Food

Please bring your furry kids own food/Regular diet to help eliminate the possibility of digestive upset when your pet returns home with you.

• Food- all personal food must labeled with your pets first and last name as well as serving amount. We DO NOT ACCEPT RAW diets or Homemade diets due to FOOD HEALTH SAFETY.
• Please avoid bringing large food bags because space is limited.
• Individually packed meals are preferred but not required.

There is a $4 per day charge for your furry kid to be fed our “in-house” diet.  Quick diet changes frequently cause tummy upset so we encourage you to bring their regular diet to prevent possible tummy upset.

Medication

• Medication with specific instructions. Please send medication in its original bottles unless otherwise discussed with us in advance.
• Please send pill pockets for administration.

Optional:

• • PERSONAL ITEMS MUST BE LABELED. You are welcome to bring personal toys though We are NOT responsible for personal items, they can get lost or destroyed during clean up. Our guests play all day so sometimes we absolutely MUST wash personal items and they can disappears or get damaged or destroyed.
  • We do not accept beds, personal bedding, blankets, or shirts. We supply Fresh bedding to our guests daily. Thanks! We want to keep a wonderful smelling environment.
  • Special Toys … ALL PERSONAL ITEMS MUST BE LABELED. We are not responsible for personal items. Limit 2 toys max.

  All toys must be labeled with your pets first and last name. Please limit the number of personal items, two or less. Thanks!

  Please DO NOT include personal feeding bowls. We provide our own bowls.

• We require your pet’s vaccination records or veterinary receipt be either faxed, emailed, or mailed to us in advance.

•  Fax: (508) 478-6391 so that we can verify that all of the vaccinations are current and up to date well in advance of your reservation.

Vaccinations:

• All Guests must be current on the following vaccinations, titers are not accepted:

• Rabies Vaccine -as Required by law
• Distemper Booster (DHLPP or DHPP)
• Bordetella Vaccine (Canine Cough): required within 6 months of your reservation regardless of your veterinarian’s policies.

**Some veterinarians only require the Bordetella vaccination once a year, some administer it as often as every three months, some veterinarians do not administer the vaccine unless specifically requested.

Due to the variance in policy among the veterinary community, our policy here at PAWS is every six(6) months. We strictly enforce this policy for the health and safety of all our guests.

A minimum 24 hour grace period is REQUIRED after administration for Boarding and/or Doggie Daycare

• If your dog is receiving the Bordetella vaccine for the first time, a minimum grace period of 10 days is required before Boarding or Doggie Daycare.
• Yearly Stool Check and giardia.
• If you visit dog parks we then require stool and giardia test every 6 months

Requirements:

• All Guests MUST be interviewed to insure that they play well with all of our guests.
• Proof of vaccination is required prior to the first day of daycare and/or boarding. Veterinary receipts ARE acceptable as proof of vaccination.

Recommendations: 

• We highly recommend the Leptospirosis vaccine though it is not required. Please check with your veterinarian.

• We highly recommend the Canine Flu Vaccine

Medications

• Medication Administration …  There is NO CHARGE. Please supply “Pill Pockets” or “Flavor Dough” or the equivalent. We do not accept peanut butter, cream cheese, butter, etc. because it gets messy. Thank you

Special Diet

• Special Diet fee (meals requiring special preparation, i.e. being cooked etc.)………. $2.00 per meal

  We DO NOT ACCEPT RAW diets or Homemade diets due to FOOD HEALTH SAFETY.

  We DO ACCCEPT small additions of chicken, cheese, etc.

  ANY and ALL REFRIGERATED foods MUST be PRE-SEPARATED into individual meals, either bagged or into separate containers for FOOD HEALTH SAFETY. Not Required for a Kibble Diet.

  We DO NOT ACCEPT RAW diets or Homemade diets due to FOOD HEALTH SAFETY.

  Sorry ..We DO NOT have the ability to accommodate frozen foods, RAW diets, or RAW Bones.

  Please: No RAW/Un-cooked diets- due to the possible spread of salmonella and other bacteria. RAW diets are NOT recommended by the FDA or the American Veterinary Medical Association.

  Fact: Dogs fed RAW diets are not permitted into programs that visit children or the elderly due to the “higher than normal bacteria they shed -mostly in their feces”.

NON-HOLIDAY/NON-PEAK

Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance to avoid charges (1/2 the total stay). Kindly give 48 hours’ notice.

Daycare is charged the full day for no shows and cancellations made less than 48 hours.

