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Radhagrrl · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:20 am Post subject: Pet Vaccinations?

If all goes well, the husband and I will be coming to Mexico this summer. I have one major problem, and while I've done a search, I can't find anything that addresses my concern completely: what shots do I need to get for my cat?

I've checked a dozen web sites, including consulates, and everyone seems to have a different opinion on what shots are needed for bringing a cat into Mexico via air. Everyone says rabies. It's additional ones with which I am having trouble. Some say only rabies & distemper, some say more. Has anyone flown into Mexico and done this? Where can I go to find out for sure? I don't want to gamble with my cat and I will have to get this done in Korea, which means a lot of trouble for me if I have to get those extra shots.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

I have an information slip from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the Mexico City International Airport that is valid for dogs and cats. It says that the vaccination records and certificate have to be current, and that pets over three months of age must have a valid rabies vaccine.

It sounds to me like they are looking for the dog or cat to have all relevant vaccinations, but perhaps it is only rabies.

Please keep in mind that this is from summer 2006 as well.

Tequila came into the country with all relevant vaccination.

One thing that you definitely need to make sure you have is a health certificate, and that it is dated no later than five days prior to when you enter M�xico.

notamiss · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:32 am Post subject:

This would seem to be, so to speak, the horse's mouth: http://www.sagarpa.gob.mx/cgcs/boletines/2006/mayo/B123.pdf and http://tinyurl.com/5b4jz9. These say that your cat will need a certificate of health and a rabies vaccination certificate. You present the cat and documents at the Agricultural Health Office at the airport or border crossing, and if you pass the inspection, they issue the import certificate.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

Interesting how countries only require rabies. Bringing Tequila home from Honduras into Canada, that was all she needed too (and the health check).

I also find it interesting as there is some debate building up over the validity of "yearly vaccinations" - do they really need to be given on a yearly basis?

Radhagrrl · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:52 am Post subject:

Fantastic. Thanks, everyone. I was going crazy with worry. I can get rabies & distemper with no trouble, but the other ones (leptospirosis) were going to be a real pain to explain in Korean.

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

fer sure you need a certificate of health from a vet in your country of origin

MELEE · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject:

Just so you know, I used to own a cat in Mexico (semi-rural location) and rabies is the ONLY cat vaccination any of the vets in my town do. They have the full range of dog shots, but just didn't think cats needed anything other than rabies.

Radhagrrl · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks. My husband took our cat to the vet yesterday and ended up getting a whole cocktail of shots: rabies, distemper, chlamydia, all sorts of stuff.

Does anyone know what the time frame for the health certificate is for sure? I've read within 15 days, 10 days, and 72 hours. That's a big difference.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

Radhagrrl · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:49 am Post subject:

Thanks. I guess the safest way to go is the 72 hours. Good to know!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

My cousin just brought two large dogs in crates from Canada to Mexico City on an air Canada flight. However, he had an extra hoop to jump through, requiring a customs broker to sign off on receiving the animals in the customs area of the airport, with an associated extra cost. The vet paperwork was in order.

Has anyone else gone through this? I though you simply picked up your dogs at a special area of baggage and simply took them through a little desk off to the side to show the vet papers, with no extra charge incurred. My thinking is that because the dogs are overweight, they went through cargo instead of regular baggage, but I can't get an answer out of customs on it, who claim this is this normal procedure.

Small update...it cost my cousin 400 dollars to deal with the customs broker on this. At least they delivered the dogs to his place. Expensive taxi service I should say.

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

All I needed to bring my dog from the US was the health certificate. In Mexico City, I just picked him up in his cage with the rest of my baggage and got some help taking everything outside for a quick pee before I rechecked him and my other baggage on to Tuxtla.