How to Recoup Vet Bills When Your Dog Gets Sick in the Kennel

Upon noticing the dog's symptoms, keep a written record of as much as possible. This includes communication with the kennel, veterinarians and all other applicable parties.

Observe your dog in order to determine the extent of its problems. Could it be possible that a sudden change in food, water and environment has just caused it a bit of an upset and the symptoms are really just caused by stress? Or does it appear to be a legitimate illness or injury? If the dog seems truly ill or you can't decide, take the dog to the vet anyway and keep any and all receipts from the vet.

Review your boarding agreement or contract that was drawn up when bringing your dog to the kennel if you received one. The kennel may have some kind of clause in the paperwork that states it is not responsible for any illness a dog contracts during a stay. If you have signed this agreement, it may be very difficult to recoup any veterinary expenses.

Determine if the illness the dog has is a non-life threatening contagious illness that it likely picked up while playing around other dogs at the kennel. If this is the case, it is not likely that the kennel will help pay vet bills. These types of illnesses are widely regarded as one of the risks and drawbacks of boarding your pet at a kennel, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Some examples of these illnesses are kennel cough, pneumonia and stomach flu. If a dog becomes ill or malnourished due to filthy conditions or a lack of food at the kennel, then the kennel is liable for your veterinary bills.

Determine if the dog's illness has an underlying cause. For example, if the dog began having seizures while at the kennel it may be attributed to an underlying cause that was not caused by the dog being at the kennel. In this case, the kennel has no reason to help you with any vet bills.

Determine if the dog was injured while at the kennel, and to what extent. Some injuries such as the occasional scratch or bite are the result of your dog playing with other dogs at the kennel, and the kennel is not responsible for these. The kennel is also not responsible if your dog injures itself, and this can happen if the dog panics and tries to escape while being groomed and ends up cutting itself. If the kennel is liable for a dog's injury, on the other hand, it can be forced to help with veterinary bills. One example of this is a poorly maintained facility that has rundown cages with sharp edges.

Upon determining whether the kennel can be held accountable in the case of an injury or illness that is the kennel's fault, bring the kennel proof of any veterinary costs you have incurred and explain to them why it is their fault. If they still refuse to help, you can take them to small claims court.