What goes on a dog boarding medication form or sheet?

The medicine's name exactly as on the label; the amount written as prescribed, copied from the label; the times and whether it's given with food; how you give it; the date and time of the last dose, filled in on drop-off day; what your vet says to do if a dose is refused or vomited; who to call; and whether it needs the fridge. Never change the amount in your own words. If the facility has its own form, fill that out too.

What should I send with my dog for boarding?

The medicine in its labeled container, with enough for the stay (plus a few extra days if you can), the medication sheet, the vaccine records the facility asks for, your vet's details and an emergency contact, your dog's usual food, and a familiar bed, blanket or toy if the facility allows it. VCA says most boarding kennels require written proof of vaccination from a licensed veterinarian, so check the facility's list before you book.

Dog Boarding With Medication: Ask Before You Book, Then Hand Over a One-Page Sheet

Q: Can a boarding kennel give my dog medication?

Some will and some won't, and the terms vary by facility. VCA Animal Hospitals advises making sure staff are willing and able to give it as scheduled. Before you book, ask whether they will give this medicine at your dog's times and in the way your dog takes it, who gives it, whether it costs extra, and whether they have their own medication form. If a facility won't, ask about boarding connected to a veterinary hospital: VCA notes that some boarding facilities are associated with veterinary hospitals and staffed with trained professionals.

Q: Will a boarding facility take a dog with health conditions?

Many can, but ask first. The American Kennel Club says many boarding services are well equipped for dogs with health conditions, and that you should discuss them with the staff upfront. It suggests asking how the kennel accommodates those conditions, and whether there's a vet on staff or a local vet it works with in an emergency. Tell the facility about every condition and medicine when you book. If one can't take your dog, ask your vet whether they recommend a local boarding facility.

Q: What if my dog refuses or vomits a dose while boarding?

Decide that with your vet before drop-off, not on the day. Whether to give it again, wait for the next dose or call the clinic depends on the medicine and the dog, so ask your vet and write the answer on the medication sheet in the vet's words. Ask the facility to note the date and time of any refused or vomited dose and tell you at pickup, so you can pass it on to your vet.

You're booking a kennel for a long weekend away. Your dog takes medicine every morning and evening. The online form asks about food, feeding times, walks and whether she plays well with other dogs. There's nowhere to mention medication.

At drop-off, you hand the bottle across the desk and say, "Morning and evening, please." No one has settled what time, who gives it, or how. And no one knows what to do if she spits it out.

If your dog is boarding with medication, start before you book: ask the facility whether staff will give it, who gives it, when and how, and whether there's a fee or a form. Next, ask your vet what to do if a dose is refused or vomited. Then, at drop-off, hand over the medicine in its labeled container with a one-page medication sheet: the name, the amount as prescribed, the times, the last dose, your vet's instructions and who to call. Those three steps are the whole answer.

VCA Animal Hospitals' guide to boarding your dog gives medication a single sentence. That sentence matters, though: whether staff will give medicine at all is up to each facility. VCA, the American Kennel Club and the RSPCA (a UK animal welfare charity) all say to raise medical needs before the stay, so have the medication conversation when you book, not at the front desk.

This post is about boarding facilities: boarding kennels, cat boarding and boarding run by vet clinics. If family, a friend or a pet sitter is looking after your dog instead, see our guide to what to leave for a sitter or family. Boarding a cat works the same way.

This is a guide to keeping records, written by Memofu's developer, not a veterinarian. It is not veterinary advice. For the amount of medicine, and for what to do if a dose is missed, refused or vomited, follow your vet's instructions. Policies and rules vary by facility, state and country; the ones mentioned here are examples.

Can a boarding kennel give my dog medication?

Some will and some won't, and the terms vary. Before you book, ask whether staff will give the medicine at your dog's usual times, the way she usually takes it.

VCA's advice is short: if your pet needs medication, make sure staff are "willing and able to administer it as scheduled."

It's also worth asking about vet care. The AKC suggests asking whether there's a veterinarian on staff, and if not, whether the kennel works with local veterinary services in an emergency.

The rules behind this depend on where the facility is. In England, boarding kennels are licensed, and the government's statutory guidance says prescribed medicines must be kept in a locked cupboard at the correct temperature and used as the vet instructs, and that all medications must only be used with the owner's prior consent and in discussion with a vet. That's England's standard, not a universal one. Wherever you are, go by the facility's own medication policy.

So the question for that first call isn't "can I bring her medicine?" It's "can you give this medicine, at these times, this way?"

Will a boarding facility take a dog with health conditions?

Many can, but not every facility can manage every condition. Tell them about every condition and medicine when you book, not at drop-off.

The AKC says many boarding services are well equipped for dogs with health needs. It also says to raise them with the staff upfront, including any illness that needs close monitoring, and to ask how the kennel handles dogs with health conditions. VCA likewise says to discuss any special medical problems with kennel staff before boarding.

