Kibble and travel bowls? Collar and harness? Check. Pet medications? Favorite toys? Of course, they\u2019re already packed. (Unless your furry friend snuck them out of her suitcase when you weren\u2019t looking.) You already have your pet\u2019s essentials, but if you\u2019re planning to travel with your pet to another country or state, you need to pack a health certificate, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pet health certificates, also called certificates of veterinary inspection, are documents provided by a USDA-certified veterinarian that prove your pet\u2019s good health. These documents show you and any border or customs officials that your pet is healthy enough to enter their country or state without becoming ill or spreading disease to local animal populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two types of health certificates available for pets: domestic and international. The type your pet needs depends on where you plan to travel and your mode of transportation. For example, if you\u2019re taking a cross-country road trip with your pet, you should be good to go with a domestic certificate. If you will be crossing the border into another country, then your pet will need an international health certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ll be using any form of public transportation like airplanes or trains during your journey, you should also check (well in advance) with your airline or other transit companies to find out whether they have any specific requirements for traveling pets. Even for domestic travel, airlines might require pets to have health certifications that are up to the international standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To obtain a pet health certificate, schedule an appointment with our specially accredited veterinarian. Then gather your pet\u2019s information and your travel details. You\u2019ll need things like your airline\u2019s and destination\u2019s requirements, plus your pet\u2019s vaccination records and some info on the vaccines your pet received. We\u2019ll also need to know how your pet will be traveling (with you or as cargo on an airplane).<\/p>\n\n\n\n