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The CDC issues new rules for bringing dogs into the U.S., aimed at keeping out rabies

Traveling internationally with a dog — or adopting one from abroad — just got a bit more complicated. The CDC issued new rules intended to reduce the risk of importing rabies. mauinow1/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

Traveling internationally with a dog — or adopting one from abroad — just got a bit more complicated. The CDC issued new rules intended to reduce the risk of importing rabies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new rules Wednesday aimed at preventing dogs with rabies from coming into the United States.

Under the new regulations, all dogs entering the U.S. must appear healthy, must be at least six months old, must have received a microchip, and the owner must verify the animal either has a valid rabies vaccine or has not been in a country where rabies is endemic in the last six months.

Dogs coming from a country that is considered at high risk for rabies and who received a rabies vaccine from another country must meet additional criteria. Those include getting a blood test before they leave the other country to make sure the animal has immunity against rabies, a physical examination upon arrival and getting a U.S. rabies vaccine. If the dog doesn't have a blood test showing immunity, it must be quarantined for 28 days.

These are much stricter requirements than existing regulations for dog importation — for those who want to adopt from abroad and for those traveling internationally with their pets.

Shots - Health News

Vaccine hesitancy affects dog-owners, too, with many questioning the rabies shot.

But, U.S pet owners shouldn't panic, says Dr. Emily Pieracci , a CDC veterinary medicine officer. "This really isn't a big change," she says. "It sounds like a lot, but not when you break it down, it's really not a huge inconvenience for pet owners."

Rabies was eliminated in dogs in the United States in 2007 , but unvaccinated canines can still contract the disease from rabid wildlife such as raccoons, skunks or bats.

And rabies remains one of the deadliest diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans around the world. Globally, about 59,000 people die from rabies each year. The illness is nearly always fatal once a person begins to experience symptoms .

Today, pet dogs in the United States are routinely vaccinated against rabies.

"This new regulation is really set to address the current challenges we're facing," Pieracci says. Those include an increased risk of disease "because of the large-scale international movement of dogs," she adds, as well as fraudulent documentation for imported dogs.

The U.S. imports an estimated 1 million dogs each year. In 2021, amid a surge of pandemic-inspired dog adoptions, the CDC suspended importations from 113 countries where rabies is still endemic because of an increase in fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates. The countries include Kenya, Uganda, Brazil, Colombia, Russia, Vietnam, North Korea, Nepal, China and Syria.

That suspension will end when the new rules go into effect Aug. 1.

"This will bring us up to speed with the rest of the international community which already has measures in place to prevent the importation of of rapid dogs," Pieracci said. "So, we're playing catch-up in a sense."

The new regulations replace rules that date back to 1956. Those rules only required that dogs be vaccinated before entering the country.

To control rabies in wildlife, the USDA drops vaccine treats from the sky

"As you can imagine a lot has changed since then," Pieracci says. "International travel has increased dramatically and people's relationships with dogs have changed since the 1950s. During that time, it really wasn't common for dogs to be considered family member. They didn't sleep in peoples' beds. They certainly didn't accompany them on international trips."

The new rules won praise from the American Veterinary Medical Association . The organization "is pleased to see the implementation of this new rule that will help protect public health and positively impact canine health and welfare," said Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the AVMA in a statement to NPR.

Dog rescue advocates also welcomed the changes.

"This updated regulation will allow us to continue bringing dogs to the U.S. safely and efficiently," Lori Kalef, director of programs for SPCA International, said in a statement.

"We have seen that dogs have been a lifeline for U.S. service members during their deployments. One of our key programs reunites these service members and their animal companions here in the U.S. once they have returned home," she said. "The CDC's commitment to improving its regulations has a profound impact on the animals and service members we support, and this new policy is an important piece of that effort."

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Traveling with dogs to the US? The new rules you’ll need to follow

FILE - A trainer walks with a service dog through the Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport while taking part of a training exercise, Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Newark, N.J. All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped, according to new government rules published Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The new rules were prompted by concerns about dogs coming from countries where rabies is common, and applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FILE - This undated electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rabies virions, dark and bullet-shaped, within an infected tissue sample. All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped, according to new government rules published Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The new rules were prompted by concerns about dogs coming from countries where rabies is common, and applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners. (F. A. Murphy/CDC via AP, File)

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NEW YORK (AP) — All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies, according to new government rules published Wednesday.

The new rules require vaccination for dogs that have been in countries where rabies is common. The update applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners.

“This new regulation is going to address the current challenges that we’re facing,” said Emily Pieracci, a rabies expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who was involved in drafting the updated regulations.

