There are many doubts and fears about moving or traveling for pleasure when you want to take your dog along, especially when the trip is international. What makes the heart so much worse is knowing that the consequences if something doesn’t go as required are dramatic: such as not boarding the animal, repatriation or quarantine at the destination airport and even euthanasia (in extreme cases).
For what everything is perfect and the trip goes in the safest way, there are three variables that must be analyzed and fully respected. They are:
- The health requirements of each country
- Rules of each airline
- Profile of each pet.
Each country has its own health rules, requiring a lot of research and detailing to carry out each step correctly. Generally speaking, each pet will require a microchip, rabies vaccination, rabies serology and a period of quarantine prior to shipment.
There are international destinations with fewer or more stages that can vary from 1 to 7 months in duration, so that pets are able to travel. To be absolutely sure of the correct steps, order and dates, you need to understand the requirements in depth and strictly comply with them. Drawing up a checklist and schedule always helps step by step and doesn’t make you lose focus. The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture offers some valuable information on your site.
In addition, it is essential to research the airline you have chosen to travel with. Each one has its rule regarding pets, which varies according to weight, size and breed. This variation is due to the lack of Brazilian legislation to standardize the transport of animals carried out by companies.
You must be very careful with the ideal transport box, if the pet is allowed in the cabin or in the hold, duration of flights, procedures in connections, number of animals on board and with all this in hand, choose a company or another.
Suiting all of this for the pet family member is the most important thing. Each one has its race, weight, size, temperament, health and background that must be taken into account before the trip.
Brachycephalic animals, those with short snouts like Pugs, Bulldogs and Persian cats for example, have very strong restrictions on boarding in the hold of aircraft, being allowed today only as live cargo.
Another point is to think about the age and whether the pet has any health problems. Some animals may show symptoms that do not allow a very long journey, as it can be life-threatening. Therefore, a prior consultation with the veterinarian is extremely valuable, since only this professional can certify that the pet is able to travel.
In other words, an international trip with a dog or cat is not the simplest thing in the world. There are details that need to be checked and finding the right information is essential. Tutors get information on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), on the websites of the destination countries, on airlines and with professionals specializing in the subject, such as PETFriendly Turismo. The important thing is to always be up to date with possible changes that occur all the time.
Once you have everything in order, booked, confirmed and checked, the next step is to enjoy the trip. With a complete family, anywhere is amazing and new experiences are always welcome!!!
If you need help to guarantee the quality of your dog or cat’s international trip, count on the support of PETFriendly Turismo’s team of experts.
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