Introduction
Pets, animal friends cannot be taken anywhere anywhere they want hence the need to plan for the trip carefully. Hygiene standards as well as health requirements in most countries and airline companies are very high. The certificates of health are required not only when traveling internationally but even domestically. Vaccination certificates are papers that guarantee your pet is healthy and is capable of being let out for vaccination.
It is therefore important to know the cost implication so that proper planning can be made. Some of such pert factors include initial costs such as veterinarian fees, costs on travel destinations and agreements put in place by the airlines. This article reveals all the information that a pet owner needs to know concerning pet health certificate and its cost.
What Is a Pet Health Certificate?
Pet health certificate is defined as a letter from licensed veterinarian. It affirms and reassures the owner by proving that their pet is healthy as will as compliant with vaccination legalities. This document is needed from the airline, hotels as well as from the border authorities.
It consists of your pet’s breed, age, immunization record, and any illness history that exists. Some countries have special clause like rabies titers or micro chipping for tropical diseases. It is always advisable to go through the regulations before going for any journey. The certificate has to be issued within a particular period and generally, it should be issued not more than 10days from the date of travel.
Why Do You Need a Pet Health Certificate?
This is mainly because legal and safety concerns require that a health certificate is presented. They act as a barrier to disease transmission between the animals and man. Some airlines do insist and demand a proof of vaccination before they can allow pets into their aircraft. There are some countries that require pets to be quarantined but if not certified.
This is the reason why your pet may be refused entry or even sent back and without the appropriate documents it may happen. Having a valid certificate with you is a way of avoiding such instances that will call for stress and added expenses. It is a very important measure for people who are eager to travel with their pets without any problems.
How to Get a Pet Health Certificate
To acquire a health certificate for a pet it is necessary to go through vomiting to a doctor for animals. Choose only the veterinary that has centre accreditation from USDA to allow one to travel internationally. The vet will then check your pet for any diseases and also check on the vaccination history of your pet.
Certain countries also need further test, for instance blood tests. Once it gets to this point, the vet signs the certificate. For overseas business trips, you will require state approval. Give enough time for the processing that is required for each case and be sure to plan it in advance. The staff of airline and border control should be given copies of the certificate.
Costs of a Pet Health Certificate
The price that one has to part with while seeking the services of a pet health certificate is fairly unpredictable. The prices for Rabies vaccines range between fifty to three hundred dollars depending on the place of residence and veterinary bills.
The international certificates are comparatively costly due to several tests and government stamps. It is also important to know that some vets may charge extra for overnight services. Other costs may also refer to the vaccinations and the checking and implantation of a microchip as well as lab tests.
Budgeting for these costs averts any kind of back of costs in the course of the year. Legalization of documents involves checking the policy of the airline and comparing the price of a vet. Some of the expenses you are likely to be charged include; When hiring any service provider, always request for a detailed costing.
Additional Costs for Pet Travel
However, there are additional expenses to be incurred on pet travel Some of the costs include the health certificate Among them are the health certificate This means that as much as airlines provide pet transport services, they do this by charging transport fees which are between $100 and $500 per flight. Some of the accommodations may be pet friendly but the pet may be charged for.
They include but are not limited to, travel crates, bedding and feeding which are also part of the expenses. Some of the destinations need a quarantine period; this can be costly. Emergency marking and vaccination are compulsory today in many countries due to hi-tech devices for identification.
This cost is also incremental and one should consider taking a pet insurance to cater for these expenditures in case of a trip. Planning is one way of being strategic in using funds and therefore when one is planning, he or she tends to look for the various costs involved.
Airlines and Their Pet Health Certificate Policies
This is because every airline has its policies as regards carrying pets. There are airlines that allow pet to be included in the cabin while there are other that make pet to travel as baggage. Airlines like American Airlines, Delta, and United mandate health certificates. This must be produced before the period of travel, maybe during the journey or some days before he or she is due to travel.
Some airlines demand the pet owners to produce other documents including vaccination against rabies. Before travelling you should always ensure that you go through the airline’s procedures regarding flights. Such a call enables the airline to get clarification in order to avert travel delays. Thus, it can be stated that having the right documents can help to prevent complications along the process.
Country-Specific Pet Travel Requirements
The authorities of different countries have their own rules regarding the importation of pets. According to the EU one has to have a pet passport and the rabies titer test. The Australian quarantine policy for pets is firmly implemented and followed for any animal coming into the country. This forced all the Japanese dogs to be chipped and the owner to get proof that the dog has been vaccinated against rabies.
Huge numbers of European cars are imported into Kenya but some countries deny entry to some breeds of dogs. People need to ensure that they seek information on official websites of different levels of government for new or latest rules that apply to their business.
Failing to meet any of these requirements may result to quarantine of the pet or refusal of entry. This is why it’s crucial to familiarize oneself with the general rules of a specific destination to make pet travel hassle-free for both you and your pet.
Tips for a Smooth Pet Travel Experience
The thing is, proper planning leads to a problem-free pet travel situation. Book flights and vet appointments in advance. Ensure that you use a researched and recommended pet carrier allowed in the plane for the comfort for the pet during the journey. Make sure all documented evidences pertaining to health eligibility are retrievable and available. .ensure the pet is acquainted with the travel crate that will be used before actually traveling.
This should be avoided and one should feed the birds lightly before starting the journey in other not to discomfort them. Make sure the pet is well-hydrated and well-accommodated during a journey. It is always important to check what the airline and the destination allow in order to avoid much trouble at the last moment. Traveling with your pet is a good experience if you have planned well in advance for it.
Conclusion
Pet travel requires thorough preparation. Having health certificate indicates your pet meets set travel standards. Some are normally incurred depending on area, costs of services at the local vet, or any additional services. This is one of the reasons why studying airline policies and regulations of the intended destination is important in order to avoid any problems.
It always in everyone’s best interest to plan properly so that one does not stress himself and or spend monies unnecessarily. The safety and comfort of cats and dogs should be the focus of a traveling plan for it to be enjoyable. Here is how to go through the process of traveling with pets and ensure that the experience is as comfortable as possible for both your pet and yourself.
Of course, before planning the journey it is always better to consult a vet and look into the current legislation. This can be understood by the fact that a well-prepared journey should indeed be a happy one; for both you and your pet.
