What Louisiana boarding facilities require for your pet

The legal baseline: what Louisiana requires

Under Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 3, §2772 (accessed Aug 31, 2026), all dogs and cats in Louisiana must be vaccinated against rabies. The Louisiana Department of Health (accessed Aug 31, 2026) coordinates statewide rabies surveillance. No legitimate boarding facility in Louisiana will accept a pet without current rabies documentation.

Louisiana's subtropical climate also means year-round risk for heartworm, leptospirosis, and tick-borne diseases — which is why many Louisiana boarding facilities go well beyond the rabies minimum in their requirements.

What most Louisiana boarding facilities require

Dogs

Cats

Heartworm: Louisiana's unique boarding requirement

Louisiana is one of the top heartworm-risk states in the country. The state's warm, humid climate supports year-round mosquito activity, which means heartworm transmission doesn't take a winter break here. Many Louisiana boarding facilities — particularly in the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette metros — require a negative heartworm test before accepting dogs. This is less common in boarding facilities in drier or colder states, but in Louisiana it's standard practice at many kennels.

If your dog is on year-round heartworm prevention, bring documentation of the most recent negative test along with proof of current prevention. Most Louisiana vets test annually.

The bordetella reality in Louisiana

Bordetella (kennel cough) is the requirement that catches most first-time boarders off guard. Your regular vet may not include it in routine vaccinations if your dog doesn't frequent group settings. But every major Louisiana boarding facility requires it. Some require it within the last 6 months — not 12.

The intranasal version provides faster protection (3–5 days vs. up to two weeks for injectable). If your trip is coming up soon, ask your Louisiana vet about the intranasal option.

Hurricane season and boarding

Louisiana's hurricane season (June–November) creates unique boarding scenarios. During evacuations, some pet-friendly shelters and emergency boarding facilities require the same vaccination documentation as regular kennels. Having your pet's records digitally accessible — rather than in a file cabinet that might flood — can mean the difference between your pet being accepted at an evacuation shelter or turned away. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (accessed Aug 31, 2026) emphasizes including pets in evacuation plans.

What format do facilities accept?

• A printed vaccination record from your vet (the gold standard)
• A digital copy emailed directly from your vet's office
• A screenshot or PDF from your pet's health record app — as long as it shows the vet's name, vaccine dates, and expiration dates

What they usually won't accept: handwritten notes, a verbal confirmation, or a receipt that doesn't list the specific vaccine type and date.

Your Louisiana boarding-ready checklist

• Rabies certificate — current, showing vaccine date and expiration
• DHPP vaccination record — within last 1–3 years
• Bordetella vaccination — confirm facility's timeline (6 or 12 months)
• Canine influenza (if required by your facility)
• Negative heartworm test — within last year (common in Louisiana)
• Fecal exam results (if required — within last 6–12 months)
• Proof of current flea/tick prevention (year-round in Louisiana)
• Spay/neuter certificate (if joining group play)
• Emergency contact information and your vet's phone number

Last verified: August 31, 2026. Individual facility requirements may exceed the minimums listed here. Always confirm with your specific boarding facility before your reservation date.