Parasite Prevention Before Boarding: What Should Pet Parents Check?

You’ve booked your trip, made your dog’s boarding reservation, and started thinking about what to pack.

Food? Check.

Favorite treats? Check.

Medications? Check.

But before your dog heads off for their stay, there’s another important checklist worth reviewing: their health and parasite prevention.

Boarding brings dogs into a different environment where they may spend more time outdoors, use shared potty areas, and be around other dogs. Taking a few minutes to make sure your dog’s preventative care and health records are current can help protect your dog and the other dogs around them.

At Cooper Creek Kennels, health requirements are an important part of creating a safe, comfortable environment for the entire pack.

Here’s what pet parents should check before an upcoming boarding stay.

1. Is Your Dog’s Fecal Test Current?

A dog can have an intestinal parasite without showing obvious symptoms.

They may still be eating normally, playing, maintaining their weight, and having stools that appear normal.

That’s why fecal testing matters.

A fecal examination allows your veterinarian to check for evidence of intestinal parasites such as:

Roundworms

Hookworms

Whipworms

Giardia

Other parasites depending on the testing method used

The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends routine fecal examinations throughout a dog’s life. Healthy adult dogs should generally be tested at least twice per year, with frequency adjusted based on health, lifestyle, outdoor exposure, travel, and contact with other animals.

CAPC also recommends confirming that pets have been recently tested for parasites before entering boarding facilities or other shared animal environments.

Before boarding:

✔ Check the date of your dog’s most recent fecal test.

✔ Make sure you have documentation of the negative result.

✔ If you’re unsure whether your dog is due for testing, contact your veterinarian.

At Cooper Creek Kennels, a recent negative fecal test is required before a boarding or daycare evaluation or reservation can be confirmed.

2. Is Flea and Tick Prevention Up to Date?

Fleas and ticks are more than irritating pests.

Fleas can cause significant itching and skin irritation, and some dogs are especially sensitive to flea bites. Fleas can also be involved in the transmission of certain parasites, including a common type of tapeworm.

Ticks can carry organisms associated with illnesses such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and other tick-borne diseases.

Dogs can encounter fleas and ticks in many everyday places, including:

• Backyards

• Parks

• Walking trails

• Tall grass

• Wooded areas

• Areas visited by wildlife

• Places where other animals spend time

Dogs that enjoy outdoor activities, daycare, boarding, hiking, camping, or regular adventures may encounter a variety of environments where parasites can be present.

Current CAPC guidance recommends year-round flea and tick control rather than waiting until parasites become visible.

Before boarding:

✔ Check when your dog’s flea and tick preventative was last given.

✔ Make sure you’re following the schedule recommended by your veterinarian.

✔ Check your dog’s coat and skin for fleas, flea dirt, ticks, irritation, or excessive scratching.

✔ Contact your veterinarian if you notice anything concerning.

Don’t give an extra dose or switch products simply because a boarding stay is coming up. Your veterinarian should guide any changes to your dog’s parasite prevention.

3. Is Heartworm Prevention on Schedule?

Heartworm prevention is another important part of your dog’s overall parasite protection.

Heartworm disease is transmitted through mosquito bites. That means even dogs that spend most of their lives indoors can potentially be exposed when they go outside for walks, potty breaks, playtime, or travel.

Heartworms can eventually live in a dog’s heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels, making established heartworm disease far more complicated than simply preventing the infection in the first place.

CAPC currently recommends year-round heartworm prevention for all dogs, along with annual heartworm testing.

Before boarding:

✔ Check that your dog’s heartworm preventative is current.

✔ Make sure you haven’t accidentally missed a scheduled dose.

✔ Confirm that your dog’s routine heartworm testing is up to date based on your veterinarian’s recommendations.

✔ If a dose was missed or delayed, contact your veterinarian rather than guessing about the next step.

A boarding trip is a great reason to quickly review your dog’s preventative calendar and make sure everything is on track.

4. Are Your Dog’s Vaccines Current?

Vaccination records are one of the most important things to review before boarding day rather than while you’re standing at the front desk with your suitcase packed.

Boarding facilities establish vaccination requirements to reduce the risk of preventable illnesses spreading among dogs sharing an environment.

At Cooper Creek Kennels, current veterinary documentation is required for:

• Rabies

• Bordetella

• Distemper/Parvo

• A recent negative fecal test

These records must be received and reviewed before an evaluation or boarding reservation can be confirmed.

Before boarding:

✔ Look at the expiration dates on your dog’s vaccination records.

✔ Don’t assume the records previously submitted are still current.

✔ Contact your veterinarian early if vaccinations or testing need to be updated.

✔ Make sure you have official veterinary documentation available to submit.

Taking care of this ahead of time makes the boarding process much smoother for everyone.

