Thank you for choosing Shaffer Animal Hospital to assist in your travel with your pet! We understand that planning travel with a pet can be confusing and stressful. We will do our best to help you plan and prepare in a timely manner prior to your trip.

The USDA website for pet travel offers a complete guideline for travel to each country as well as other preparation resources and it is your responsibility to know the requirements for travel. You may even need to schedule an appointment to have your paperwork endorsed by the USDA located in Gainesville prior to travel. Please visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel.

While we will do our best to make this process as smooth and simple as we can, please understand, as we may need to work with outside laboratories and specialty offices the process can sometimes be delayed. It will be very important to follow our guidelines for appointment scheduling as closely as possible to ensure entry to your destination.

If your pet has been seen at another veterinarian, please provide all previous medical history to ensure no services are duplicated, saving you time and money.

This form MUST be completed PRIOR to scheduling your vet appointment.

What to Expect Next:

A team member will review the completed request form and review guidelines for your destination. You will be notified when review is completed and a detailed plan for travel is formed, to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian. Depending on where you will be traveling, this appointment may be the only you need and receive a health certificate or this will be the first of many appointments in preparation for your travel.

Health certificates will only be finalized once all testing and vaccination protocols are complete.

1. 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 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.

2. Pet preparation

• Get your pet's crate or carrier and start working on acclimation.
• Pet carrier must have 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.

3. Schedule a visit to see your veterinarian

• Your pet will have a complete and thorough physical exam to determine if it is safe for them to travel.
• 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.
• Discuss options for medications to help your pet travel stress-free.
• 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.

4. Check airline or roadway routes

• Check for road construction or traffic issues if traveling on the ground. Set your route in a routing device such as Garmin or in your smart phone if you have one.
• 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.

5. Research Pet Friendly Hotels and Services

• Find a great 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.

6. 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
• Bottled water and a portable water dish
• Supply of sealed pet food, dish, and spoon
• Dog or cat treats (all good pets deserve a treat now and then)
• Medication
• Plastic bags for picking up after your pet
• Puppy training pads to line carrier for easier cleanup if needed