Planning international travel with your pet involves specific health documentation, timing requirements, and regulatory processes that vary by destination country. Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Dunbar, Vancouver provides the veterinary documentation and testing services needed to help your pet travel safely and meet the entry requirements of your destination. We recommend beginning the process well in advance, as some documentation requirements have strict timing windows.
An International Health Certificate is the most commonly required travel document for pets entering another country. The certificate must be signed by a licensed veterinarian and confirms that your pet has been examined and is fit for travel, up to date on required vaccines, and free of signs of communicable disease. Timing requirements vary by destination and airline, with most certificates valid for only a short window around the travel date. Our team will work with you to understand the specific requirements of your destination country and schedule the examination and paperwork accordingly.
Exporting a pet internationally involves a multi-step documentation process that may include a veterinary health exam, specific vaccines, a rabies titer test, government endorsement of health documents, and submission to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) or the relevant provincial authority. Our team is experienced with the documentation process for common destinations and will guide you through each step, advise on timing to avoid gaps or expiry issues, and ensure that all required documents are completed accurately.
Most destination countries require that traveling pets have a microchip that meets ISO standard 11784/11785 before they can enter. The microchip number must match the chip number recorded on all travel documentation. If your pet is not yet microchipped, or if their existing chip is not ISO-compliant, we can implant a compliant chip at your pre-travel exam. Microchipping for travel is best confirmed well in advance of the travel date to ensure the chip is registered and readable.
Some countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Hawaii, require a rabies antibody titer test to verify that a pet has adequate immunity before entry. The test must be performed at an approved laboratory, and many countries require that the titer test be conducted a minimum number of days before travel. Our team will advise on whether a titer test is required for your destination, coordinate sample collection, and submit to an approved laboratory. We recommend starting the titer test process as early as possible given these timing requirements.
Start the travel documentation process for your pet at Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Dunbar, Vancouver. Call (604) 221-5858 or email altavistaah@gmail.com. We are open seven days a week and are happy to guide you through every step.
