Evanston Animal Hospital
Traveling with your pet?

If you are traveling with your pet, please fill out our health certificate questionnaire prior to scheduling an appointment.
**We do not offer domestic or international health certificates to new clients.** Health certificate exams are only available for established patients that have at least 1 year of a current veterinarian-client-patient relationship at our hospital.

Already filled out our health certificate questionnaire?

 What to Expect Next:

A team member will review the completed questionnaire and review guidelines for your destination to confirm that all requirements are met. If you do not already have an appointment scheduled, a customer service representative will reach out to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian for the health certificate, as well as any additional appointments needed for lab work or treatments prior to travel. The pet(s) traveling must accompany you at the health certificate appointment. 

For domestic travel you will receive the endorsed certificate at the time of the appointment and emailed a link to the digital certificate from MyVetLink. 

For international travel we will reach out once the endorsed certificate is returned to us by the USDA. This can take up to 72 hours depending on when the USDA completes their review of the certificate. 

Health certificates will only be finalized once all testing and vaccination protocols are complete. We will not complete any health certificates less than 3 business days prior to travel. This allows time for the USDA to review the certificate and inform us if there are any corrections to be made. 

Health certificate exams are only scheduled before 2pm Monday through Friday. We do not schedule health certificate exams on the weekends.

Returning to the United States with your pet?

In July 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its entry requirements for dogs entering the United States. These updates aim to enhance public health safety by ensuring dogs are free from rabies and other diseases before entering the country. Understanding these requirements is crucial for pet owners and veterinary and animal care professionals. Read on for a breakdown of the current dog entry requirements. SOURCE: GVL

For dogs that have traveled to rabies-free or low-risk countries in the last 6 months:

These are the requirements for dogs who have traveled to Canada or Mexico (as well as other rabies-free and low-risk countries) and are returning to the US.

  • Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival.
  • Dogs must be at least six months old at the time of entry or return to the US.
  • Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.
  • Dogs must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form.
    • This is the only form that is needed and is completed by the dog owner. A receipt will be emailed to the owner upon submission of the form. You can print the receipt or show it on your phone.

For dogs that have traveled to ANY high-risk countries in the last 6 months:

Requirements for US-Vaccinated Dogs:

  • Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival.
  • Dogs must be at least 6 months old at the time of entry or return to the US.
  • Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.
    • The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine, or else the vaccine will be invalid. The microchip number must be included on all required forms and supporting documents.
  • Dogs must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form.
    • This form is completed by the dog owner. A receipt will be emailed to the owner upon submission of the form. You can print the receipt or show it on your phone.
  • Dogs must be accompanied by a Certification of US-Issued Rabies Vaccination form.
    • A USDA-accredited veterinarian must complete this document and submit it to the USDA for endorsement before the dog departs the United States. Veterinarians, please refer to the instructions for completing the documents.

Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs:

  • Dogs must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form.
    • This form is completed by the dog owner. A receipt will be emailed to the owner upon submission of the form. You can print the receipt or show it on your phone.
  • Dogs must be accompanied by a Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form.
    • This form is filled out by the veterinarian and endorsed by an official government veterinarian.
  • If not included on the form above, the dog will also need a valid rabies serology titer report from a CDC-approved laboratory.
  • Dogs must have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility.
    • If the dog does not have a valid rabies serology titer, this must include a 28-day quarantine reservation.
  • Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.
    • The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine, or else the vaccine will be invalid. The microchip number must be included on all required forms and supporting documents.
  • Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival.
  • Dogs must be at least 6 months old at the time of entry.

Additional resources:


Additional info from USDA for returning to the United States:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import

Looking for pet travel tips?

Items to consider when scheduling travel for your pet 

  • Is an import permit required?
  • Is a microchip required?
  • What vaccinations are required and when should they be administered?
  • Is there a Blood Titer Test (RNATT) test required?
  • Is an internal parasite exam a requirement?
  • Is there a need to make quarantine arrangements?
  • Must my pet arrive as manifest cargo?
  • Are there any medications required for entry? (Deworming, external parasite prevention etc)
  • Check the USDA website for specific requirements for destination

 

Pet preparation

  • Get your pet’s crate or carrier and start working on acclimation
  • Pet carrier must have a waterproof bottom, adequate ventilation and be secure. Your pet must be able to stand up and turn around in its carrier.
  • Pet crate for larger cats and dogs (or those traveling in a cargo hold) must have a waterproof bottom, spring lock, adequate ventilation and meet other IATA requirements. Read pet crate requirements.
  • Put lots of familiar things in the crate or carrier including something with your scent.
  • Encourage your pet to rest and nap in its carrier bottom
  • Leave the door open so your pet can go in and out of the crate or carrier
  • Take them for drives or walks to someplace fun in their crate or carrier
  • Spend time praising your pet for loving their crate or carrier.

 

Schedule a visit to see your veterinarian

  • Check for health
  • Have your pet microchipped with a 15 digit ISO 11784/11785 microchip before vaccination if necessary
  • Verify rabies vaccination expiration
  • Discuss any titer test or other testing that must be done
  • Schedule appointment with USDA office to stamp all certificates and testing results
  • You may need multiple appointments if your destination requires testing results and or specific timelines for vaccinations

 

Check airline or roadway routes

  • Check for road construction or traffic issues if traveling on the ground.
  • If you are flying, stay clear of airports that are more challenging to transit (London, Taiwan, Australia, China)
  • Keep layovers to 2 hours if possible.
  • Do not change airlines – changing planes is ok; changing airline companies is not.

 

Research Pet Friendly Hotels and Services

  • Find a pet friendly hotel and contact them prior to booking online to verify their pet policies. Most times, booking online will give you the best prices.
  • Find an animal hospital nearby in case of emergencies and bring along the information.
  • Find pet friendly parks and restaurants nearby so you and your pet can enjoy your stay.

 

Get your pet’s supplies

  • Plan to bring some or all of the following pet supplies:
  • Leash and Collar
  • Name tag (with your cell phone number on it)
  • Picture of your pet; at least two copies on paper as well as digital
  • Copies of their vaccinations
  • Copy of rabies certificate
  • Bottled water and a portable water dish
  • Supply of sealed pet food, dish, and spoon
  • Dog or cat treats
  • Medication
  • Plastic bags for picking up after your pet
  • Puppy training pads to line carrier for easier cleanup if needed

Health Certificate Travel Questionnaire


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