If you've added pet boarding as a revenue stream for your veterinary practice, clients concerned about their beloved pets may ask you numerous questions about your boarding services and procedures. Those are easily answered.

But what isn’t so easy to resolve are the questions about how a client can prepare their pet for boarding. Too many clients show up at your doors with animals that are unvaccinated or have special diets with no warning at all.

Below is information you can provide to your clients in a handout or on your website.

Pet Boarding Recommendations

#1 Your pet must be vaccinated.

We require proof of vaccination. If you are currently a client at our clinic, our records will indicate if your pet is vaccinated, and you will not require proof. If your pet is unvaccinated, please inform our receptionist when you book your pet’s stay, and we can schedule vaccinations when you bring them in. 

Core Vaccines for Dogs

• Canine Distemper
• Infectious Hepatitis
• Canine Parvovirus
• Rabies

Noncore:

• Canine Parainfluenza
• Bordetella

Core Vaccines for Cats:

• Feline Panleukopenia
• Feline Herpesvirus
• Feline Calicivirus  
• Rabies

#2 Fill out the boarding form completely.

Our form is there to ensure your pet’s health and safety. Please fill it out completely.

#3 Bring familiar items.

Your pet will not understand why you are not with them. Reassure them with a favorite toy or a doggie or kitty bed. Anything with your scent on it, such as an old sock or a sweaty T-shirt, will reassure them, too.

#4 Don’t change your pet’s diet.

Although we will provide food for your pet, any new food is likely to upset their digestive system. We recommend you provide your own food and mark it with feeding amounts. Do the same for medications.

#5 Inform staff verbally of any unusual behaviors or needs.

Our staff is unlikely to have read your boarding form until your pet is actually on our premises, so it’s a good idea to tell them verbally about anything unusual or important.

#6 Maintain your routine as much as possible.

Pets notice a change in routine and may become anxious. Try to maintain your routine as much as possible.

#7 Exercise your dog before arrival.

Get in a last bit of together time while relieving any anxiety your pet may be experiencing by getting in a good 2-hour-or-longer exercise session before you drop them off.

#8 Provide a treat or toy when you leave.

Your pet may be diverted by a treat or a toy and fail to notice you’ve left for a while.

#9 Make your departure quick.

It’s heart-breaking to have to leave your pet, and we’ve seen many pet parents cry when they drop them off. However, that does your pet no good. Keep a calm demeanor and leave quickly.

#10 Don’t become overly emotional when you pick up your pet.

If you become overly emotional, your pet may think there’s something wrong. This may begin a set of behaviors that will make it very difficult for you to board your pet again.

Additional Boarding Recommendations for Veterinarians

If you don’t currently offer boarding, this article has some pertinent advice.

If you don’t currently have a boarding brochure, it’s a good idea to create one with the name, location, phone number, and website of your practice, facility photos with happy animals, a list of care options, pictures and short bios of staff who will care for the animals, and hours.

If you don’t have a pet boarding form for your clients, you can find a template here.

Carrying items that may help boarding easier, such as the Smelly Sock, may provide additional revenue.

If you offer a pet day care, advise your clients to bring their pets in before boarding so the animal may be acclimated to the location.

Consider offering a value-added service to clients by taking a photo of their pet and texting or emailing it to them.

Contact your Covetrus representative for more informational articles and seminars at 855.724.3461 or online.

Sources:

http://www.ibpsa.com/top-4-questions-vets-have-about-pet-boarding-and-daycare/

https://www.freeprintablemedicalforms.com/preview/Dog_Boarding_Form

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/smellysock/the-smelly-sock-the-only-dog-toy-that-smells-like

https://www.dogfoodinsider.com/prepare-your-dog-for-boarding