Pets are also a part of the family and people relocating sometimes want to relocate to a new country with their pets. Travelling with your pets is not as easy as some people might think it is. There is a lot of preparation that has to take place before you are able to travel with your pets.
Different countries have different rules and regulations that have to do with bringing a foreign animal into the country. There are different steps that you will need to take and also proper planning to be able to move to another country with your pet. Not just the countries alone but also different airlines have different rules about if and how pets can travel.
You should confirm ahead of time if your airline will allow you to travel with your pets and if you’ll be able to travel with them in the cargo or in the cabin. If you’re allowed to travel with your pet by your airline, sometimes if your pets like dogs and cats are under 20 pounds, this may qualify to allow the pets to ride with you and the passenger cabin for an extra fee and if it is a larger animal, it will need to go through the cargo flight. You also need to know what your airline will be asking from you before you’re able to fly with your pets.
Steps To Take In Relocating With Your PetsÂ
Vaccinations
If you are moving with your pet to a different country, you will need to provide a record of your pet’s vaccinations. If you are relocating with your cats, you will need the FVRCP vaccines and also do rabies shots and for a dog you also need rabies and vaccines like DHLPP that’s mandatory for your animal. Depending on the country that you are relocating to, you might need to get more vaccinations for your pets cats like feline leukaemia, chlamydia, feline immunodeficiency virus and for the dogs, you might need to get Lyme disease, canine influenza and coronavirus etc.Â
Getting Your Pet’s Health Certificates Import Permits And Pets PassportsÂ
Who knew that even pets need to get a travel passport?
To be able to travel with your pets, you will need to get your pet a passport and this is especially important for those travelling to the European Union or you will need a health certificate from an accredited vet. This shows the health status of your pets and also carries information or all of the medical treatments that they have received. Even America has different pet travelling processes for permits and passports. You need to do your research and find out what is what with each country.
A pet passport will usually carry microchip information, external and internal parasites treatments, rabies vaccinations, other vaccinations, rabies titre test results, a picture of your pets and also the details of the vet that has issued the passport. Also very important for your pet relocation is an import certificate as most countries will not allow you entry without an import certificate.
Microchip
The microchip is one of the most important steps in order to be able to relocate and travel internationally with your pets. You will need to implant a microchip. A lot of countries demand that you microchip your pets before you are able to relocate. The microchip is a tiny device that is usually put in between the shoulder blades of your pet.
It is quite painless and will take only a few seconds for the implant. It will contain your pet’s necessary information like its vaccination record, your contact information and the pet’s health record. This will make it easy for a customs official or vets to have access to all of this necessary information by scanning the microchip.
Country categoriesÂ
Depending on the rabies status of any country, which is divided into three groups and are;
 Rabies free countryÂ
 Rabies controlled countries
And high rabies countries.
A lot of countries categorise other countries in the world into these groups to help with the spread of rabies. If you are lucky and you are relocating with your pets to a country that is in the same rabies category as yours you won’t have to stress too much because it will be processed straightforwardly. You may need to get a pet relocation service company to help if you are travelling to another country that is not in the same rabies category as your own country as the process can get complicated.Â
Rabies Titre Test
A lot of Countries that are rabies-controlled and rabies-free usually demand a rabies-neutralising antibody titre(RNAT) test to be carried out on your pet. This test allows knowing the level of antibodies in your pet’s blood after their rabies vaccination. It is the most error-free way of finding out if your pet is sufficiently immune to rabies after getting the vaccination.
It is given 30 days after the rabies vaccination, and the rabies titre test and the results determine whether you will be able to enter a rabies-free country with your pet. This must be done by an accredited veterinarian and the blood for the analysis carried out has to be sent to an approved and certified laboratory for necessary processing.
QuarantineÂ
Depending on the rabies category of the country that you are relocating to with your pets, they would usually have different quarantine regulations and it would change based on some countries in my demand for regardless that you quarantine your pets regardless of the country you are coming from while some countries that are raised free might not even allow pets from high-risk countries access into the country. You will need to find out what pet category your country falls under and how to navigate.
Treatment For External And Internal Parasite
It is very important that you get internal and external parasite treatments for your pets. A lot of countries demand that your pets receive the treatments before entry into the country. Internal parasite treatment includes tapeworms, heartworm, etc and external parasite treatment include fleas and ticks.
Water And Food For Your PetsÂ
Before your journey, you need to ensure that you are fed your pets no later than 6 hours before your flight and also ensure that there is a water bowl attached to the door of your pet’s carrier crate. It is important that you fill the bowl with water before you travel to ensure that your pets are well-hydrated as they will not be getting food or water during the flight.Â
The Right Crate For Your PetsÂ
This is also a very important aspect and preparation for your pet relocation. The crates must not just meet all the airline’s specifications but also be the right size. You will need to ensure that the crate is IATA-compliant. To make relocation easier for your pet, you also need to start crate training as soon as you can. This will help you. They will need to think of the crate as a safe space that will be comfortable for them while flying.
Other Necessary Things Worth Noting In Your Pet Relocation JourneyÂ
Talk to your veterinarian about any concerns you might have and ask them questions you need answers to. Ensure that your pet’s vaccination is up to date, and make sure you confirm with your airline that you are allowed to travel with your pet.
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