Picture it: bags packed, taxi waiting, flight in four hours — and the boarding facility won't take your dog because one vaccine is 15 days out of date. This exact scene plays out in Hong Kong every single week.
Boarding facilities aren't being difficult. One dog with kennel cough can infect an entire kennel in days, so their vaccine rules are strict and non-negotiable. The problem is that most owners find out about the rules at the counter, not before.
Would your dog be accepted tomorrow?
The three questions every front desk asks.
Was your dog's kennel cough (Bordetella) vaccine given more than 14 days ago and less than 12 months ago?
Can you show a physical or digital vaccination card right now, at the counter?
Is your dog's AFCD licence current?
What kennel cough actually is
A very contagious cough — think of it as the dog version of a chest cold that spreads through a daycare. Usually mild, occasionally serious in puppies and seniors, and spectacularly infectious in shared air. Hence the rules.
The timing rule that catches everyone
The Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine needs 10-14 days before check-in to build protection, and most facilities require it within the past 12 months. So the window is: more than two weeks ago, less than a year ago. Booking a "quick jab" the day before your flight doesn't count — reputable facilities will refuse it.
The full front-desk checklist
Beyond kennel cough, HK boarding facilities typically ask for: current core vaccines (C5 or equivalent), a valid AFCD licence for dogs, proof of recent flea/tick treatment, and an emergency contact who is actually in Hong Kong while you're away.
Book the vaccine when you book the flight
- –Flights booked → same day, book the Bordetella shot. That habit alone prevents the whole disaster.
- –Keep the vaccination card photographed on your phone — facilities accept digital copies.
- –Trial night: one overnight stay before a long trip reveals problems while you can still fix them.
Never get turned away at the counter
PawVault stores your dog's vaccine card digitally and reminds you before boarding-critical vaccines expire — so check-in is a formality, not a gamble.
Start free — 2 minutes, no card