A good facility will ask you, too. The RSPCA's checklist for choosing a boarder includes whether they ask about your pet's diet and health, and whether they can accommodate any medical issues your pet has. Answer fully. A facility that doesn't know about a condition can't plan around its medicine times, or know what to watch for.

If a facility can't take your dog, look at boarding connected to a veterinary hospital. VCA notes that some boarding facilities are associated with veterinary hospitals and staffed with trained professionals. The AKC suggests asking your own vet whether they work with or recommend any local boarding services. While you're at it, ask which kind of place suits your dog's condition.

What should you tell the boarding facility about your dog, and what should you ask?

Tell them every condition your dog has, every medicine and its times, how your dog takes it, and anything that's changed lately. Then ask these six questions on the first call, rather than waiting to be asked:

Will you give this medicine at these times? Who gives it, and will that person be on site at your dog's dose times? Mixed into food, or straight into the mouth? Can they do it the way your dog usually takes it?
Does it cost extra? Ask whether giving medication adds a fee.
Do you have your own medication or consent form? If there's a form, get it ahead of time and fill it out at home, not at the desk.
Which vet would you use if my dog gets sick? VCA recommends leaving written authorization for emergency veterinary care with the kennel, along with your vet's contact details and someone who can make decisions if you can't be reached. Ask whether they'll call your own vet.
What are your vaccine and parasite-prevention rules? More on this below.
How will you reach me, and do you log each dose? Ask whether they write down when each dose was given and can show you at pickup, and whether they'll tell you about a refused or vomited dose.

What goes on a dog boarding medication form (or your own sheet)?

Write the medicine's name, the amount as prescribed, the times, how you give it, when the last dose was given, what your vet says to do if a dose is refused or vomited, and who to call. Put it on one page and hand it over with the medicine. If the facility has its own medication form, fill that out and clip your sheet to it.

"Morning and evening" said at the desk has to survive the trip from whoever checks your dog in to whoever gives the medicine. Details drop out along the way. A sheet keeps them.

Name and amount: copy the label. VCA's guide to giving pills says to read the prescription label carefully and understand the dosing instructions, and the Merck Veterinary Manual says to always read and follow the instructions on the medicine's label. This post gives no amounts, because the amount comes from your dog's prescription. Don't rewrite it in your own words. If your vet changed the amount recently and the label hasn't caught up, ask the clinic for the new instructions in writing (an updated label or a short note) and hand that over with the medicine, not just your own note. Mention it at the desk too.

Last dose: write it on the day. If you give the morning dose at home and the sheet doesn't say so, the facility may assume it's still due. If it got missed in the rush, they can't know that either. A date and time tells them when the next dose is due. Write it the moment you give it.

If you realize on drop-off morning that you forgot that day's dose, don't decide on your own whether to give it late. Call your vet; our guide to a forgotten dose covers what to tell them. Add whatever the vet says to the sheet.

How you give it, and the treats you use. If your dog takes medicine wrapped in a treat, pack those treats. VCA notes that some dogs spit pills out, so it's important to watch your dog after giving the medication. If yours does, write "please watch until she swallows." If your dog is fearful about being pilled, VCA suggests asking your vet for advice, and if the medicine has to go straight into the mouth, say so when you book.

Pack it in the labeled container, with extra. Send the medicine in its original container or pharmacy bag, label attached, even if you pre-portion doses. If you can, pack a few extra days' worth in case pickup is delayed; if you're running low, ask your vet or pharmacy before the stay. England's kennel guidance says unused medications must be returned to the owner, a nominated contact or the prescribing vet, so ask for the rest back at pickup.

What if my dog refuses or vomits a dose while boarding?

Ask your vet before drop-off, and write the answer on the sheet. That way the decision isn't left to whoever is on shift.

Whether to give it again, wait for the next dose or call the clinic depends on the medicine and on your dog. Kennel staff shouldn't have to guess, and this post can't give you a rule of thumb either.

At your next visit, or on the phone, ask:

What should the facility do if my dog spits out a dose, or vomits after taking it?
What if a whole dose is missed?
How late can a dose be given if the schedule slips?
When should the facility call you, and can they call you directly?

Write the answers in your vet's words on the "refused or vomited" line. If the advice is "keep an eye on her," ask what to watch for and when to call, so the staff have something to act on.

Ask the facility to note the date and time of any refused or vomited dose and tell you at pickup. You can pass that straight on to your vet.

What should you send with your dog for boarding, and when do vaccines need to be current?

Along with the medicine and the sheet, send the vaccine records the facility asks for, your vet's details and an emergency contact, your dog's usual food, and something familiar. Vaccines have to meet the facility's rules on check-in day, so check those rules when you book, while there's still time to see your vet.

Vaccines. VCA says boarded pets should be up to date on vaccinations and parasite prevention, and lists rabies, canine distemper, parvovirus and Bordetella ("kennel cough") vaccines as "universally required." It also says most boarding kennels require written proof of vaccination from a licensed veterinarian, and the AKC notes that many states require a kennel to have proof of dogs' vaccination records to operate legally.

