Vaccines & Testing Requirements at Duluth Dog Depot

Duluth Dog Depot is committed to the safety of our pet guests. Because all our boarders, campers, and spa guests use the same yards, and share the facility, we have certain requirements to ensure their safety and limit the spread of illness or parasites. Current proof of the following vaccines and tests are necessary to schedule your pet for services. If your pet is due for any of these, we are happy to coordinate with Duluth Animal Hospital to have them performed during your pet’s stay if you would like. Please speak with a staff member to schedule.

Rabies Vaccine

This vaccine is state-required for all dogs and legally must be given by the doctor. Rabies can be passed to other mammals, including humans, through bites or scratches, and once symptoms begin there is no effective treatment.

DHPP (Distemper/Parvo) Vaccine

Parvovirus is a very common, highly contagious, and often lethal disease. It can be tracked on shoes, clothes, and hands and can live in the environment for more than a year after a contagious dog passes through. It attacks the digestive system, causing severe vomiting, bleeding, and diarrhea. In untreated dogs, the death rate can be up to 90% and the supportive treatment is very expensive. Similarly, Distemper virus is a highly contagious virus that attacks the respiratory, digestive, brain, and nervous systems of dogs. All puppies should complete a series of vaccinations protecting against these diseases, with adult vaccines commencing at one or three years.

Bordetella (Kennel Cough) Vaccine

This vaccine protects against the highly contagious upper respiratory infection complex commonly called Kennel Cough. The name is a bit of a misnomer - your dog does not need to stay in a kennel to become infected. Dogs are at risk anywhere they may come into contact with other dogs. It is easily spread through air or by touch, and it is difficult to eliminate from the environment. It causes a deep hacking cough and congestion and can be very dangerous in puppies or immune-suppressed dogs. Like the Flu vaccine for humans, the Bordetella vaccine does not guarantee dogs will not come down with Kennel Cough, but it does greatly lessen the severity, symptoms, and length of recovery.

Bivalent Influenza Vaccine

Because they have no natural immunity, nearly 100% of unvaccinated dogs exposed to canine influenza will become infected. An estimated 25% will not show symptoms but are contagious and can infect others. Another estimated 25% will develop pneumonia, which can be fatal. Unlike the human flu, there are only two strains of the canine flu and the vaccine provides nearly complete coverage.

Fecal Testing

Any dog is at risk for intestinal parasites from contaminated soil, water, feces, infected fleas, and food - you can even inadvertently bring home parasites on your shoes! We ask that all pets arriving at our facility have record of a negative fecal test within the last 12 months. This test checks for common intestinal parasites such as whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, coccidia, and giardia. Because these parasites are internal, you may have no idea you pet is infected – and many are transmissible to humans. And because all our pet guests use the same outdoor yards, fecal testing helps to prevent cross-infection of these parasites.

We are happy to call your current veterinarian to obtain your pet’s records, or you may upload documents directly into our Gingr Portal or App. If you have any questions regarding Duluth Dog Depot’s health requirements, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 770-502-6670!

If you would like more in-depth information on how these health requirements protect your pet, please visit Duluth Animal Hospital.