How do you travel out of the country with a dog?

Question

I'd like to go to Europe and take my small dog (15lbs) with me. What papers/certificates/shots does she need? Do I have to buy her a seat? They (airlines) can't possibly expect her to stay in the luggage compartment for 10+ hours can they?

Answer 1

Traveling with your pet can be complicated. However, if you are considering taking your dog with you on an international vacation, be prepared for even more complications.

Each country has its own rules and guidelines for admitting pets. Most of these regulations are based on health issues, with rabies being one of the most important. The countries that are considered rabies-free tend to be the strictest on allowing pets.

If you are interested in taking your pet abroad, make plans well in advance. Contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (www.aphis.usda.gov) for current guidelines on bringing your pet into a specific country. You may also want to contact the Ministry of Agriculture in the destination country. Make sure you have all the necessary paperwork and forms before entering the country. Arriving without all the necessary items will result in your pet not being allowed into the country, and this, of course, would ruin your vacation.

Below are listed the current guidelines for 10 common vacation destinations to provide some guidance. It is not meant to replace contact with the Ministry of Agriculture and USDA. The more information you can get, the better prepared you will be and the better your chances of your pet being allowed into the country. In addition to these guidelines, there are also airline requirements to consider. For information on airline requirements, please click on Airline Travel with Your Dog.

Keeping current with all the changing international laws can be difficult. New laws are being passed all the time and some countries may ban certain breeds. Check with the Ministry of Agriculture of the country you intend to visit to make certain that your pet will be allowed into their country, regardless of his temperament.

Australia

Australia is a rabies free country and one of the strictest regarding allowing pets in. This country has laws prohibiting certain breeds from entering their country. Make sure your pet is not one of the banned breeds before planning your trip.

Requirements:
# An import permit is required for every animal as well as a veterinary certificate signed by a USDA/APHIS veterinarian.

# A microchip must have been implanted either at the time of rabies vaccination or before.

# Before entering Australia, the pet must have continuously resided in the same country for at least 6 months.

# Rabies vaccination must be done not less than 90 days and not more than 12 months prior to travel.

# The dog must be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza and bordetella at least 14 days and not more than 12 months prior to travel.

# A dewormer effective against nematodes and cestodes must be administered within 14 days of travel.

# Tick treatment is required within 24 hours after drawing blood for the Ehrlichia test.

# The pet must be examined by a veterinarian within 48 hours prior to travel and given a clean bill of health for infectious or contagious diseases and external parasites.

Blood Tests:
# A blood test to determine rabies immunity is to be completed not less than 60 days and not more than 12 months before travel.

# Dogs must test negative for Brucella canis within 45 days of travel.

# Dogs must test negative for Ehrlichia canis within 45 days of travel.

# Dogs must test negative for Leptospira interrogans var. canicola within 21 days of travel. If the dog has been vaccinated for leptospira, two tests must be performed. One test within 45 days of travel and a second test no less than 14 days after the first. The results of these tests must indicate the dog does not have leptospirosis infection.

Quarantine:
# Every animal must be quarantined and the required quarantine days depends on when the rabies test was performed. No dog is quarantined less than 30 days or over 90 days.

The following breeds aren’t eligible for importation to Australia including the Dogo Argentino, Fila Brazileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull or Pit bull terrier.

For more information go to: http://www.austemb.org/visiting.html

United Kingdom

Dogs and cats that meet the requirements of the UK Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) can travel to the UK from the mainland USA without having to undergo six months quarantine. From October 1, 2004 ferrets will also be able to travel if they meet the same requirements.

Requirements:
# Valid health certificate
# Proof of rabies vaccination
# Microchip implantation
# A blood test to determine rabies immunity not less than 6 months before transport to England.
# Treatment for ticks and tapeworms 24 to 48 hours before leaving the United States.

Great Britain has laws prohibiting certain breeds from entering their country. The following breeds aren’t eligible for importation to the United Kingdom including the Dogo Argentino, Fila Brazileiro, Japanese Tosa, and the Pit Bull Terrier.

Quarantine:
# Pets entering Great Britain from the continental United States, Canada or Hawaii, may enter Great Britain without quarantine if they enroll in the UK Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). All other pets which do not met the UK Pet Travel Scheme rules will be confined to a 6 month quarantine.

For more information go to: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/Procedures/owners.htm

Japan

Requirements:
# A microchip must have been implanted on the pet for identification
# Before entering Japan, the pet must have continuously resided in the same country for at least 180 days
# Valid health certificate within 30 days
# Proof of rabies vaccination at least 30 days prior to arrival to minimize quarantine
# A blood test to determine rabies immunity
# Both certificates have to be endorsed by U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's (USDA) APHIS office
# Notify the Animal Quarantine Office located at the airport of your pet's scheduled arrival into Japan at least 40 days prior to arrival. For information on Animal Quarantine offices in Japan go to: http://www.cgj.org/en/e/02b.html

Quarantine:
# Dogs entering Japan are quarantined for 12 hours to 180 days based on when they were vaccinated against rabies and country of importation.

# For more information go to: http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/ryoko/ba.htm

Mexico

Requirements:
# Valid health certificate
# Proof of rabies vaccination
# Vaccination against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza

Quarantine:
# Pets entering Mexico are not quarantined.

Answer 2

You're first step will be to go your vet a few days before you leave and get an international health certificate.. and catch up on any vaccines you may have due (Required for any travel) ...Depending on where you're going, some places require quarantining your pet for up to 6 months! And some smaller countries are booked up up to a year in advance.. So make sure to make reservations well before you leave.... If you get there and the place is full you'll either have to send him home of have him euthanized.. I know it sounds cruel and heartless but its a sad truth.. I'm planning to move to Ireland and I went through the same protocol!

Answer 3

Ok, I'm from Bermuda and we did not allow dogs from the States or Canada to our Island without being quarintined for a few days or weeks.

You will need all vet histroy, and have to go to the vet within 24 hours of you leaving. You will need to have a airline approved crate to take him/her in and you will need to call customs.

If you are moving there, it is worth it, if you are going on Vaca, leave him/her at home...

When it comes to them being in holding, it is not where they hold the luggage, it is a different space that you pay for that they can check on the dog and animals.

Check out those links below, I hope something helps! Good luck!!!

Answer 4

provide your dogs an same variety of bottled water in the course of the holiday to guide away from diarrhea. save music of time so that you'll feed and walk the dogs on schedule. be particular to %. a leash, bowls, a spare collar and leash, dogs food and some variety of bedding in the journey that your dogs has to sleep in his crate on your motor vehicle. verify your dogs is tagged and microchipped. convey a good number of poop %. up bags. Make prevalent stops to stretch your dogs's and your own legs. Plan your holiday heavily so that you received't wander off. convey a completely charged cellular telephone once you need to call for help. call to envision in with family individuals alongside your direction. do not depart your dogs contained in the vehicle on a warm day.

Answer 5

go to the airline that you will be traveling in and ask them (every airline is different) i know you will be needing a carrier with a two dishes attached to it (food & water) and two stickers on the side of the carrier that says "live animal." But im not sure about the rest.

Answer 6

You need certification from your vet, and they have a special place for the dogs but they do have to travel in a cage.

Answer 7

put him in a cage i gess