Last Week: Tips for Traveling to Europe With Your Dog
Summer is right around the corner, and many of you will be planning family vacations to popular destinations like Mexico and South America with your four-legged friends. Before you get on that plane with your dog, be sure he has everything he needs to have a safe and happy trip.
Mexico
If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you’ll be happy to know it is a pet-friendly country. As long as your dog is healthy, free of rabies and is up-to-date on all vaccinations, you’ll have no problems bringing him along on your Mexican vacation.
The USDA‘s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) gives the following guidelines.
A health certificate stating that your pet is healthy and free of internal and external parasites. It must be signed no more than 72 hours prior to travel.
Your dog must be vaccinated against rabies and against hepatitis and distemper.
Your dog must be at least 3 months old.
A microchip is not required; however, make sure your dog is wearing a tag that identifies him and has your information.
Be sure to bring along extra pet food, especially if your pet has specific needs or is particular about a certain brand. Larger cities have major grocery stores (Gigante, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club) that do stock a variety of pet foods, but that may not always be the case in smaller locales.
You may download the health certificate and instructions for taking your dog to Mexico from the APHIS website.
South America
If you’re traveling to South America, it is very important that you research the country you plan on visiting first. The APHIS provides the following guidelines.
Argentina:
Quarantine is not required.
Rabies vaccination no sooner than 39 days and no longer than one year before travel.
A health certificate must be issued no more than 30 days before travel, and it must be issued by your country’s Argentine consulate.
An import permit is not required.
Brazil:
Quarantine is not required.
Must have rabies vaccination at least 30 days and no longer than one year before travel.
A health certificate must be obtained within four days of travel, and be issued by your country’s Brazilian consulate.
Chile:
Quarantine is not required.
Must have rabies vaccination no sooner than 30 days and no longer than one year before travel.
A health certificate must be issued no more than 15 days before travel.
An import permit is not required.
Both the rabies certificate and health certificate need a USDA stamp.
Peru:
Quarantine is not required.
Must have rabies vaccination no sooner than 14 days and no longer than one year before travel.
A health certificate must be obtained within 30 days of travel.
An import permit is not required.
Uruguay:
Quarantine is not required.
Must have rabies vaccination no sooner than 30 days and no longer than one year before travel.
A health certificate must be issued no more than 30 days before travel.
An import permit is not required.
Central America
The APHIS has the following guidelines for traveling with your dog to Belize, Costa Rica and Panama.
Belize:
Quarantine is not required.
Domestic pets must have a valid import permit.
You must bring an international health certificate.
You must bring a current rabies vaccination certificate, which must be inspection by quarantine officer.
There is a $12.50 entry fee, plus a $12.50 fax fee. (U.S. dollars)
Costa Rica:
Your dog must have a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian, and endorsed by a Veterinary Service (VS) veterinarian.
The examination for the certificate must be performed within 10 days of travel.
Dogs must have proof of vaccination against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus (DHLPP), corona virus, parainfluenza and rabies.
Vaccines, except for rabies, must be administered within 30 days of departure. Rabies vaccines must be given at least 30 days but less than 12 months prior to travel.
Panama:
At least two weeks prior to your arrival, you must file an application for home quarantine. Failure to do this means that your pet will be quarantined in a government facility.
Have your veterinarian prepare a health certificate no more than 10 days before travel. The certificate needs to indicate your dog’s name, breed, your name and your country of residency.
Your dog should be healthy and free of parasites.
You must provide an up-to-date list of inoculations including type, manufacturer and batch number. Rabies vaccinations must be given at least 30 days and less than 11 months before travel.
Send, or take, two copies of the completed certificate to the nearest USDA state office for certification and they will endorse and stamp them. There is a fee charged for this certification.
You will be required to pay a home quarantine fee of approximately $130. Your dog will then be released to you for “house quarantine.”
You must keep your dog in your possession at all times.
The health certificate, instructions and application for home quarantine are available online.
PHOTOS: coloniera2, joste_dj
Next Week: Tips for Traveling to Australia With Your Dog
Category : TRAVEL TIPS &Traveling Abroad
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