AAHA's canine vaccination guidelines add that other vaccines, including Bordetella and canine influenza, are "just as essential for some dogs based on their lifestyle and risk," so ask your vet which ones fit a dog who boards.

For cats, VCA says rabies vaccination is typically required and some kennels may require others, such as feline leukemia and FVRCP.

Timing can matter too: England's licensing guidance requires a primary vaccination course to be finished at least two weeks before boarding. Check your facility's own rules early.

If a booster has lapsed, talk to your vet before you book; whether and when to give it is their decision. Our guide to a missed vaccine booster covers how to think it through. If you can't find the certificate, our guide to a lost vaccination certificate covers who can reissue each record and what boarding facilities may accept instead.

Everything else. The RSPCA suggests leaving your vet's name and number and an emergency contact for you. VCA says bringing your dog's own bed or blanket and favorite toys can help them feel more comfortable.

If the facility has its own packing list, go by that: the AKC says the facility should explain what to bring before drop-off.

Your dog boarding checklist, from booking to drop-off

Work back from drop-off day:

Call the facility. Will they give the medicine, and who gives it, when and how? Any fee or form? Their vaccine and parasite rules, and which vet they use.
Ask your vet. What to do if a dose is refused, vomited, missed or late. Write down the answer as it was given. If the amount changed recently, ask for the new instructions in writing.
Check vaccine and preventive dates. Find the records. If anything has lapsed, call your vet.
Write the sheet. Name, dose as prescribed, times, how you give it, your vet's instructions, who to call and storage. Leave the "last dose" line blank.
Pack the medicine. In its labeled container, with a few extra days' worth if you can, plus the treats you use.
On drop-off day, fill in the last dose. At the desk, go through the sheet with the person checking your dog in. If you use Memofu, this is when to create a health link that covers the stay, with the facility's name on it.

Where Memofu fits

Memofu is an app for keeping pet health records and photos with your family. Here's what it can and can't do for a boarding stay, limited to what the app does today.

A health link shows the facility your dog's medication plan. It's read-only and opens in any browser, with no app or account. You choose how long they can view it: 1 day, 1 week or 1 month. It's free on every plan.
What they see: current medications and their schedule. Each medicine shows its name, the dose you entered, its dose times (for example "Daily at 8:00 AM, 8:00 PM") and any end date or upcoming start date. The link shows the dose exactly as you entered it, so if your vet changed it, update the medication in the app before drop-off to match the label. The page also shows allergies and care notes, vaccines and preventives, weight and vet visits.
It shows the plan, not each dose. The link doesn't show who gave each dose or when, and the facility can't record anything through it. The facility's own log or report is the record of the stay, so ask at pickup whether any dose was missed.
Certificates and your vet's instructions aren't on the link. The page itself says "Recorded by the owner in the Memofu app — not a veterinary certificate." If the facility wants proof from your vet, bring it. Photos on a vet visit, such as a certificate or prescription, aren't shared through the link, and neither is anything you saved under "What the vet said", so put your vet's instructions for a refused or vomited dose on the paper sheet. Allergies and care notes do appear, so a line like "Takes pills wrapped in a treat" can go there.
Fit it to the stay, and name it. A 1-week link stops working a week after you create it; for a longer stay, choose 1 month and stop it when you're home. "Stop" ends a link right away. When you create the link, enter the facility's name under "Who is it for?", and their page shows "Shared with" and that name. Only owners and co-owners can create links.
Care reminders keep vaccine dates in view. Set "Core vaccines" or "Rabies vaccine" to repeat yearly, and owners and co-owners get a notification on the day. Upcoming dates also appear as "Due" on the health link.
At home, the medication log records each dose. Owners and co-owners are notified at each dose time, "Mark as given" is one tap, and everyone in the circle sees who gave it and when. Log the drop-off morning's dose there, and you can copy the time onto the sheet's "last dose" line. Dose notifications keep coming during the stay, so let your co-owners know not to tap "Mark as given" for doses the facility gives. Don't use "End this medication" to quiet the notifications during the stay: an ended medication disappears from "Current medications" on the link.

The medication log, health links and every health record, including the full history, are free on every plan; the vet-ready PDF is Premium. See how the health link works on our features page and what is and isn't paid on our pricing page.

A paper sheet works fine on its own. Ask the facility before you book, ask your vet about a refused or vomited dose, and hand over one page: keep those three and any tool will do.

One last reminder: this is a guide to keeping records, not veterinary advice. Your vet decides the amount of medicine and what to do when a dose doesn't go down. The sheet just carries that decision to the facility.

Sources

Boarding Your Dog (VCA Animal Hospitals)
Boarding Your Cat (VCA Animal Hospitals)
Giving Pills to Dogs (VCA Animal Hospitals)
What to Know and Look for When Boarding Your Dog (American Kennel Club, updated November 2025)
Dog kennel boarding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (GOV.UK, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, updated June 2026)
Pet sitting (RSPCA)
Routine Health Care of Dogs (Merck Veterinary Manual, Pet Owner Version)
2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines (American Animal Hospital Association, updated 2024)