Inclement weather, and storms do not void the cancellation policy.

HOLIDAY/SCHOOL VACATION/PEAK VACATION

• Cancellations or “shortened changes” for our kennel/Doggie Hotel MUST be made 10 days in advance. 1/2 the total stay will be charged for late cancellations during these peak times. This includes shortening the reservation. Inclement weather, and storms do not void the holiday cancelation policy. To guarantee a spot please make your reservation in advance. Please inquire about peak times.

  *Daycare Membership Packages are non-refundable and expire 6 months from the date of purchase.

  *Daycare membership packages provide a pro-rated discount that applies to the exclusive use of the package only

Food

• Please Bring your Furry Kids regular diet from home. Many Clients ask us about bringing their own food for their pup’s stay with us. We welcome it and encourage it. If your pup has a medical issue it is absolutely necessary for you to bring their regular diet. Call us is you have any questions.

• If we have to cook and prepare a special diet, there IS an additional charge per meal. We DO NOT ACCEPT RAW diets or Homemade diets due to FOOD HEALTH SAFETY.

  Bring food for your pet in pre-portioned, sealed containers or baggies UNLESS your pet will be here longer than 7 days, then you can simply bring in a bag of food or container with clear instructions.

  There is a $4 per day charge for your furry kid to be fed our “in-house” diet.  Quick diet changes frequently cause tummy upset so we encourage you to bring their regular diet to prevent possible tummy upset.

Changes in Diet

One of the possible side effects of making a sudden change to your pup’s normal diet is the possibility of bowel changes, or diarrhea. Because foods may be different from your pup’s normal diet, an abrupt change in diet, coupled with the excitement of playing and boarding, can in some instances create mild colitis in some guests.
If we have to cook and prepare a special diet do to diarrhea, the IS an additional charge per meal.

 Amount of Food

Many clients feel that because their pup is boarding they need to feed extra food, we call it the “guilt feeding”. You should measure your pup’s food into a common 8 oz. standard kitchen cup to determine the amount of food you are giving per meal. We use a common 8 oz. standard kitchen measuring cup to measure our feedings and therefore can continue your pup’s feeding quantity without change.

Please DO NOT include personal feeding bowls. We provide our own bowls to our guests

Bowel Change

• While diarrhea is uncommon, it does occur. Our facility is cleaned and disinfected daily. In addition, each guest’s bowls are cleaned regularly. Also, throughout the day our Guest Suites are disinfected. If you consult the Merck Veterinary Manual all the suggested “prevention for diarrhea” is established, routine daily procedures are encompassed in our daily care.

• While diarrhea is an uncommon and dreaded problem, we are aware that there could be problems in some guests while they are boarded and after they return home. We rely on feedback from our clients, and from local veterinarians, to make us aware of any problems which might occur such as diarrhea. A type of diarrhea which we see most commonly result from guests which receive a sudden dietary change. This type of bowel change usually manifests itself within 2 to 4 days from the start of boarding.

• If this is noticed during boarding you will be informed at the time of checkout advising you of problems observed during your pet’s stay. In addition your veterinarian should be contacted for his/her advice and suggested treatment. Normal FIRST AID treatment for diarrhea is to restrict the diet for 12-24 hours, administer anti-diarrheal medication, and feed a bland diet of rice and boiled ground beef or chicken.

Prevention

There are several methods to avoid an occurrence of this problem. First and foremost, I suggest that you bring your pup’s normal diet along and have us feed it. We have found over the years that a very high proportion of dietary bowel changes are eliminated by simply not forcing a change of diet. If changing your pup’s diet, it is recommended that this be done before their visit and gradually. Unfortunately, guests who do not have a similar diet at home could be subjected to bowel changes if not done gradually.

First Aid Treatment of Diarrhea and Loose Stool

Never hesitate to consult with your veterinarian

Loose stools and or diarrhea are caused by many things (stress, change in diet or water, etc.) and should not be ignored or minimized. Never hesitate to consult with your veterinarian.

Here at Our Guest House there are several things which we do to minimize the effects of diarrhea and to try and shorten its duration. (This is a program advised by our consulting veterinarian and is not meant to conflict or contradict your veterinarian’s advice.)

1– Withhold all food for 12-24 hours (do not feed dairy products).

2– After withholding food, feed a bland diet of boiled rice and boiled chicken or boiled ground beef for 2-3 feedings. 

3– After feeding rice, reintroduce your pet’s regular diet mixed with the rice mixture over the next 3 feedings.

