DOCUMENTATION
Official Veterinary Export Health Certificate signed by official government veterinarian or by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by an official government veterinarian.
Some islands require that an additional (unendorsed) health certificate be issued within 72 hours of travel.
BANNED BREED / AGE REQUIREMENTS
Confirm that your pet’s age qualifies admittance if a puppy or kitten under 15 weeks. And many islands have banned breeds or mixes of dogs with any of these bloodlines.
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Dogo Argentino
- All Mastiff
- Presa Canario
- Rottweiler
- Fila Brasileiro
- Japanese Tosa
- American Bull Dog
MICROCHIPPING
Your pet must be microchipped
Have proof of date of microchip implant (signed certificate / receipt). Or ask your vet for a microchip implantation certificate or a copy of pet’s records showing the date of the microchip implantation.
Implanted before rabies vaccine
Must be ISO compatible electronic microchip (Electronic Avid, HomeAgain, or ResQ for example) and be included on all relevant documents including import permit application form, health certificates, blood samples submitted for rabies testing and on results of the rabies tests.
The microchip should be a 15 digit numerical microchip fir microchipped for the first time on or after March 1, 2019. OR if the pet was microchipped prior to this date with an ISO – compatible (1o or more alphanumerical characters) microchip.
Make sure all of your documentation has the same and accurate number.
Have your vet make sure your microchip is readable / scan it a few times in office including a few days prior to departure at last vet visit.
PHOTOGRAPH
Have a current, color full-body of each pet that is traveling with you.
It is also a good idea to have a document or receipt that shows you are the owner of each pet or have agent/ power of authority (attorney) for each pet in your custody.
RABIES VACCINATION
Make sure that your pet has been has been vaccinated in accordance with the recommendation on the vaccine manufacture’s data sheet and that your pet was vaccinated AFTER it was fitted with a microchip. Generally, rabies vaccine must be up-to-date and current. 1 year or 3 year vaccines are acceptable for most islands. But make sure to confirm allowance. Rabies vaccines give to pets less than 3 months are not considered valid by many of the islands.
If NOT current on Rabies vaccine give a booster NOW then wait 30 days, then draw the first titer.
You also must have an original ink signature certificate for the rabies vaccination issued by your vet. The microchip number is correctly entered by the veterinarian on the rabies certificate. The rabies vaccination has the make, serial number, date of expiration, and period of validity listed on it.
RABIES TITRE TESTING
The blood sample was taken (at least 30 days) after the rabies vaccination.
This takes place after the rabies vaccine is current. Have vet draw the 1st Rabies/RFFIT/or FAVN lab titer. Titer results must be > or = 0.5 I.U. / ml. Send the titer to the appropriate island authority depending on destination.
Your pet had a satisfactory blood test at an approved laboratory which was performed during the last 12 months.
You have a copy of the blood test result showing the correct microchip number and the date the blood was drawn.
OTHER TESTS AND TREATMENTS
Make sure when traveling you have each pet’s vaccination record and blood test results both showing the microchip number.
Your pet should be tested for heartworm and lyme disease and have documented negative results. Also each pet should have all primary vaccinations and be current including Coccidiosis, Brucella Canis for dogs. Each island varies as to acceptable timeframe for results.
Other vaccinations include:
- Rabies / Qualifying Titers (RNATT/FAVN) and making sure the timeframes are met as far as blood sample and lab results
- Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calcivirus, Feline Leukemia
- FIP, FeLV, FIV (Cat)
- Feline rhiontraceitis
- Panleukopenia
- Feline Leukemia
- Feline Calicivirus
- Chlamydophilapsittaci
- Leptospirosis
- Canine distemper
- Parvovirus
- Hepatitis / Adenovirus
- ParaInfluenza (Bordetella)
- Heartworm screening and preventative with negative test. For example, SVG – The animal(s) should be tested for heartworm disease with negative results within seven (7) days prior to date of export.
- Ehrlichia
- Babesiosis Lyme disease testing + negative
- Leishmaniasis
- Nipah/ Hendra virus (where applicable and endemic for these diseases)
- Internal and external parasite treatment (usually within 7 days of export)
- Examined and found free to canine transmissable venereal tumor including any signs of lesions or symptoms
- Canine influenza – the dog is free of infection with or signs and symptoms of canine influenza.
- Each pet was examined within seven (7) days of export (timeframe may vary) and found to be in good health, physically sound, free of any evidence of infectious disease and was fit for travel.
PET IMPORT APPLICATION
Determine if your destination(s) requires a permit and if so begin the import permit process immediately.Obtain a valid veterinary import permit in advance in accordance to island’s requirements Each island differs with its requirements. You will also need to pay an import fee and often an inspection fee upon arrival.
ADVANCE NOTIFICATION
Many islands require that you provide at least 48 hours prior notification as to when your pet will be arriving either by air or sea.
DEWORMING
Internal and external parasite treatment is usually required. Often this must be done within 72 hours of the pet’s travel date and the accredited veterinarian must record this treatment on the 72 hour health certificate. The treatment can be topical preventative plus Panacur, Flagyl etc. However, using Advantage Multi or Sentinel are not allowable. Also, it should contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm. Your pet must also be free of hookworms, tapeworms, and roundworms.
Your pet should be tick and flea free. Some islands require that a pet be treated twice, within 30 days and within 7 prior to export.
TRAVEL CRATE
You will want to make sure that you have an IATA approved travel carrier that fits your pet correctly.
The travel crate is the most important component of the travel experience because that is where your dog will feel safe in his home away from home. We recommend that you order your pet’s crate as soon as possible in order to acclimate her to it. We suggest the Sky Kennel Pet Mate Brand – Travel crate. If your pet is not already crate trained, we suggest obtaining this crate as soon as possible to begin the process of acclimation to reduce travel stress. Your crate should have ventilation on all four sides and be approved for international travel as these crates have 4 sides for air flow.
FLIGHT ROUTING
If traveling by air it is advised to choose the most direct flight possible. You may need an IPATA booking pet travel agent to assist with your pet’s cargo reservation and we can take care of that for you. It is important to be aware that people friendly routes are not always pet friendly. For example, you must need at least 4 hours transfer time in between flights for many airlines to assure your pet’s cargo transfer.
TEMPERATURE CONCERNS
It is important to keep in mind that you cannot travel with a pet if the current or forecast temperature is above 85 degrees at any location on the itinerary. And you cannot travel with a pet if the ground temperature is below 45 degrees.
You should obtain a travel health certificate issued within 10 days of travel for the airline. Must be signed by your veterinarian and include a statement on the acclimation at which temperatures it is safe for your pet to fly.
CUSTOMS
You will want to make sure to obtain the services of a customs broker if required. Barbados requires a broker.
DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS + MEDICATIONS
If your pet has a special food prescription such as Science Diet or Royal Canin it is a good idea to call ahead to an island veterinary clinic or pet store to make sure that they carry your pet’s food or medication is readily available. You may need to make special arrangements to ship your pet’s food or medication.
_____________________________