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Vaccinations

At Five Happy Tails, the safety of our family dogs, our boarding guests, and our home environment is our top priority. Because we board multiple dogs from different households in our home, we require proof of current vaccinations for every dog we accept.

Vaccinations help protect against serious and highly contagious illnesses and are one of the most important ways we keep our pack healthy.

Required Vaccinations:​

  • Rabies

  • DHPP / DAPP (Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza) 

  • Bordetella (Kennel Cough)

  • Leptospirosis (Lepto)

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Proof of vaccination from a licensed veterinarian is required prior to boarding. If your pet has a medical exemption, please provide a note from your veterinarian and we will review these situations on a case-by-case basis to make sure we can safely accommodate your dog while also protecting the other guests in our care.

Recommended Vaccinations (but not required):​

  • Canine Influenza

  • Flea & Tick Prevention

  • Heartworm Prevention​

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Additional Information: Why We Require Certain Vaccines

Rabies:

Rabies is a fatal virus that affects the nervous system and can spread to humans and wildlife. Even though it's rare in vaccinated pets, Michigan has wildlife that can carry rabies. This vaccine is legally required and protects everyone in our home.

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DHPP / DAPP (Distemper/Parvo Combo):

This core vaccine protects against several serious viruses that spread through shared spaces, saliva, and contaminated soil.

- Parvovirus can live in the environment for months and spreads quickly through yards and on shoes. It can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.

- Distemper spreads through the air and affects a dog's lungs, stomach, and nervous system.

Even dogs that appear healthy can carry germs into new environments, which is why this protection is essential for group boarding.

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Bordetella (Kennel Cough):

Bordetella protects against one of the main causes of kennel cough, a contagious respiratory illness. Kennel cough can spread anywhere dogs share air space like playgroups, groomers, vet offices, and boarding homes like ours. Vaccinated dogs can still occasionally catch it, but symptoms are usually much milder and shorter-lasting.

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Leptospirosis (Lepto):

Lepto is caused by bacteria spread through the urine of wildlife such as raccoons, deer, squirrels, and rodents. It can live in wet grass, mud, puddles, soil, etc. Dogs don't have to drink standing water to be exposed, simply walking through damp areas can be enough. Lepto can cause kidney and liver damage and can spread to humans.

 

Canine Influenza:

Dog flu spreads through coughing, sneezing, and shared air space, just like kennel cough. While not always common, outbreaks do occur.

 

Flea & Tick Prevention:

Even one untreated dog can bring fleas into a home, where they spread quickly and are very hard to eliminate. Ticks can also carry diseases, causing illnesses like Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis. or Ehrlichiosis - which cause joint pain, lethargy, fever, and long-term health complications if left untreated. 

 

Heartworm Prevention:

Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes and live in a dog's heart and lungs. Heartworm disease can cause coughing, fatigue, weight loss, difficulty breathing, or even heart failure in severe cases.

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