VACCINATIONS

Please note that unvaccinated pets and young pets who have not had the required initial vaccinations cannot be admitted, in the interest of their own health and that of other guests. If any of the required vaccinations have expired you will be asked to sign an indemnity form exonerating Mooikloof Kennels & Cattery should your pet contract an illness due to insufficient immunity. We may bring the vaccinations up to date, depending on the duration of the stay, in order not to compromise the health of the pet any further. These costs will be for the client’s account. The following vaccinations are required prior to arrival to ensure that the pets have the necessary immunity:

DOGS
  • The traditional five-in-one or six-in-one vaccination – every three years (after the primary vaccination and booster)
  • A valid Rabies vaccination, every year
  • Bordetella – annually (may require a booster shot – please check with your vet)
CATS
  • The traditional three-in-one or four-in-one vaccination – every three years (after the primary vaccination and booster)
  • A valid Rabies vaccination, every year
  • Bordetella (NOBIVAC BB)- annually (this is a separate intranasal vaccine, and not sufficiently covered by the booster)

 

Vets are obliged by law to keep all vaccination records for at least 3 years, so you may ask your vet to supply you with full records should you have lost your vaccination certificate. We can only accept properly certified vaccination records. Please keep the vaccinations up to date – vaccines require up to two weeks to build up immunity in a pet.

We advise that you do not pack away vaccination books when you move, but keep them handy at all times

 DEWORMING

If your pets are dewormed regularly (2-4 times per year, depending on the number of pets in the household), there will be no need for additional treatment. If, however, we identify a worm infestation while they are with us, we will administer a dewormer, again, for your account. Our preferred dewormer is DRONTAL for cats and dogs.

 TICKS AND FLEAS

Please ensure that your pets are free of ticks and fleas when they are booked in. Should pets arrive with ticks and/or fleas, they are immediately treated (with ADVANTIX), as well as their surroundings and bedding. Keep in mind that this is a costly procedure, so we do encourage our clients to apply an effective tick and flea control product prior to arrival.

 SPECIAL NEEDS

If a particular animal requires special attention, e.g. high levels of anxiety or a diabetic, etc., we do our best to accommodate this. We therefore urge clients to inform us of any particular needs their pets may have (even if it may seem silly or embarrassing – we want to know as much as possible about our guests!) Fussy eaters and pets that are boarded for an extended period are weighed regularly to assist with monitoring. If your pet suffers from separation anxiety, please discuss it with us well in advance so that we can advise you what action to take before you bring your pet. Should your pet be sound sensitive, e.g. thunder or firecrackers, we ask you to discuss the specific behaviour with us. Please make us aware in advance if your pet is not on medication. Anxiolytic care can be provided, and the vet may decide to administer medication for the well-being of your pet. This will reflect on your account.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Please allow at least 15 minutes for check-ins and check-outs. Our staff would like to share as much information as possible at arrival and departure.

 KEEP PETS IN THE CAR

We recommend that pets remain in the car until attended to. Please use the undercover parking for your convenience. Our check-in facility will ensure a smoother and faster process and get you on your way quicker. Dogs should only be taken out on a collar and leash, and cats remain in the carrier. Should you not have a cat carrier or collar and leash, please enquire at reception.

 INFORMATION UPDATE

Please ensure that all your details are correct:

  • Telephone numbers
  • E-mail address
  • Date and time of check-out
  • Your pet’s vaccination history – please bring the vaccination certificate every time
  • Name and contact details of your pet’s vet
  • Medication – names and dosages clearly marked, including the name and contact details of the prescribing vet
  • Special instructions

 WHAT ELSE MUST I BRING?

We encourage our clients to bring their pets’ own bedding when they come and stay with us. The closer we can simulate your pets’ home environment, the more comfortable and relaxed their stay will be. Something familiar in the enclosure often helps the pet adapt to their new surroundings. We will of course take good care of any bedding, chews, toy, carriers etc. that you may wish to leave with us. However, we cannot accept responsibility for these items with regard to loss or damage.

 CAN I GO INTO THE KENNEL WITH MY DOG?

