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Relocating Your Pet With The Right Vet
Rachel Farris
Moving with your pet can be a stressful time, especially when travel requirements call for special veterinary treatments, tests and paperwork. Miscommunications between pet owners and their veterinarians can often lead to misunderstandings, incorrect paperwork and delays when it comes time to travel. Having an awareness of common blind spots and difficulties up front will ensure a top-dog pet move when the big moving day comes around.
Pick the Right Veterinarian for Your Move
Your neighborhood veterinarian might have an excellent bedside manner, know your dog's favorite place to be scratched, or come to your annual Christmas party. But if he or she is not familiar with the health certificate procedures for pets moving domestically or internationally, you may find yourself struggling to teach an old dog new tricks. Similar to why you wouldn't go to your pediatrician if you were having a heart problem, some veterinarians are less equipped to handle pet travel certificates than others. If your vet doesn't feel comfortable issuing a health certificate, don't panic. Ask him if he can refer you to someone who might, or call several veterinarians in your area and ask them if they have experience issuing health certificates. For international travel, if you are moving out of the United States, you will need to work with a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) accredited veterinarian, as these are the only vets who can issue international health certificates. A veterinary office whose staff is well-versed in issuing travel paperwork will make all the difference in your move preparation.
Plan Ahead
If you know you will be moving sometime within the upcoming year, it is never too early to start making sure your pet is up to date on his vaccinations and is healthy to travel. Some countries have tests that need to be done several months in advance. Countries like the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, which are historically free from rabies, require a microchip followed by a series of rabies shots to done at least 6 months in advance. At that time pets need to have a blood test, known as a rabies titer or "FAVN" test, done in order to show the appropriate level of rabies antibodies in the pets' bloodstream. This helps pets avoid long-term quarantine upon entry into certain rabies-free countries. Also, while three-year rabies vaccinations may be suitable for cross-country travel within and into the US, most countries don't recognize a rabies vaccine once it is more than a year old. Making sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations and tests early on in the moving process can eliminate issues as the move date draws closer.
Talk to Your Veterinarian
While it may seem to be a simple step in the process, your veterinarian should be the first person you consult with when planning a move, no matter how near or far you'll be traveling. You'll want to let them know when and where you'll be moving, and get their feedback on whether they think your pets will be healthy enough for the trip. Ultimately your veterinarian is the person who will have to sign off on the health certificate stating that your pet is healthy to travel. For an older dog or cat, your vet might recommend that your pet have his kidneys and liver screened to rule out any underlying conditions. Communicating with your vet up front will help both you and your veterinarian plan more effectively for the upcoming move.
By being organized ahead of time, selecting the right veterinarian, and then communicating with him or her throughout the process, you can ensure that when it comes time for moving day, the veterinary requirements will be taken care. This will allow you – and your pet – a seamless transition into your new home.
© Rachel Farris. Written specifically for ExpatWomen.com |
PetRelocation.com is a customer service oriented company specializing in door-to-door domestic and international pet moves, including overseeing all veterinary documentation and procedures pertaining to their clients' relocations. For more information, visit or email Rachel Farris, Director of PR & New Media, at |
