The Documents You’ll Need To Fly With Your Dog: A Complete Guide

Bringing your canine friend along on your trip is all the more fun.

However, you fit and simply booking getting off on your trip.

Taking your feline friend along for the journey means you need to process paperwork such as a certificate of veterinary inspection, acclimation certificate and so on.

So what documents will you need to fly with your dog? Usually, you will need a certificate of good health, a certificate of veterinary inspection and acclimation certificate.

Some countries and states may require you furnish proof that your dog has been vaccinated for rabies and received treatment for tapeworms.

You also need to contact your airline in advance to discuss travel plans.

Different airlines have different rules and regulations regarding pets.

One of the restrictions you should be aware of is that with most Airlines pets younger than four months old are not allowed to fly.

Rules regarding pet travel vary from one country to another and some nations may not permit dogs to enter unless they are vaccinated for rabies at least 21 days leading up to the flight.

Some rules also stipulate that dogs must be treated for tapeworms between 24 to 180 hours prior to their trip.

In addition to this, some States may even require a certificate of good health to be issued before allowing them to enter the state.

So ensure that you do research on the required documents and procedures necessary for your pet to accompany you on the flight.

What documents do you need to fly with your dog?

Although different countries and states will have a different set of rules and regulations when it comes to pets coming in and out of the country, the most common documentation required includes a rabies vaccination certificate, certificate of veterinary inspection as well as acclimation certificate.

Rabies is a disease that both animals and humans can contract.

The amount of rabies victims has declined significantly throughout the years however the victim rate has yet to reach zero.

So this means that rabies is still very much active.

Some States require check up within a certain amount of days of the flight and countries such as Hawaii in particular have strict policies on pet travel.

This is especially when it comes to things like rabies vaccinations.

So be sure to check in with the state you are flying to well in advance of making a trip.

The certificate of veterinary inspection is also a health certificate and a signed document from a veterinarian.

It needs to state that he or she has inspected the dog for diseases and overall health condition.

The document should be valid only for a certain period of time so check with your state to ensure that it doesn’t expire before your flight.

The acclimation certificate is basically a document that features regulations about cold and hot weather extremes.

Animals were not accustomed to extreme cold weather may be harmed by a sudden burst of cold weather while waiting to be placed in the cabin storage and so on, so call your airline to determine if this type of document is actually needed.

Do you need a health certificate to fly with your dog?

If you’re wondering whether you need a health certificate to travel with your dog, then the answer is yes, you do.

People need to travel with their pets for various reasons.

They may need to move around domestically or internationally, and for this reason, you need to get your documents in orders.

In some cases, getting the proper documents sorted can take a long time and often tends to be a tedious process. However, this will also depend on the destination country and the type of animal you are flying with.

A vet health certificate is an indication that your pet is healthy enough to travel.

It should also state that your pet does not show signs of disease that could potentially be passed on to people or other animals.

In order for this certificate to be issued, our dog must be up to date with his vaccinations.

As a part of this exam, the vet will check your dog for other issues such as heartworms and prescribe medication to treat the condition.

In most cases, you will also need a certificate of veterinary inspection and acclimation certificate, which can only be supplied by an accredited vet.

TRAVELING WITH YOUR PET

Making sure that your pet’s documents are in order is the first thing you should do if you’re planning on taking him along.

You will also need enough time to take care of your pets medical treatment, so start the process early.

THE VET’S OFFICE

Your first stop should be the vet’s office.

This is especially true if you are planning on taking your dog overseas.

So be sure to disclose this to your vet and together you’ll can work together to ensure that your pet meets all the necessary requirements.

Some of these requirements include:

Vaccinations
Blood test
Identification microchips

If it’s your first time flying with your pet, make sure that you do your homework prior to your trip.

Different airlines have different rules to follow regarding pet travel.

Some airlines may allow your pet to travel with you in the cabin and others may require that your furry friend flies in the cargo hold.

In most cases and with most airlines, only small dogs that can fit under the seat inside their carrier are permitted in the cabin.

Larger dogs will need to fly in the cargo hold.

YOUR PETS COMFORT

Traveling can be exciting but stressful for your furry friend.

This is why you need to ensure that the trip is as pleasant as possible.

Here are a few tips:

Get your dog accustomed to the carrier a few weeks before the flight
Your selected departure and arrival times should avoid extreme cold or heat. So if you are going to a hot destination, perhaps a night flight would be more bearable for your pet.
Flights with fewer layovers are recommended
Before you leave home, take your dog for a walk and also do this before checking in
If your pet is going to be in the cargo hold, try to check in early so they can go to the quiet end of the plane and if they are remaining with you in the cabin, check-in as late as possible to reduce stress.
You should never sedate your pet before traveling. In fact, some airlines have zero tolerance for this and will not take your pet onboard if it is found that the pet has been sedated.
You should not feed your pet a few hours prior to the flight as well
Make sure his carrier is comfortable, well ventilated and he has something familiar inside such as a favorite toy or blanket

The Documents You’ll Need To Fly With Your Dog: A Complete Guide

What documents do you need to fly with your dog?