What You Need to Take Your Pet to Mexico
We recently wrote about the documents that are needed to travel with your pet, both domestically, and abroad.
Here’s a short refresher: If you’re traveling within the U.S. with your pet, you’ll need (at a minimum) medical records, identification tags, and a health certificate from within 10 days of your travels. We can help with that!
If you’re traveling internationally, these should be on your must-bring list:
Pet passport: This document accompanies your furry friend to EU countries. It’s issued by EU veterinarians to cats, ferrets, and dogs and contains the animal’s ownership, identification, and health information.
International health certificate: It’s issued by a USDA-approved veterinarian after administering the treatments, lab tests, and inspections required by the destination country.
Blood titer tests: This test confirms your pet is disease-free by testing for antibodies. Some countries might also demand additional parasite and infectious disease tests.
Vaccinations: On-schedule vaccinations are required in most countries.
Traveling to Mexico with a Pet
Given that we’re so close to an international border — Mexico is a stone’s throw away from San Diego, after all — many people are apt to take their pets to Mexico. So, the question is this: Is there anything, in particular, you’ll need to take your pet to Mexico?
Aside from the items and documents outlined above, the U.S. Department of Agriculture outlines what you’ll need to know:
Upon arrival to Mexico with the pet dog(s) and/or cat(s) in a clean cage(s)/carrier(s), travelers must visit the Mexican Animal and Plant Health Inspection Office (OISA), to contact the official personnel working with SENASICA. The official personnel will verify the following:
That the dog(s) and/or cat(s) does/do not present signs of infectious and contagious diseases.
The animal(s) is/are free of ectoparasites*
The animal(s) does/do not present fresh wounds or wounds in a healing process.
Further:
B. If your pet(s) is/are under treatment due to lesions and/or infections on the skin due to mites, dermatomycosis, dermatophylosis, hairless or similar lesions, you should present to the official personnel of SADER/SENASICA the diagnostic and treatment instructed by the Veterinarian. Such information should be presented in a letterhead, including the professional registration number (or equivalent). Enclosed to the letterhead, it can be accepted a copy of the professional registration number (or equivalent).
C. Compliance of what is indicated in this document, does not exempt the importer of presenting documents, complying with applications and/or procedures requested by other authorities.
D. When the cage/carrier is dirty and/or contains bed disposable (newspaper wood – other materials) toys or edible products, a disinfection will be applied, removing all that is inside of the carrier/cage, for a proper destruction.
E. Only the portion of food used to feed the animal during the day of arrival, will be allowed.
You can also read what the Mexican government says about bringing dogs or cats across the border — which is more or less the same.
Bringing Your Pet Back Into the U.S. From Mexico
If you’re returning from a trip to Mexico with your pet, know that the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) actually oversee animal importation into the U.S. The CDC’s main concern is controlling diseases and parasites, and as such, will go through a series of criteria to ensure everything is above board. That’ll include asking for the pet’s travel history, vaccination records, etc.
Note that crossing the border into the U.S. is often a more detailed process than going into Mexico, and if you don’t have all the necessary documentation, or if your pet doesn’t pass a physical exam, they could be quarantined at a customs facility.
Key Takeaways
The rules for taking your dog to Mexico are pretty much the same as other international travel, so be sure to have all of your documents in order. But know that you’ll need to have food and water for your pet, it’ll need to be healthy — no obvious diseases or signs of mistreatment or malnourishment. Your pet will be inspected by Mexican authorities, but if all is in order, you should be on your way in no time.
Contact us to make an appointment today!
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