Choosing a Kennel or Cattery

There are a variety of boarding options available in Brisbane from private home care to large kennels to exclusive “Pet Hotels”, and we even do some short term boarding of cats at Bulimba Vet Surgery.  Personal recommendations from friends or associates are a good place to start when finding a carer for your pet. Remember though, everyone has different expectations and requirements for their pets so what is suitable or even fantastic for one person may be unacceptable to another.

We recommend a tour of the facility first. A respectable place should be happy for you to come and inspect them at your convenience. In general pay particular attention to cleanliness and ventilation. Each cage or kennel should have information about the occupant on display. The pet should look happy and content and interested in the surrounding environment. If you are visiting a kennel expect a lot of noise - dogs get excited about visitors! You should also understand that even in the best facilities, at the time you walk through a dog may have pooped in his cage or turned over a food dish just before you arrived. There should be a securely fenced outdoor exercise area. A house trained dog needs access to an outside toilet area at least twice a day.

At catteries there should be a good size run incorporating an enclosed housing area with free access between the two. They runs should be secure (if wire is used, it must be strong and unbroken) with good bolts on pen doors and secure safety corridor to provide secondary protection against escape. Adjoining pens should have a solid barrier between them, known as sneeze barriers, to prevent any risk of cross-infection with upper respiratory viruses.

Make sure current vaccinations are required - parvovirus and bordetella ("kennel cough") are important in dogs. You should realize however that there are other viruses and bacteria that can cause kennel cough in dogs, ventilation and cleanliness are at least as important as the bordetella vaccination. Vaccination for the upper respiratory viruses, “cat flu” is also important in cats, but this, like the kennel cough shots in dogs, does not guarantee your pet will not pick up something. You should be aware, though that these infections, although a nuisance and may require treatment, are usually not as serious in vaccinated animals.

Few facilities require a de-worming treatment or a faecal exam for worms. Even if they did, it would still be possible that a bowel movement in the exercise area could have microscopic worm eggs in it that your dog could get infected with. This is not usually serious as long as your dog is de-wormed or checked for worms regularly. Also, though most facilities check for fleas and treat if needed, or require monthly preventative treatment, it is impossible to guarantee your pet will not pick up fleas. Pre-treating with a good quality flea control will help though.

Dogs should be walked outside at least twice a day. Some kennels have large fenced areas where dogs are turned loose for exercise periods and some allow groups of dogs to play together, off leash, with supervision. Walking each dog by itself on a leash in a securely fenced area is safest, but off leash play, or supervised group play is a lot more fun for most dogs. If you choose this for your dog, make sure there are secure fences and good supervision and be aware that there may be increased risk of injury or escape.

You should check what happens if your pet falls ill whilst boarding. Veterinary insurance may be included in the price or be an optional extra. Which vet do they use or do they use the customers own vet? Medications should always be discussed with the proprietor or carer (especially with injections for conditions such as diabetes) to ensure that they understand the regime and feel comfortable giving them.

Ensure that the kennel or cattery has contact details for you while you are away and that they are accurately informed of the dates that you will be absent.  Places at all boarding facilities tend to fill up well in advance during the summer and during holiday periods, especially on weekends. If you know when you will need to board your pets, make a reservation with your chosen care provider as soon as you can.
If you would like a list of  catteries, kennels and home care options in this area please contact the clinic.