Health Certificates & Pet Travel Services (2024)

What should you do if you can't travel with your pet?

Did you buy your tickets before realizing that you can’t bring your pet? Don’t worry, we can help. If you can’t travel with your pet, you’ll need to consider boarding or an in-home pet sitter.

Dr. Phillips Animal Hospital offers some of the safest and friendliest boarding services in Orlando. Check out the boarding services we offer or contact us today to book your pet’s stay.

What are the requirements for pet travel?

When traveling with your pet, requirements will vary between states domestically and each country internationally. Airlines will also have different requirements for traveling with your pet and where they can be stowed during travel. Discuss with our vet where you are traveling and we’ll be more than happy to help you prepare and complete all documentation you will need for travel.

Requirements for traveling with your pet may include:

• Proof of veterinary inspection (health certificate)
• Blood tests
• Vaccinations
• Microchip
• Quarantine period

When traveling with your pet, Dr. Phillips Animal Hospital is here to help answer any of your questions and help make sure you meet all federal or international requirements for pet travel. Your pet will need to be at least 8 weeks old and weaned for at least 5 days before flying to meet Federal regulations. You can also check your destination country requirements directly through APHIS.

How much do pet health certificates cost?

Your total cost is dependent on the necessary vaccinations your pet needs and any specific airline requirements that will need to be implemented before travel (microchipping, etc.) Please contact our staff or speak with our vet during your pet's appointment to get a complete rundown on what traveling with your pet will cost.

Inquire About Pricing

What is a health certificate for and what does it check?

Dr. Qasim will examine your pet to give them their health certificate for travel. Many states and most countries will require your pet to have an up-to-date Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (Health Certificate) completed by a licensed and accredited veterinarian such as our animal hospital.

This certificate indicates that your pet:

• is healthy to travel
• does not show signs of disease (especially those that are transferable to humans or other animals)
• has up-to-date vaccinations
• is heartworm free or taking prescription heartworm medication

Most airlines require your pet’s health certificate to be issued within 10 days of travel and some airlines may also require an acclimation certification. Our vet may require a follow-up examination upon your pet’s return to make sure they haven't picked up any diseases or parasites while traveling.

What are the vaccination requirements for traveling with your pet?

Dr. Qasim will help ensure your pet’s rabies and other vaccinations are up-to-date to allow your pet to travel. Nearly every international country and state in the US requires your pet to have up-to-date rabies shots. Internationally, some countries are High Risk, Moderate, or Rabies-Free and there are specific requirements when traveling from one to the other.

Many countries require vaccinations for your pet to be a minimum of 1-month-old at the time of departure. Each country will have certain vaccinations that are mandatory or recommended. Check your destination countries requirements through APHIS.

Internationally

Traveling internationally? There are 102 countries, including all European Union (EU) countries, that require pets to be microchipped for travel. Many countries will require your pet to be microchipped prior to receiving their vaccinations. If your pet hasn't been microchipped yet, Dr. Phillips is here to help. Learn more about which countries are included here.

Within the United States

Microchips are not required for travel with your pet within the United States. However, it is highly recommended you take this extra precaution before traveling with your pet.

Will I need to quarantine my pet when I travel?

Quarantine requirements differ for each country and can be called post-arrival inspections. Rabies-free countries such as Singapore and Australia have a minimum 10-day post-arrival inspection requirement, New Zealand also has a 10 day minimum with a 170 pre-arrival screening completed in the country of origin. Most places in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and the EU do not have quarantine requirements.

What do you need to do to prepare for traveling overseas with your pet?

If you are moving overseas with your pet, contact the appropriate US embassy in Washington DC to confirm the entry requirements for the country you are moving you. Some will provide forms to fill out in English which we can assist you with. Some countries may not permit importing your animal (such as Australia where only cats and dogs can be imported). Others may require long quarantine requirements.

Leave yourself at least 30 days to get all your pets required documentation and preparation underway before traveling.

Leaving 30 days provides us with sufficient time for:

• Veterinary requirements and vaccinations
• Import permits (some countries like Australia can take 3-6 weeks to issue)
• Government endorsem*nts
• Rabies-free countries require a titer test (Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore)
• Quarantine reservations (summer and holidays require booking in advance as quarantine stations get fully booked)
• Crate training

As this process can be confusing or time-consuming, Dr. Phillips Animal Hospital is always here to help. For additional information about moving overseas with your pet, visit the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) or Pet Relocation.

What are your options when flying with your pet?

When flying with your pet, there are generally 3 ways your pet can travel with you on a commercial flight:

1. In-Cabin
2. Checked Baggage
3. Manifest Cargo

For most airlines, service and support animals with correct paperwork can travel in the cabin with you. Always check with your airlines if there are any further requirements for them to travel with you, especially when traveling internationally.

Very large or unaccompanied pets will have to travel below deck in the hold as manifest cargo. Check baggage can be in the cabin where your pet is small enough to fit in an airline compliant carrier stowed under your seat, or for larger pets or ones that airline does not permit in the cabin, checked baggage can refer to being stored below deck in the cargo hold. Learn more about Airline Pet Carrier Requirements or Cargo Crate Requirements.

Animal Airways has provided a great run-down on common questions when traveling with your pet and you can learn more about cargo pet travel from our friends at Pet Relocation.

How can I make traveling with my pet easier?

With the many things that can complicate flying, traveling with your pet should not be one of them. Each country and state has different requirements for bringing or relocating your pet, but Dr. Qasim is here to help make traveling with your pet as simple as possible.

Contact us at (407) 352-2579 to schedule your pet’s travel check appointment today or to discuss any questions you have about their upcoming travel arrangements.

10 Tips for Traveling with Your Pet

When traveling with your pet, here are ten travel tips:

1. Get your pet microchipped
2. Research pet travel requirements for your destination
3. Complete all your pet’s required documentation ahead of time
4. Double check that you have all documentation
5. Book a window seat if your cat or dog is flying in the cabin with you
6. Ensure that your pet’s carrier is in proper order and meets airline carrier or cargo crate requirements
7. Confirm reservations for your pet
8. Gather all essentials for your pet in one place (lease, collar, treats, food, growing, medication, wipes, etc.)
9. Pack your pet’s chew toys in your bags as these are not allowed in pet crates
10. Leave extra time before your flight to walk your pet before leaving for the airport. This will relax and tire them for travel, as well as ease their stress before travel.

If your pet is in the cabin with you, always be considerate of others guests by cleaning up after your pet. If you are worried your pet may be anxious during the flight, we are happy to discus mediciation options that will help your pet travel quietly and comfortably.