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Health Certificates For Traveling Pets

Preparing for travel is a busy time, especially when bringing your pet with you! At Silver Springs Animal Clinic, our vets can help you get the Travel Health Certificate your pet needs to join you in your travels.

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Travel With Your Pet

A Health Certificate is documentation that your pet meets all of the requirements—ranging from booster shots to microchipping—that are expected of them by the place to which you are traveling.

You will need to get your pet vaccinated and start researching the required tests your cat or dog needs for travel as soon as possible. The USDA-APHIS office states that veterinarian-issued health certificates have to be completed within the exact time frame based on the state or country of destination's requirements.

Also, note that while some health certificates are valid for longer, most are only good for 10 days. And often, certificates require vaccinations or boosters having been administered as early as 6 months before the travel date. Keep all of this in mind when selecting a date to schedule your initial appointment since slots fill up quickly.

USDA Pet Travel Website

Veterinarian-Issued Health Certificates for Traveling

Before Your Appointment

Please follow the list below when preparing for your cat or dog's health certificate appointment:

During Your Appointment

In the lead-up to your Travel Certification Appointment, you will need to ensure you have met all of the requirements for the state or country to which you are traveling. 

When you bring your pet in for their appointment, we will conduct a comprehensive exam and review their medical history to make sure that they meet all of the necessary criteria. 

For Pennsylvanian pet owners, the completed health certificate must be submitted by mail to the USDA office in Harrisburg. Processing time usually takes 1 - 3 business days.

When the certificate is finalized, you can either pick it up in person or it can be mailed to your address overnight.

Our Mechanicsburg veterinarians are here to help facilitate the pet travel process and to fill out the required forms. It is your responsibility to make sure all the travel requirements are met. 

It's imperative that you come to your appointment with us fully prepared!

New Patients Welcome

Looking for a vet in Mechanicsburg PA? Silver Springs Animal Clinic is accepting new patients! Our skilled veterinarians are passionate about improving the health of Central Pennsylvania companion animals. Contact us today to book your pet's first appointment.

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