The CDC posted the new rules in the federal register on Wednesday. They take effect Aug. 1 when a temporary 2021 order expires. That order suspended bringing in dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.

The new rules require all dogs entering the U.S. to be at least 6 months, old enough to be vaccinated if required and for the shots to take effect; have a microchip placed under their skin with a code that can be used to verify rabies vaccination; and have completed a new CDC import form.

There may be additional restrictions and requirements based on where the dog was the previous six months, which may include blood testing from CDC-approved labs.

The CDC regulations were last updated in 1956, and a lot has changed, Pieracci said. More people travel internationally with their pets, and more rescue groups and breeders have set up overseas operations to meet the demand for pets, she said. Now, about 1 million dogs enter the U.S. each year.

Dogs were once common carriers of the rabies virus in the U.S. but the type that normally circulates in dogs was eliminated through vaccinations in the 1970s. The virus invades the central nervous system and is usually a fatal disease in animals and humans. It’s most commonly spread through a bite from an infected animal. There is no cure for it once symptoms begin.

Four rabid dogs have been identified entering the U.S. since 2015, and officials worried more might get through. CDC officials also were seeing an increase of incomplete or fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates and more puppies denied entry because they weren’t old enough to be fully vaccinated.

A draft version of the updated regulations last year drew a range of public comments.

Angela Passman, owner of a Dallas company that helps people move their pets internationally, supports the new rules. It can especially tricky for families that buy or adopt a dog while overseas and then try to bring it to the U.S., she said. The update means little change from how things have been handled in recent years, she said.

“It’s more work for the pet owner, but the end result is a good thing,” said Passman, who is a board member for the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association.

But Jennifer Skiff said some of the changes are unwarranted and too costly. She works for Animal Wellness Action, a Washington group focused on preventing animal cruelty that helps organizations import animals. She said those groups work with diplomats and military personnel who have had trouble meeting requirements, and was a reason some owners were forced to leave their dogs behind.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Traveling with dogs to the U.S.? The new CDC rules you'll have to follow

All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies, according to  new government rules  published Wednesday.

The new rules require vaccination for dogs that have been in countries where rabies is common. The update applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners.

“This new regulation is going to address the current challenges that we’re facing,” said Emily Pieracci, a rabies expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who was involved in drafting the updated regulations.

The CDC posted the  new rules in the federal register  on Wednesday. They take effect Aug. 1 when a temporary 2021 order expires. That order suspended bringing in dogs from  more than 100 countries  where rabies is still a problem.

The new rules require all dogs entering the U.S. to be at least 6 months, old enough to be vaccinated if required and for the shots to take effect; have a microchip placed under their skin with a code that can be used to verify rabies vaccination; and have completed a new CDC import form.

There may be additional restrictions and requirements based on where the dog was the previous six months, which may include blood testing from CDC-approved labs.

The CDC regulations were last updated in 1956, and a lot has changed, Pieracci said. More people travel internationally with their pets, and more rescue groups and breeders have set up overseas operations to meet the demand for pets, she said. Now, about 1 million dogs enter the U.S. each year.

Dogs were once common carriers of the rabies virus in the U.S. but the type that normally circulates in dogs was eliminated through vaccinations in the 1970s. The virus invades the central nervous system and is usually a fatal disease in animals and humans. It’s most commonly spread through a bite from an infected animal. There is no cure for it once symptoms begin.

Four rabid dogs have been identified entering the U.S. since 2015, and officials worried more might get through. CDC officials also were seeing an increase of incomplete or fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates and more puppies denied entry because they weren’t old enough to be fully vaccinated.

A draft version of the updated regulations last year drew a range of public comments.

Angela Passman, owner of a Dallas company that helps people move their pets internationally, supports the new rules. It can be especially tricky for families that buy or adopt a dog while overseas and then try to bring it to the U.S., she said. The update means little change from how things have been handled in recent years, she said.

“It’s more work for the pet owner, but the end result is a good thing,” said Passman, who is a board member for the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association.

But Jennifer Skiff said some of the changes are unwarranted and too costly. She works for Animal Wellness Action, a Washington group focused on preventing animal cruelty that helps organizations import animals. She said those groups work with diplomats and military personnel who have had trouble meeting requirements, a reason some owners were forced to leave their dogs behind.

The Associated Press

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What is rabies?

Who is at risk, what can travelers do to prevent rabies, after travel, traveler information, clinician information.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus. You can get rabies if you are bitten or scratched by an animal with rabies.

In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. However, in many other countries around the world, bites from dogs (including puppies) are the main source of rabies infections in people. Most people who die of rabies were bitten by a dog with rabies.

