Vaccination and health proof for rabbits
The first thing a reputable small-pet boarding service asks a rabbit owner for is vaccination proof. Bring the actual vaccination card showing cover against myxomatosis and rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease, with dates in order, because boarders house rabbits near other rabbits and cannot take an owner's word for it. If a booster falls due just before or during the stay, tell the boarder in advance and agree whether it will be done before arrival — most will not vaccinate a guest rabbit themselves.
Guinea pigs have no routine vaccinations, so their health evidence is different: boarders will ask about recent vet treatment, skin condition including any history of mites or fungal treatment, breathing problems, and whether the pig has been in contact with ill animals recently. For both species, expect questions about neutering status — a boarder needs to know before placing animals anywhere near each other — and about any ongoing health monitoring such as molar checks or weight watching.
The boarding form: identity, vet, and emergency cover
You will complete a boarding form for each stay, and it is worth filling in as if an emergency will happen, because that is what it is for. It covers your contact details while you are away — including how reachable you actually are — an alternative emergency contact who can make decisions and collect the animal if needed, and your vet practice's name and number. If your pet needs a vet during the stay, the boarder will use your practice where distance allows, so check the details are your current ones, not last year's.
The form usually includes your signed agreement to emergency vet treatment and how costs will be settled. Read that section properly: some boarders require a payment method held on file, others will call your emergency contact. A rabbit who stops eating at a boarding service needs a vet the same day, not when you land, so the authorisation you sign is a welfare document, not a formality.
Diet, housing, and handling records
Boarders feed to your instructions, so write the diet down in the detail you use at home: hay type, pellet type and measured amount, the specific greens your pet is used to, and anything they must not have. Bringing a supply of the usual pellets and hay for the first days is commonly requested and always wise, because boarding is stressful enough without a food change layered on top.
Note housing needs honestly: whether your pet is used to indoor or outdoor temperatures, litter habits, and whether they are bonded — bonded pairs must board together, and the boarder needs both animals' records as a pair. Add handling notes: a guinea pig who has never been lifted confidently or a rabbit who panics when picked up needs staff who know that before the first clean-out, not after a dropped-pet injury.
Getting the bundle ready in advance
Assemble the pack when you book, not the night before travel: vaccination card, completed form, diet sheet, vet and emergency contacts, and notes on health and handling. Check vaccination dates against the boarder's requirements early, because a lapsed booster discovered at drop-off can mean a refused booking with no time to find an alternative.
A boarder who asks for thorough records is protecting your pet and every other guest, so treat the paperwork as a good sign. KinsLe's Pet Passport keeps a rabbit's or guinea pig's records together in one portable packet — vaccinations, vet details, and care essentials — ready to hand over at boarding check-in without a last-minute hunt through drawers.