A Pet Vaccination Record for Boarding a Dog

Boarding a dog usually involves more than dropping off a bag of food. A kennel or sitter may need vaccination dates, medication instructions, feeding details, emergency contacts and the name of the regular vet. Preparing those details in one clear pet health record makes handover calmer for everyone.

Check the boarding requirements early

Ask the kennel or sitter what they need and when the information must be provided. Some facilities have their own vaccination or medication requirements. Follow the facility and veterinary instructions rather than assuming every boarding service uses the same checklist.

Add the clinic name and phone number, the dog's identity details and the dates of relevant vaccinations. If a document or certificate is required, keep the original source available as well as the date summary.

PawKeep is a private iPhone app for keeping pet health records, including vaccinations, medications, vet details and notes. It gives an owner a single place to review the essentials before handing care to someone else.

Write medication instructions exactly

If your dog takes medication, record the name, dose, timing and any storage instructions exactly as provided by the vet. Include what to do if a dose is missed only when the veterinary instructions specify it. Do not ask a sitter to interpret a vague note such as “give when needed.”

Include allergies, recent symptoms and anything the sitter should watch for. A factual note—“check left ear after walks; call the clinic if redness worsens”—is more useful than an informal diagnosis. Contact the vet for medical questions or urgent concerns.

Make the handover easy to scan

Put the most important details first: emergency contact, vet contact, medication schedule and feeding routine. Keep longer history available without forcing the sitter to search through it. Review the record the day before boarding so outdated food, medication or contact details do not travel with the dog.

Boarding handover checklist

1. Confirm the facility's current requirements.
2. Check vaccination dates and supporting documents.
3. Write medication and feeding instructions clearly.
4. Add vet and emergency contact details.
5. Share only the information the sitter needs for care.

A good pet vaccination record is not about creating more paperwork. It is about making the important facts easy to find when someone else is responsible for your dog. Set up PawKeep before the next boarding stay.