What is a pet health certificate and when is it required for travel?

The term health certificate can mean different things to different people and entities. The most common type of health certificate is one that can be provided by a USDA accredited veterinarian to facilitate the movement of pets internationally or between states. These health certificates typically confirm a pet’s vaccinations, deworming medications, permanent identification (e.g. microchip or tattoo) and require a recent physical exam to attest that they are apparently free of infectious diseases. Health certificates and the associated veterinary exams are a critical step in preventing the spread of infectious diseases to different areas. It is important to note that every state and country has slightly different requirements, and that not every veterinarian is accredited by the USDA. If you are planning on traveling with your pet, be sure to start planning early by looking into your destination’s requirements on the USDA pet travel website. Other health certificates, such as those that are often provided by breeders, may simply confirm that a pet has been recently examined by a veterinarian and does not appear to have infectious diseases. These health certificates are helpful to make prospective pet owners aware of any abnormalities in their new pet, but they do not provide legal standing for travel purposes.