We prefer that you do not go into the kennels with your dog. We do understand that clients want to give their pets a last hug and see them settle down. However, this causes high levels of excitement, also amongst the other pets in the facility and results in excessive barking and therefore unnecessary anxiety. We would like to ensure that our guests’ first introduction to the facility is as stress-free as possible. Our public liability insurance covers clients everywhere on the premises except in the kennels and cattery. Dogs are constantly taken out for weighing, exercising, grooming, etc. and although our kennel staff is highly competent in the handling of dogs, some dogs may pose a risk to adults and children if outside their enclosures.

You are welcome to accompany your cat as the felines are not so excitable and are kept inside their enclosures. Please do not open any gates or visit other cats in the cattery.

We do, however, encourage new clients to visit us before bringing their pet for the first time, to enable them to see the facility and discuss their requirements during an organised visit without having to control the pet at the same time.

 ILLNESS OR INJURY

We have a very thorough health monitoring system in place to ensure that, should a pet experience any discomfort/illness, it is dealt with as soon as possible. Excretions and appetites are monitored daily and the pet is subjected to a full clinical examination on a daily basis or as often as the pets’ health requires. Abnormalities in the excretions or in their behaviour are immediately investigated by our kennel staff who, in turn, consult with the resident veterinarian. Anything that needs attention is then treated accordingly or referred to the pet’s own vet (depending on the nature of the problem). Please note that Mooikloof Kennels is not liable for veterinary fees for treatment provided to your pet while in our care.

Occasionally, our guests experience minor problems (e.g. superficial cuts, skin rashes, eye and ear infections) that are dealt with in a general routine manner and for which the attention of a veterinarian may or may not be required. We will, of course, make every possible effort to contact and inform you in the event of any major incident or trauma. Any specific problem will be reported to you when you collect your pet.

Certain physical conditions are encountered more commonly in a kennel situation than otherwise, and we specifically look out for these, for example:

  • Inflammation of the skin of the feet (interdigital pododermatitis)
  • Bladder infection (cystitis) especially in bitches
  • Traumatic lesions of the lip (dogs who stick their muzzles through gates)
  • Callus infections
  • Eye infections
  • Constipation

 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

Whenever a number of animals are housed in close proximity, as is the case with any pet boarding facility, there is an increased risk for the spreading of infectious diseases. This is why we insist on admitting only healthy and vaccinated pets. However, in spite of all the precautions taken, an infectious disease can rear its ugly head in a boarding facility. The most commonly encountered problems are upper respiratory tract infections.

Kennel cough (canine infectious tracheo-bronchitis) affects dogs and causes a hoarse cough. Vaccination is the best preventative measure and there are a few different vaccines available. Standard vaccinations only immunize dogs against the viral component of the disease, so please ensure that the dog is specifically vaccinated against the bacterial component (Bordetella) as well (this is a separate vaccine to the routine annual booster).
These organisms are transmitted by air (aerosol transmission) and can therefore rapidly infect a number of dogs in close proximity, hence the term “kennel cough”. Kennel cough however, does not occur only in kennels – it can spread through a suburb just as easily.

Snuffles (feline infectious rhinotraheitis) cause cats to sneeze and cough, in conjunction with a discharge from the eyes and nose. It is also aerosol transmitted and more common in immune compromised (e.g. young and sick) animals. Standard vaccinations prevent infection by the viral component of the disease – please ensure that your cat is specifically vaccinated against the bacterial component of the disease as well – this is an intranasal (drops given into the nose) vaccine.

 MENTAL WELLBEING

Although everything practically possible is done to ensure the well-being of our guests, we must accept that any change in environment is potentially a stressful experience for a pet. Some pets experience more stress than others, and sometimes this is evident either physically or in their behaviour. Some pets exhibit behaviour problems in the kennel situation which they never show otherwise. Our resident veterinarian has a particular interest in this field and is qualified to address such problems should they occur. We are happy to report that our statistics indicate a very low incidence of kennel stress. Our staff are trained to identify signs of stress in pets and, if any such signs are detected, will consult with our resident veterinarian on how to proceed in managing the situation in order to lower stress. Some of these signs include:

Dogs:                                                                                                                                                                   

  • Diarrhoea, often with blood
  • Loss of appetite
  • Aggression
  • Excessive shedding of hair
  • Excessive barking
  • Hyperactivity
  • Stereotypical behaviour
  • Interdog aggression between dogs from the same family
  • Destructive behaviour

Cats:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Aggression
  • Withdrawal
  • Tail chasing
  • Fabric eating