Rabies affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Without appropriate medical care, rabies causes brain disease and death. Once symptoms of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal. For this reason, preventing animal bites and receiving prompt medical care is especially important.

Early rabies symptoms include weakness or discomfort, fever, and headache. There may be discomfort or a prickling or itching sensation at the place of the bite. Within days, an infected person may become anxious, confused, and agitated. As a person gets sicker, they may become delirious, hallucinate, be unable to sleep, and unable to swallow or quench their thirst.

Where are you going?

Rabid dogs are a problem in many countries around the world, including most of Africa, Asia, and parts of Central and South America. Although any mammal can transmit rabies, dog bites are how most travelers get rabies.

Activities that may increase a traveler’s chances of rabies infection include:

• Camping or exploring caves (spelunkers)
• Working with animals (veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens)
• Long-term travelers and expatriates

Children are more likely to get infected because they often play with animals and may not report bites.

Rabies in dogs is rare in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and most European countries.

Travelers can protect themselves from rabies by taking the following steps:

Avoid animals when traveling

• Don’t touch dogs, puppies, or other animals. This goes for strays as well as pets. Not all countries require pets to be vaccinated against rabies. Even animals that appear healthy can spread rabies.
• Supervise children closely, especially around dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, and wildlife.
• If you travel with your pet, watch it closely. Do not allow it around other local pets or wild animals.
• Avoid bringing animals home to the United States. Dogs and cats may be infected with rabies but not show signs until several days or months later. If you do decide to bring an animal with you to the United States, be aware of CDC’s and USDA’s animal importation regulations .
• If you are traveling to work with animals, bring and wear appropriate protective gear.
• For more information, see Be Safe Around Animals .

Act quickly if you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal

• Immediately wash all bites and scratches well. Use plenty of soap and running water.
• Seek medical care immediately, even if you don’t feel sick or the wound does not look serious.
• To prevent rabies, start treatment immediately. Treatment for rabies includes getting a vaccine after you have been bitten. Even if you were vaccinated before your trip, you still need to seek care if you get bitten or scratched by an animal.
• Be prepared to travel back to the United States or to another area to receive treatment. Vaccination and medicine for rabies exposure is not available everywhere in the world.

Pre-travel rabies vaccine

For some travelers, it may make sense to get the rabies vaccine before your trip. Check if rabies vaccine is recommended for your destination .

The rabies vaccine is given in two shots. The second dose is given seven days after the first dose. Even if you are vaccinated against rabies, if you are bitten or scratched by an animal that may have rabies while traveling, you need to seek medical care immediately and get two booster doses of the vaccine.

Consider medical evacuation insurance

Rabies vaccine is not available in all countries. Medical evacuation insurance can cover the cost of transferring you home or to the nearest destination where care can be obtained. For more information, see Travel Insurance: Peace of Mind While You Travel and Travel Insurance, Travel Health Insurance & Medical Evacuation Insurance .

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare provider and tell them about your travel. 

If you need medical care abroad, see Getting Health Care During Travel .

• CDC Website:  Rabies
• Be Safe Around Animals
• Vaccine Information Statements (VIS)
• Rabies  in CDC Yellow Book
• R abies Information for Doctors
• Rabies: Notifiable Disease
• Rabies Diagnosis

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Rabies Vaccine for Travel: What You Need to Know

What is rabies.

Rabies is a very serious viral disease. It is very rare in the United States but far more common in other parts of the world, causing up to 70,000 rabies-related deaths worldwide each year.

How is Rabies Spread?

The rabies virus is carried and transmitted by animals, including bats, raccoons, dogs, cats, coyotes, foxes and other mammals. Humans can be infected with the virus if they are bitten by an animal with rabies.

Symptoms of Rabies

Immediately after infection, there are no symptoms other than pain and irritation at the site of the bite. But, in the weeks and months to follow, symptoms may include:

• Irritability
• Seizures and death (if untreated)

Rabies Vaccine for Travel Abroad

The rabies vaccine is typically only recommended for very high-risk travelers given that it is completely preventable if medical attention is received within 7 – 10 days of an animal bite.

The rabies vaccine is made from dead virus and cannot cause rabies. It can prevent the disease from developing if given before or after infection. It may be recommended for high-risk international travelers who are likely to come in contact with animals in parts of the world where rabies is common. Pre-travel vaccination is given in 3 doses with the first being administered at least one month before the departure date, the second dose given one week later, and the third and final dose three weeks later.

The rabies vaccine may be recommended for very high-risk individuals traveling to the following destinations:

• South Africa

Don’t see your travel destination listed? Contact the travel medicine specialists at the UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health for more information about recommended vaccines and disease prevention.

