Willow - 16 month old lab - is going to be home boarded for a long weekend in Feb. The lady has asked if Willow is vaccinated against kc.  As it turns out she isn't. What's anyone's advice on whether I should have it done. Why isn't it done routinely  with the annual jabs?

KC vaccine isn't considered one of the 'core' vaccines, mainly because it generally isn't - in a usually fit, healthy dog - very serious. It should be considered the equivalent of flu in humans; it makes you feel very poorly but it isn't likely to kill you. It is, however, very infectious, and animals that are in close proximity with each other for an extended period are more likely to pass it on. This is why it's often a condition of the council's licence to boarding kennels that all dogs are immunised against it. There are many strains of illness that cause the same symptoms, and the vaccine doesn't cover all of them, so it doesn't guarantee that your dog won't pick it up; but if she does the symptoms will be far less severe. Basically if you want to use boarding kennels she'll need to be vaccinated against kennel cough.

The vaccine isn't injected - it's squirted up a nostril like a nasal spray - no needle involved!

Jane she can come and stay with us if you want ?

If this is down to local licensing requirements, I suppose it has to be done.   However, if this is the viral kind of KC (not bacterial) the virus can mutate like with the human flu so boostering could be pretty pointless, even if usually a vaccinated dog shakes KC off more easily.   I suppose you'll just have to conform if you want to use the kennels.   Have you considered a sitter?

Mine are now on a 3-yearly booster schedule, apart from Lepto which my vet assures me (and I can only go along with!) the Lepto booster drops and is considered needed boostering annually.    I phoned one local kennel here to see if they'd accept mine on the schedule they were on and they said they would.   They use the same vet I do and seemed happy for mine to be on this.

Thanks for all your replies everyone. Lucy thx for the offer - I have sent you a fb message.
It's not boarding kennels it's homestay - willow will live as one of the family. In fact she has one of Willows littermates. She said she doesn't insist on it but recommends it so I was just wondering what people thought.