Tick + Tapeworm / Parasite Treatments

Requirements change often so it is best to double check on the health certificate or directly with the Chief Veterinary Officer on the island.

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Anguilla – recommended but not required

Antigua and Barbuda

Within seven (7) days of exportation, the animal must be treated for internal and external parasites with an approved product(s). The products should be noted on the official health certificate.

Aruba

The animal has been inspected by an accredited veterinarian and has been found to be free of fresh or healing wounds, and clinical signs of screwworm. The animals originate from a zone which is not under control for screwworm, and have not transited a zone under control for screwworm within the last 60 days.

Bahamas – recommended but not required

Barbados

Heartworm Disease Test: Dog over 6 months old must be tested for heartworm disease within the 30 days prior to leaving the U.S. (Cats do not require a heartworm test):

  • ELISA antigen tests such as the IDEXX® SNAP® test kit may be used. If the ELISA test is positive or if the animal was previously treated for heartworm, then the modified Knott’s test may be carried out to demonstrate the absence of microfilaraemia.

Parasite Treatment: Dogs must be treated for ticks and tapeworms within the 7 days prior to leaving the U.S. The tapeworm treatment must contain praziquantel.  Cats do not require parasite treatment.

British Virgin Islands

Animal(s) is /are treated against internal and external parasites.

  • Tortola
  • Virgin Gorda
  • Anegada
  • Jost Van Dyke

Caribbean Netherlands

  • Bonaire – Tick and Tapeworm treatment
  • Sint Eustatius
  • Saba

Cayman Islands

Tick and tapeworm treatment

Within 14 days of the scheduled date of travel to the Cayman Islands your dog or cat must be treated for tapeworms and ticks. The treatment must be recorded on the Official Veterinary Health Certificate.

  • For tapeworms: a preparation containing praziquantel at a dose rate of 5mg/kg body weight.
  • For ticks: a ‘systemic’ preparation known to have residual action. Approved product ingredients include fipronil, amitraz, pyrethrins, permethrins, and isoxazolines.

NOTE: The following products are NOT acceptable: Shampoos, collars, preparations that are licensed for control of fleas only (e.g. Program® Advantage®, Revolution® or Sentinel®).

Cuba –recommended but not required

Curaçao – recommended but not required

Dominica

  • The animal must be free from internal and external parasites.
  • The animal must be tested and treated for Heart Worms and certified Heart Worm free for export.

Dominican Republic – recommended but not required

Grenada – recommended but not required 

Guadeloupe – recommended but not required

Haiti –  recommended but not required

Jamaica 

The animals were subjected to microscopic fecal examinations, and were treated TWICE with approved products for internal parasites. The treatments were given at least 14 days apart, with the final treatment seven (7) days prior to export. (Treatment should be with broad spectrum anthelminthic(s) effective against nematodes, cestodes and trematodes.) State the active ingredients, product name, dose rate and dates of treatment.

The animals were examined and treated TWICE using approved products for the control of fleas, ticks, lice and mites at the manufacturer’s recommended dose. The animals were found to be free from (visible) external parasites at each treatment. The first treatment to be given (within) 30 days prior to the date of shipment, at least two weeks before the second treatment, and the second within seven (7) days of export. State the active ingredients, product name, dose rate and date of treatment.

All dogs have been subjected to a heartworm antigen ELISA test with a negative result in the 30 days prior to the date of shipment. All dogs have either been treated with a product registered for heartworm prevention at the manufacturer’s recommended dose in the seven days prior to the date of shipment or are up-to-date with a sustained-release injection registered for heartworm prevention.

Martinique – recommended but not required

Montserrat – recommended but not required

Puerto Rico – recommended but not required 

Saint Barthélemy – recommended but not required

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Your pet must be treated for internal and external parasites by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian within 72 hours of travel. This must be noted on the health certificate.

Saint Lucia – recommended but not required

Saint Martin / Sint Maarten

The animal(s) is/are free of internal parasites as determined by a negative fecal flotation test (within 21 days of export) and should be treated within 21 days prior to departure with a registered medicine as instructed by the manufacturer. (Mention the date, time and the product used on the health certificate).

The animal(s) is /are free from external parasites particularly Amblyomma sp. and Boophilus sp. The animal(s) should be treated with a registered insecticide 14 days prior to departure.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Dogs only: The animal(s) were tested for heartworm disease with negative results within seven (7) days prior to date of export.

The animal(s) were treated for external parasites and for internal parasites with an approved broad spectrum antihelminthic within seven (7) days prior to date of export.

Trinidad and Tobago

Pet must be treated for internal and external parasites.

Turks and Caicos Islands

That the animal(s) *was treated/*were treated against internal and external parasites within 14 days of the scheduled date of shipment: a. For ticks, a preparation known to have residual action should be used, e.g. products containing fipronil, amitraz, pyrethrins and permethrins. The following products are not acceptable: Shampoos, collars and products used for flea control only (e.g. Program®, Advantage®, Revolution® or Sentinel®)

For tapeworms (Echinococcus multilocularis), a product containing praziquantel given at a dose rate of 5mg/kg. Please note that the date of this treatment must precede the date the certificate is signed.

United States Virgin Islands – recommended but not required 

  • Saint Croix
  • Saint John
  • Saint Thomas