Medical needs boarding guide
Boarding a Dog on Medication or a Special Diet: How to Set the Team Up
A dog on daily medication or a prescription diet can board well. What makes it work is instructions a stranger can follow at 7 am without calling you, and a conversation before you book about whether the team can do exactly what your dog needs.
Parkwood Pet Resort · Updated September 27, 2026
Talk to the resort before you reserve
Parkwood follows the meal and medication instructions you provide, but “medication” covers a lot of ground. A tablet once a day with breakfast is routine. A dose that must be given at a precise time, a medication with handling precautions, or a condition that can change quickly is a different conversation, and it should happen before you reserve, not at drop-off.
Describe the condition and treatment plainly and ask two questions: can the team give this medication the way it needs to be given, and what happens if my dog’s condition changes during the stay. If the honest answer is that the routine does not fit a busy resort, better to hear it early. Your veterinarian’s view on whether boarding is appropriate right now comes first.
Label medication so a stranger gets it right
Every medication should arrive in its original pharmacy container with the label intact. Alongside it, write a sheet that lists each medication by name, the dose, the time it is given, whether it is given with food, and how it is given: in a pill pocket, hidden in a spoon of wet food, crushed if your veterinarian has said that is acceptable. Do not rely on a front-desk conversation the evening shift never heard.
Bring at least two extra days of medication in case travel runs long. If a course is short-term, write the end date. If a medication is given only as needed, describe the sign that means it is needed and the minimum time between doses; otherwise leave it home and say so.
- Dog’s name and your last name on every container
- Medication name and strength as it appears on the label
- Exact dose, time and whether it goes with a meal
- How your dog takes it, and what to do if refused
- Your veterinarian’s name and phone number on the same sheet
Pack and portion a special diet
A prescription or limited-ingredient diet is easy to keep at boarding as long as the food arrives in the right amounts. Measure each meal into its own bag or container, labeled by meal and day, and bring a spare day or two. Sealed, labeled portions are also how the team keeps your dog’s food separate from every other dog’s.
Do not switch foods, add a topper or start a supplement in the week before a stay. If your dog is allergic to an ingredient, name it in writing; the difference between “no chicken” and “no poultry” matters. If treats are off-limits, say so clearly; a well-meaning staff member and an ordinary treat can undo a careful diet.
Explain how your dog actually takes it
Most missed doses at boarding are not forgotten; they are refused, spat out or left in an uneaten bowl. Tell the team what works at home: which pill pocket, which cheese, whether the tablet has to be hidden after the dog has started eating, whether your dog takes it from a hand but not a bowl. If your dog is a slow or picky eater, say so; a meal that sits for twenty minutes is not necessarily a problem.
For a special diet, say what a normal meal looks like. A dog who always leaves a few kibble is not off their food. A dog who usually finishes in two minutes and does not touch breakfast is telling the team something. That baseline lets staff notice change and lets them report it to you accurately.
Plan for the unexpected
Give the resort your veterinarian’s contact details and permission to call them. Name a local person who can make decisions and pick up your dog if you cannot be reached. Ask how the team will let you know if a dose is missed, a meal is refused or something looks different, and agree on what counts as a reason to call versus a note at pickup.
Daily photo updates and webcams show the day, but for a dog with medical needs the medication and meal record matters more. Ask at pickup whether every dose was given and every meal eaten, and take that to your veterinarian if anything was off. A well-run stay leaves you with a clear account, not just a happy dog.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Will Parkwood give my dog medication during boarding?
Parkwood follows the meal and medication instructions you provide. Bring medication in original containers with written directions, and discuss any dose with special timing or handling requirements with the resort before you reserve.
Can I bring my dog’s prescription food?
Yes. Portion each meal into a labeled bag or container with a spare day or two, and note any ingredients your dog must avoid, including treats.
What if my dog refuses a dose or a meal?
Tell the team in advance what works at home and what to do if it does not. Agree on how they will let you know, and give them your veterinarian’s number so they can ask for guidance.
Should I board a dog whose condition is not stable?
Ask your veterinarian first. A resort is not a substitute for veterinary care, and a dog whose treatment is still being adjusted may need a different arrangement until the routine is settled.
Confirm services with the right Parkwood location
Use our published service and location details to plan your questions. Confirm current availability, pricing and your dog’s eligibility with the resort before booking.
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