becomes ill

If a dog develops concerning symptoms, separate them safely where appropriate and contact the vet.

If several dogs develop similar symptoms, ask the vet how to manage potentially exposed animals, additional cleaning, owner communications and any temporary admission restrictions. Keep a record of attendance and contact between dogs to support that discussion.

Do not promise owners that vaccination or cleaning eliminates every risk. Explain the precautions you take and how you will communicate if a concern arises.

A health emergency plan for the dog and the wider group

A dog becoming seriously unwell changes the routine quickly. A practical emergency plan accounts for both the affected animal and those remaining in care.

A plan built around those principles can bring together:

• Veterinary and out-of-hours contact details.
• Owner and alternative emergency contacts.
• Medical histories, consent and treatment arrangements.
• Transport and access to suitable equipment.
• Responsibilities for contacting the vet, accompanying the dog and supervising others.
• Incident records and owner updates.

For a sole trader, backup care is especially relevant. A plan that depends on accompanying one dog to the vet also needs an answer for the dogs left behind.

Planning for care, with protection for covered incidents

The message running through veterinary, welfare and licensing guidance is preparation: understanding the dogs being accepted, recognising changes and having arrangements ready when care needs change.

A health plan provides that practical framework. Specialist insurance adds financial protection where an incident meets the policy’s terms.

Protectivity’s Pet Business Insurance covers 11 different activities including insurance for kennels & catteries, pet home boarding, pet sitters and more for a broad range of services in the sector. Offering public liability with between £1 million and £10 million of cover and key cover up to £10,000 for new keys and locks, if you enter a client’s property to walk their dogs.

Also included is equipment cover, non-negligent cover, and a close family extension and our care, custody and control cover provides up to £100,000 worth of cover for animals in your care. For additional extras choose Employers’ Liability and commercial legal expenses.

Explore the cover available for your pet care services and get a quote online.

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*Disclaimer – Insurance policies differ between providers and are subject to their terms, limits, excesses and exclusions. This article provides general information and is not personal insurance or legal advice.

Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date.