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INTERNATIONAL HEALTH CERTIFICATES

Travel season is here! With over 4 million pets and live animals being transported by air worldwide every year, it has become imperative for the United States and other foreign countries to make sure that each pet boarding a plane has a good bill of health so as not to spread infectious disease to other parts of the world. The way they do this is through International Health Certificates (IHCs) performed by your pet's veterinarian.

PLANNING FOR AN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE

1. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Every foreign country has specific requirements for a pet's International Health Certificate. Understanding the requirements for your pet's travel is crucial for a smooth IHC process. Newberry Animal Hospital uses the USDA's Pet Travel Guidance Page to review requirements for every IHC.

 

*Newberry Animal Hospital does not evaluate travel company (airline, cruise ship, port, etc.) requirements. Please notify us if your travel service has specific requirements outside of the USDA Pet Travel Requirements.

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Many foreign countries require testing such as Rabies titers to be done within a specific amount of time before arrival. When reviewing your destination country's requirements, please be sure to note when your pet's IHC exam will need to be done.

2. BE AWARE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS

3. FILL OUT OUR IHC
PRE-REGISTRATION FORM

This form MUST be completed before starting the IHC process with us. Once this form has been submitted and your research deposit* has been received, a trained staff member will be in contact with you within 3 business days regarding the travel requirements for your destination country and scheduling your pet for their IHC appointment. Information given in this form will help our veterinarians perform their exam in accordance with your destination country's requirements.

*Newberry Animal Hospital requires a non-refundable research deposit before our staff starts researching travel requirements & collecting required documents. This deposit must be received before your pet's IHC appointment is scheduled and will go towards the total cost of the International Health Certificate.

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International Health Certificates must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. Here at Newberry Animal Hospital, these veterinarians are:

4. USDA ENDORSEMENT OF YOUR PET'S IHC

Not all foreign countries require this, but many popular destinations do. If your destination country requires your pet's IHC to be endorsed by the USDA, you can choose 1 of 2 ways to file:

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  • Mail the completed IHC to the USDA

  • Have NAH file the IHC with the USDA for you

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NOTICE: Having NAH file your pet's IHC does not guarantee a faster endorsement process.

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Once your pet's International Health Certificate is complete and has been endorsed by the USDA, they are ready for takeoff! If you have any questions about the IHC process, please give us a call at any of our locations that have a USDA-accredited veterinarian:

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Main Street: (352) 372-5391

39th Ave: (352) 332-2292

Holistic: (352) 332-9991

Springhill: (352) 373-7208

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