4– Administer Pepto Bismol caplets (follow small child dosage) 2 times per day for 3 days from the onset of the loose stool.

5– If bowel changes do not correct after 3 days, consult with the attending veterinarian or sooner.

Please understand that we highly recommend that if you are at all uncomfortable with your pet’s health that you consult with your veterinarian to advise of your intended First Aid treatment regimen or to gain veterinary approval of your treatments.

Bordetella

• “Canine Cough” is a catch-all term used to describe any upper respiratory illness that presents as a cough or similar to Bordetella. Bordetella, referred to in slang as kennel cough (better termed canine cough), is a set of bacterial and viral agents that basically are the “common cold” for dogs. However a good immune system usually keeps the bacteria under control. Many dogs DO NOT show symptoms. On occasion a dog can have Bordetella as part of its normal population of nasal bacteria and not be sick but still transmit the infection.
• Bordetella can be passed along anytime dogs come in contact with any other dog, including walks around the neighborhood, grooming salons, and parks. The incubation period is usually about 2-10 days, meaning a dog may not display symptoms of illness for about 2-10 days following exposure to the virus, and sometimes they do not show any symptoms at all. The vaccine itself is pretty innocuous, as far as vaccines go, but it is NOT 100% effective. The most likely explanation for this is that there are many strains and mutations of the virus out there. Therefore, it is hit or miss whether the vaccine used on your dog will be the right one for the strain with which your dog comes into contact. This is similar to the “flu shot” for people; each year a vaccine is developed based on which strain(s) are suspected to be most prevalent.
• Be aware that your dog can still catch Canine Cough even if s/he has had the vaccine to prevent it.

Severity 

• Fortunately, if your dog gets Bordetella it’s typically not a big deal. If they do catch it, it usually lasts 5 to 10 days if your dog is normally healthy, longer if not. The bad news is, since the vaccine isn’t foolproof, it is a risk that mommy’s and daddy’s accept when socializing their furry kids. How much of life’s fun would be missed without the company of other furry friends? Just like the risks associated with sending human kids to school, camp, or out to play with their friends. We still take it very seriously and we go to great lengths to prevent the possibility of our guests getting or passing this “common cold”, but kids will be kids, and sometimes they can pass a bug/cold along to each other no matter what precautions we all take.
• We not only use what claims to be the BEST cleaning agent on the market, but we also require our guest to receive the Bordetella vaccine regularly. If your furry family member has been exposed to “Canine Cough” or you hear of a furry playmate that has picked up a “cold”, please inform us before making any reservations.
• We require a 2 week waiting period if your furry family member has been exposed to any sick friends.

If My Dog Has Ever Had Canine Cough, Can He Get It Again?

• Yes. The immunity to Canine Cough or Bordetella can wane over time, so periodic boosters are required. Also, it should be remembered that kennel cough is the name applied to a general coughing syndrome and can be caused by several different infectious agents. If your dog has had kennel cough due to one “germ” he could catch it again from another “germ” which he doesn’t have immunity to. A good analogy is that just because you’ve had a cold doesn’t mean you can’t get another one in the future

Thanks for helping us keep our guests healthy!

• Although it rarely occurs, we are experienced at recognizing illness. If this is the case we will contact you or your emergency contact to discuss options, and seek a veterinarian whenever necessary.

• Even though all of our guests are provided with water 24 hours a day they will often seem thirsty when they first get home. This is not uncommon and is caused by the excitement and anxiety of being reunited with their owner. It is best to limit their water intake for the first hour after arriving home until they settle down.

• Are you tired when you get home from vacation? It’s no different for your pet! After spending time in a different bed and a different environment, having lots of fun, we’re all tired and in a day or two we are all back to our old selves again. It is never a bad idea to consult with your veterinarian.

Inherent Risks

• Our play times are always staff supervised however, dogs do play with their mouths and paws, so nips, nicks, and cuts can/do happen and are part of group play. If your dog gets hurt or sick and we determine a veterinarian is needed, we will call you first but if we are unable to reach you we will act in the best interest of your furry kid.

  All fees will be passed on to the owner at pick up time.

  • Though we provide a very safe and clean environment, pups can still transmit colds, papilloma’s, and viruses, and could even get a sprain, or strain, or even muscular skeletal injury (just like kids on the playground), and pick up internal parasites.

  All guests are screened for Safety and comfort

https://www.crossroads-animal-clinic.com/home-treatments