Boarding a Dog on Medication: What to Tell the Facility

Dogs on daily medication can absolutely board safely — we handle it every day. The key is clear communication and proper preparation.

What to bring

Proper medication preparation prevents 90% of boarding medication errors:

• All medications in their original pharmacy containers
• Extra medication — enough for the stay plus 2 extra days
• Written instructions — "1 tablet with breakfast, 1 tablet with dinner, wrap in cheese"
• Pill pockets or whatever delivery method your dog requires
• Your vet's contact information

How to label medications clearly

The most helpful labeling includes: dog's name on every container, medication name and strength visible, specific dose amounts, timing with meals, special instructions, and end date if short-term.

Common medications we handle regularly

We're experienced with all common pet medications:

• Apoquel and Cytopoint — allergy medications
• Rimadyl, Galliprant, Gabapentin — pain and arthritis medications
• Insulin injections — we have staff trained in diabetic pet care
• Phenobarbital, potassium bromide — seizure medications
• Thyroid medications, heart medications, antibiotics
• Eye drops, ear drops, and topical treatments

What to tell the boarding staff

Beyond medications: what the medication is FOR, what happens if a dose is missed, side effects to watch for, whether it should be given with food, and any drug interactions.

Red flags: when a facility can't handle your dog's meds

Walk away if they seem uncomfortable with your medication protocol, won't confirm staff trained for injections, don't have a tracking system for medication times, or can't tell you how they handle a missed dose.

Bottom line

Boarding a dog on medication is routine at any competent facility. Clear labeling, written instructions, extra medication, and a quick conversation with the staff is all it takes.