Planning international travel or relocation with your pet involves many steps, and having a veterinarian for certifying your pet’s health and administering the required vaccinations is a top priority. One of the most important steps for US residents who want to travel with their pets is finding USDA-accredited veterinarians, especially with the CDC’s 2024 updated requirements for dogs re-entering the US. In this post, I will guide you through who needs a USDA-accredited vet and my best tips for how to find one!

Who Needs a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian?

If you’re planning to travel or relocate with your pet outside of the US, you’ll most likely need a USDA-accredited vet for their health certificates and vaccinations, particularly for vaccination against rabies. These vets are authorized to issue and certify the official documents required for pets to be exported from the US and to enter other countries. You should start by confirming whether your pet’s vet is USDA-accredited because not all US based vets are.

How to Find a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

If your pet’s current vet is not USDA-accredited, don’t worry—you have several reliable options to locate one. Read below to learn tips for how to find one quickly!

1. Confirm If Your Pet’s Current Veterinarian Is USDA-Accredited

As pet travel and relocation becomes more common, more US based veterinarians are becoming USDA accredited. However, not all clinics offer these services, either due to accreditation limitations or clinic restrictions. A simple call or email to your pet’s current veterinarian can quickly confirm if they or another vet at the clinic is USDA-accredited.

For US Military Families: Every U.S. Army Veterinarian is USDA-accredited and is authorized to examine pets and issue health certificates for travel. You can find all DoD approved Veterinary Treatment Facilities within the US and overseas here.

2. Ask Your Current Vet For Referrals

If your current vet isn’t USDA-accredited, they may be able to refer you to another clinic or vet who is and can assist with getting your pets their health certificates. It’s worth asking for a recommendation since many clinics in the same metro areas work closely with one another. Referral discounts might also be available, helping you save on costs. Pet parents in your local community may also have suggestions based on their own experiences.

3. Use The USDA Website Search Tool

To help you find USDA-accredited veterinarians across the country, the USDA provides an official Veterinary Search Tool. Here are some tips for using this tool efficiently:

1. Select State or Territory: Begin by choosing the state or territory where you need veterinary services.
2. County: Confirm the county for the specific city or town. Keep in mind that not all states have counties; for example, Alaska has boroughs, Louisiana has parishes, and Puerto Rico has municipios.
3. Accreditation Category: Focus on vets listed under Category 1. Category 1 vets typically handle small animals, including dogs and cats, which is what most pet travelers require.
4. Species: Remember that in the search context, “cats” refers to felines and “dogs” refers to canines.

4. Google Maps Search

You can also use Google Maps to locate USDA-accredited veterinarians in your area. Here’s how:

• Search using keywords like “USDA-accredited veterinarian” followed by the city or zip code.
• Save Your List: As you find potential options, save them to a list in Google Maps and in the notes write down the distance and estimated travel time to each clinic. This helps you prioritize clinics that are more convenient to visit.
• Contact Them: Once you’ve narrowed down your list, confirm with each clinic by email or phone that they can issue the necessary health certificates for international travel for new patients.

5. Ask A Pet Travel Advisor For Assistance

Navigating the process of finding a USDA-accredited veterinarian for pet travel can take time—especially when you’re trying to train your pet to love their crate or carrier, researching accomodations, and booking transportation! This is where my pet travel and relocation advisory service can make all the difference. I work with clients to streamline the research process, find and contact USDA-accredited veterinarians, and present you with a curated list of a pre-screened shortlist of options. For my clients, I also manage communications with veterinarians about their pet’s veterinary records to ensure they have everything in place for a smooth pre-departure veterinary inspection appointment.

Conclusion

Finding a USDA-accredited veterinarian is essential for pet owners like you who are planning to travel or relocate outside of the continental US. While your pet’s current veterinarian may already be accredited, it’s important to confirm this before booking a health certificate appointment with them. If they are not, you can use the USDA’s search tool, Google Maps, or referrals from your pet parent community to find someone who is accredited. Should you need assistance, a pet travel advisor like me can help you handle all the logistics such as finding available USDA-accredited veterinarians.

By taking the time to find a USDA-accredited veterinarian early, you can feel confident that your pet is one step closer to being travel-ready and avoid any last-minute issues. For more personalized support, reach out to me to begin planning your pet’s international travel today.