Shot Records Ready? The Preventive Care Checklist Every Boarding and Travel Pup Needs

The Phone Call Every Boarding Facility Makes

It always happens the day before your trip: the kennel calls and asks you to email vaccine records. If you're like half our clients, you panic-scroll your inbox looking for that PDF from two years ago.

Let's fix that. Whether you're boarding for a summer getaway, heading to a groomer, planning a road trip up the coast, or just hitting the dog park on a Saturday, here's the full rundown of what your pup needs — and when.

The Core Four (Non-Negotiable)

These vaccines are considered essential for every dog, regardless of lifestyle:

1. Rabies — Required by California law. The first vaccine is given around 12–16 weeks of age, with a booster one year later, then every three years depending on the product.
2. DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza) — The puppy series starts at 6–8 weeks with boosters every 3–4 weeks until about 16 weeks, then a one-year booster, then every three years.
3. Bordetella (part of "kennel cough" protection) — Almost universally required by boarders, groomers, and daycares. Most facilities want it within the last 6–12 months, so check your records — this one expires fast.
4. Canine Influenza — Increasingly required by California boarding facilities, especially after regional outbreaks. Two initial doses, then annual boosters.

The Lifestyle Vaccines

Depending on what your dog does, your vet may add:

• Leptospirosis — A bacterial disease spread through water and wildlife urine. Given our coastal environment — puddles, creeks, raccoons, and yes, standing water after storms — we recommend this for most harbor-area dogs. Annual.
• Lyme disease — Tick-borne, and worth discussing if you hike grassy trails or travel to tick-heavy regions.
• Rattlesnake vaccine — For dogs who hike inland trails where rattlesnakes live. It doesn't replace emergency treatment but can buy time.

Don't Forget the Parasite Preventives

Vaccines are only half the equation. Boarding and travel expose dogs to fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites:

• Flea and tick prevention — Year-round in Southern California. Our mild winters never shut these pests down.
• Heartworm prevention — Mosquito-borne and on the rise in California. A monthly chewable or twice-yearly injection covers it.
• Fecal testing — Many boarding facilities require a negative fecal exam within the past 6–12 months, since Giardia spreads fast in group settings.

What Boarding Facilities Actually Ask For

Requirements vary, but the typical Dana Point kennel or daycare wants:

• Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella, and often canine influenza
• Bordetella given at least 7–10 days before the stay (it takes time to build protection)
• Records from your vet — not a photo of a tag
• Some require monthly flea preventive on file

Pro tip: call the facility two weeks before your trip. Last-minute vaccine requirements are the #1 cause of pre-vacation stress we see.

Building Your Preventive Care Calendar

Here's a simple annual rhythm that keeps you covered:

• Every 12 months: Wellness exam, DHPP or rabies booster (as due), Bordetella, leptospirosis, canine influenza, heartworm test, fecal test
• Monthly: Flea/tick and heartworm preventives — set a phone reminder
• Every 3 years: Rabies and DHPP boosters, depending on the vaccine used
• Before travel: Confirm records 2+ weeks out

A Note for Senior Dogs

Older pups still need protection — but their vaccine schedule may shift. A 12-year-old Lab with a quiet home life might not need every lifestyle vaccine, while a senior who boards regularly still needs full coverage. Annual exams let us tailor the plan to your dog's age, health status, and actual risk.

The Takeaway

Preventive care is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy for your dog. Get ahead of the paperwork, keep a digital copy of records on your phone, and let us help you build a schedule that fits your lifestyle — whether that's jet-setting, park-hopping, or a little of both.

Call us or book online, and we'll get those records ready before your next adventure.