Vaccine Requirements for Pets Flying

Traveling with pets can be extremely stressful; there are many requirements and associated fees that come with traveling with a domesticated animal. Ensuring that your pets have all vaccinations necessary to travel aboard a plane can streamline your travel experience much more streamlined and help you avoid unpleasant surprises at the airport before takeoff.

  1. Domestic Travel

    • For domestic travel within the United States of America, ensure your pet is current on routine vaccinations. For dogs, routine vaccinations include rabies, coronavirus, bordetella, heartworm disease and 5-in-1 vaccinations against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. For cats, routine vaccinations include rabies, panleukopenia---also known as feline distemper---herpesvirus and calicivirus. Certification of vaccination and proper health are required by many airlines, including Frontier and Southwest, for pets to board. Others, such as American Airlines, do not require health certificates. Keep in mind, however, that all states in the United States require proof of current rabies vaccination for dogs older than 12 weeks.

    International Travel

    • Similar to domestic travel, some airlines require vaccine certification while others do not. Keep in mind that each country has requirements regarding domesticated animals that can enter and exit its borders. Some countries do not allow pets, no matter the health certifications present. Check with the consulate for the country you plan to visit to determine vaccination and health requirements for pets. Some countries also require export or import certificates, a pet passport and/or listing the pet on the owner's declaration documents.

    Certifications

    • Certificates and tags illustrating current vaccination dates and states of health can be obtained from the veterinarian who administered the check-up and/or vaccinations. There may be a small fee to obtain copies of certifications or tags.