Pet Travel Certificates
Travel With Your Pet
With ever-changing pet travel guidelines, we know that arranging travel for your companion animal can become quite an ordeal.
Traveling with your pet should be an enjoyable experience, and we are here to help take the pain out of the planning process. We are now offering Pet Travel Consultations!
When traveling with your pet it is important that your pet meets all of the requirements that are expected by the place to which you are traveling. These requirements can range from booster shots to microchipping, depending on the destination state or country.
Our Pet Travel Consultants are here to help you navigate the process and ensure your pet meets the necessary requirements and has the proper documentation.
Our Services
If you have an upcoming trip scheduled, or if you are considering traveling internationally with your pet, we recommend booking a consultation with one of our Pet Travel Specialists. Your consultation will include:
- A thorough review of your pet’s medical records to determine what needs to be done for successful entry into your destination
- A review of specific destination guidelines, including specific timelines for necessary lab work, treatments, etc.
- A review of current airline protocols specific to your airline and destination
- Scheduling assistance to ensure all appointments are made according to appropriate travel timeline requirements
- A comprehensive Travel Guideline document that details all requirements
When you come to your appointment please have all your travel information ready, including the name of your travel destination, the date your pet will be traveling, method of transportation and port of entry.
Please also bring all previous records from any other veterinary clinics, including vaccination records.
Health Certificates
A Health Certificate is documented proof that your pet meets all of the requirements that are expected by the place to which you are traveling. These requirements can range from booster shots to microchipping, depending on the destination state or country.
For California pet owners, the completed health certificate must be submitted by mail to the USDA office in Sacramento, CA. Processing time usually takes 1 - 3 business days,
Once the certificate is finalized, you can either pick it up in person or it can be mailed to your address overnight.
The USDA-APHIS office states that veterinarian-issued health certificates have to be completed within the exact time frame based on the state or country of destination's requirements.
Note that while some health certificates are valid for longer, most are only valid for 10 days. Often, certificates require vaccinations or boosters having been administered as early as 6 months before the travel date. Keep all of this in mind when selecting a date to schedule your initial appointment since slots fill up quickly.