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Health Certificates
Health Certificates for Pet Travel
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Prepare Your Pet for Travel
If you're planning on traveling with your animal companion, whether across the nation or around the world, Plains Animal Hospital can provide the documentation you need. Different states and countries have different requirements, so it's best to be prepared for all the possibilities.
Additionally, certain types of travel may require you to present a travel health certificate. This will show that your pet is adequately vaccinated.
Traveling With Your Pet
Traveling with a pet presents unique challenges. For animal companions that are very young, elderly, or facing chronic medical issues, it might be better to leave them with a reputable pet sitter or at a certified kennel. The stress of travel might be too much for your pet, and create more issues for them.
Remember: when in doubt, check with your vet first. If you have traveled with your pet before, short overnight or weekend trips are great ways to see how they do away from home.
Pet care differs between states and countries, so tell your veterinarian where you'll be traveling and for how long. You'll want to discuss any flea, heartworm and tick risks in the areas you'll be visiting.
If your pet is anxious about traveling by car, then there is a good chance they will also have trouble with air travel. At Plains Animal Hospital, we can help you find appropriate treatments for pets that become restless or get motion sickness while traveling.
Domestic Air Travel With Your Pet
Your pet health certificate should be dated no more than 10 days prior to your departure. You will need to make sure all your pet's vaccinations are current. You'll also want to verify the rabies vaccination requirements of the state or country you're traveling to and make sure that you have a copy of your current rabies certificate.
Rabies vaccination certificates are required for air travel. They are legally required even if you aren't flying, especially if you need to board your pet unexpectedly. Most kennels will not accept pets that do not have their certificates. Medical pardons are sometimes accepted if your pet has a medical condition that prevents us from vaccinating.
Obtaining Your Pet's International Health Certificate
Talk to your veterinarian about obtaining an international health certificate for your pet. You can also request one from the embassy of the country to which you'll be traveling. You should always request your certificate at least six months prior to your departure. This will allow enough time for any additional vaccines and exams to be given, paperwork to be filed, and a possible quarantine period to be met.
International health certificates are only valid if they have been filled out by veterinarians certified by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS). Multiple vets at Plains Animal Hospital are certified to issue these certificates.
Your vet will need to administer the specific tests and vaccines required by the country you'll be visiting. These requirements can usually be found on the website for the country you'll be traveling to. The vet will record the test results on the international health certificate. This should be dated no more than 10 days prior to your departure.
You'll need to take your certificate to a USDA Veterinary Services Office to be endorsed, which is a requirement for all international health certificates. The USDA website can show you where the closest office to your location is.
When you travel, be sure to bring your international health certificate with you. Present it to airline personnel and customs officers as required.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call
Plains Animal Hospital today. We wish you and your pet safe travels and amazing adventures!
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