5. Does Your Dog Take Any Medications?

If your dog takes prescription medication, supplements, or other veterinarian-directed treatments, make sure everything is organized well before drop-off.

Your boarding provider needs accurate information to maintain your dog’s regular routine as closely and safely as possible.

Before your dog’s stay, make a list that includes:

• Medication name

• Correct dose

• How often it is given

• What time it is normally given

• Whether it should be given with food

• Any special instructions from your veterinarian

Keep medications in their original labeled containers whenever possible, and follow the boarding facility’s instructions for how medications should be provided.

Also let the facility know if your dog recently started a new medication or if their dosage has changed.

Clear instructions help prevent confusion while you’re away.

6. Has Anything Changed With Your Dog’s Health?

Sometimes the most important pre-boarding health check doesn’t require paperwork.

It simply requires paying attention to your dog.

In the days leading up to boarding, watch for changes such as:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea or unusually soft stool

• Coughing

• Sneezing or nasal discharge

• Reduced appetite

• Unusual tiredness

• Excessive scratching

• New skin irritation

• Limping or signs of discomfort

• Significant changes in behavior

  
  

Not every small change means something serious is wrong.

But if your dog is showing signs of illness, contact your veterinarian and let the boarding facility know before arriving.

Trying to hide an illness because you’re worried about changing travel plans can put your own dog and other dogs at risk.

The goal should always be to determine what is safest for everyone involved.

7. Has Your Dog’s Routine Recently Changed?

Health isn’t only about test results and vaccinations.

Your boarding provider should also know about significant recent changes that could affect your dog during their stay.

For example:

• A recent illness or veterinary visit

• New medication

• Recent surgery

• Changes in appetite

• New allergies or sensitivities

• Changes in bathroom habits

• A recent injury

• Major changes in behavior or energy

  
  

Providing this information gives caregivers a clearer picture of what is normal for your dog and what might require extra attention.

8. Don't Wait Until the Night Before Boarding

One of the easiest ways to make boarding preparation stressful is waiting until the last minute to check everything.

Veterinary appointments may not be available immediately. Lab results can take time. Records may need to be requested from your veterinarian. A vaccine may have expired without you realizing it.

A better approach is to review everything before you finalize your travel preparations.

A week or two ahead of your dog’s stay, check:

☐ Vaccination records

☐ Fecal test results

☐ Flea and tick prevention

☐ Heartworm prevention

☐ Regular medications

☐ Current health and behavior

☐ Emergency contact information

☐ Veterinarian information

If anything is missing, you still have time to address it without adding unnecessary stress before your trip.

Why Does All of This Matter?

Health requirements can sometimes feel like another item on an already long travel checklist.

But there’s a reason they matter.

Dogs in a boarding environment may use common outdoor areas, spend time around other dogs, and interact with staff who care for multiple animals.

CAPC specifically recommends that pets entering boarding or other shared animal facilities be recently tested for parasites and current on broad-spectrum internal and external parasite control.

That means good preventative care doesn't only help protect your dog.

It helps protect the entire community of dogs sharing that environment.

At Cooper Creek Kennels, every new boarding dog also completes an evaluation before their first stay. This gives us an opportunity to learn about their personality, routine, comfort level, and how they fit into our environment before boarding.

It's all part of creating a safe, comfortable, and positive experience from the beginning.

Your Pre-Boarding Health Checklist

Before your dog's next stay, give this list one final review:

✅ Fecal Test: Is there a current negative result?

✅ Flea & Tick Prevention: Is your dog on schedule with veterinarian-recommended protection?

✅ Heartworm Prevention: Is prevention current, and is routine testing up to date?

✅ Vaccinations: Are Rabies, Bordetella, and Distemper/Parvo records current?

✅ Medications: Do you have enough medication for the stay and clear instructions?

✅ Overall Health: Is your dog eating, drinking, playing, and behaving normally?

✅ Recent Changes: Does the boarding team need to know about any recent health, medication, or behavioral changes?

✅ Veterinary Records: Have all required documents been submitted before the reservation?

A few minutes spent checking these items now can make drop-off easier and help your dog start their stay on the right paw.

Healthy Dogs Make for Happier Stays

Boarding should be something both you and your dog can feel comfortable about.

Making sure preventative care, health records, and medications are organized beforehand allows the boarding team to focus on what matters most once your dog arrives: helping them feel safe, comfortable, engaged, and cared for.

At Cooper Creek Kennels, our requirements aren't simply boxes to check. They're part of the bigger picture of caring for every dog who becomes part of our pack.

Getting ready for an upcoming boarding stay? Visit https://www.coopercreekkennels.com/ to review our services, learn how to get started, and submit your information.

Questions about preparing your dog for boarding or daycare? Contact Cooper Creek Kennels at (641) 614-5568.

This article is intended for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about vaccinations, parasite prevention, medications, testing, symptoms, or other health concerns for your individual dog.