Traveling to the United States with a furry friend is an exciting experience for struggle. It is important to understand the vaccinations your canine friend needs to make the transition smoothly and safely. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll review the required vaccinations for dogs entering the United States and highlight the importance of each to keep your four-legged travel companion healthy.
Rabies Vaccine
The first and mandatory vaccine for dogs entering the United States is the Rabies vaccine. prevents epilepsy. Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system and poses a threat to humans and animals. The United States strictly prohibits rabies vaccination to prevent exposure to this potentially fatal disease. Make sure your dog’s rabies vaccinations are up to date with a certificate from a licensed veterinarian. The wait time between vaccination and hospital admission may vary, so plan accordingly.
Canine Pest Vaccine
Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease that affects dogs worldwide. Although it is not specific to the United States, it is still a big problem. The canine distemper vaccine is the main vaccine against this serious disease. Making sure your dog is vaccinated against canine distemper is important for entering the United States and protecting your pet’s health.
Canine Parvovirus Vaccine
Another important vaccine for dogs entering the United States is against canine distemper.
Example scenario:
Your senior dog lives in the United States and visited Mexico. Because Mexico is not on the list of countries at high risk for rabies, a dog can enter the United States at any port of entry without proof of rabies vaccination.
Your puppy has been in Germany since birth and is about to go to the United States. Because Germany is not on the list of high-risk countries for dogs, a dog can enter the United States at any port of entry without proof of rabies vaccination.
Your senior dog lives in Japan (not a high-risk country), but has visited China (a high-risk country) within the last 6 months and is moving from Japan to the United States. Because the dog is visiting a high-risk country, it must meet CDC requirements to reduce the risk of rabies before arriving. See the requirements for your dog to enter the United States.
Your 6-month-old puppy in the United States traveled with you to the Dominican Republic (a high-risk country) to visit family and is about to return to the United States. Because the dog is visiting a high-risk country, it must meet CDC requirements to reduce the risk of rabies before arriving. If a dog has been vaccinated against rabies in the United States, it may be eligible to be returned to some airports with a valid U.S. rabies vaccination certificate and ISO as proof of microchip. Find out what your dog needs to enter the United States.