The CDC issues new rules for bringing dogs into the U.S., aimed at keeping out rabies

Traveling internationally with a dog — or adopting one from abroad — just got a bit more complicated. The CDC issued new rules intended to reduce the risk of importing rabies.

mauinow1 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new rules Wednesday aimed at preventing dogs with rabies from coming into the United States.

Under the new regulations, all dogs entering the U.S. must appear healthy, must be at least six months old, must have received a microchip, and the owner must verify the animal either has a valid rabies vaccine or has not been in a country where rabies is endemic in the last six months.

Dogs coming from a country that is considered at high risk for rabies and who received a rabies vaccine from another country must meet additional criteria. Those include getting a blood test before they leave the other country to make sure the animal has immunity against rabies, a physical examination upon arrival and getting a U.S. rabies vaccine. If the dog doesn't have a blood test showing immunity, it must be quarantined for 28 days.

These are much stricter requirements than existing regulations for dog importation — for those who want to adopt from abroad and for those traveling internationally with their pets.

But, U.S pet owners shouldn't panic, says Dr. Emily Pieracci , a CDC veterinary medicine officer. "This really isn't a big change," she says. "It sounds like a lot, but not when you break it down, it's really not a huge inconvenience for pet owners."

Rabies was eliminated in dogs in the United States in 2007 , but unvaccinated canines can still contract the disease from rabid wildlife such as raccoons, skunks or bats.

And rabies remains one of the deadliest diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans around the world. Globally, about 59,000 people die from rabies each year. The illness is nearly always fatal once a person begins to experience symptoms .

Today, pet dogs in the United States are routinely vaccinated against rabies.

"This new regulation is really set to address the current challenges we're facing," Pieracci says. Those include an increased risk of disease "because of the large-scale international movement of dogs," she adds, as well as fraudulent documentation for imported dogs.

The U.S. imports an estimated 1 million dogs each year. In 2021, amid a surge of pandemic-inspired dog adoptions, the CDC suspended importations from 113 countries where rabies is still endemic because of an increase in fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates. The countries include Kenya, Uganda, Brazil, Colombia, Russia, Vietnam, North Korea, Nepal, China and Syria.

That suspension will end when the new rules go into effect Aug. 1.

"This will bring us up to speed with the rest of the international community which already has measures in place to prevent the importation of of rapid dogs," Pieracci said. "So, we're playing catch-up in a sense."

The new regulations replace rules that date back to 1956. Those rules only required that dogs be vaccinated before entering the country.

"As you can imagine a lot has changed since then," Pieracci says. "International travel has increased dramatically and people's relationships with dogs have changed since the 1950s. During that time, it really wasn't common for dogs to be considered family member. They didn't sleep in peoples' beds. They certainly didn't accompany them on international trips."

The new rules won praise from the American Veterinary Medical Association . The organization "is pleased to see the implementation of this new rule that will help protect public health and positively impact canine health and welfare," said Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the AVMA in a statement to NPR.

Dog rescue advocates also welcomed the changes.

"This updated regulation will allow us to continue bringing dogs to the U.S. safely and efficiently," Lori Kalef, director of programs for SPCA International, said in a statement.

"We have seen that dogs have been a lifeline for U.S. service members during their deployments. One of our key programs reunites these service members and their animal companions here in the U.S. once they have returned home," she said. "The CDC's commitment to improving its regulations has a profound impact on the animals and service members we support, and this new policy is an important piece of that effort."

Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain

Rabies vaccination, boosters and blood tests.

You must get your dog, cat or ferret vaccinated against rabies before it can travel.

Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them.

You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If you do not, they’ll need to be vaccinated again.

Getting the rabies vaccination

Your pet must have had their first rabies vaccinations (the ‘primary course’). This can be given in more than one dose.

Your pet may need to restart the primary course if they do not have all doses or a booster at the right time. Your vet can tell you if your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date.

The vaccine must be an inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine that’s approved in the country of use.

If your pet has had the Canvac R vaccination

If your dog, cat or ferret has had the Canvac R vaccination, they must have had the right number of doses of the primary course.

They’ll need:

• 1 dose if they were vaccinated over the age of 5 months
• 2 doses if they were vaccinated under the age of 5 months - the doses must have been 2 to 4 weeks apart

All pets with the Canvac R vaccination must be at least 17 weeks old before they travel.

If your dog has had the Canvac DHPPiL+ R vaccination

If your dog has the Canvac DHPPiL + R vaccine, both of the following must apply:

• your dog has had 3 doses of the primary course of the vaccine
• each vaccine dose was 3 weeks apart

Your dog must also be at least 21 weeks old before they travel.

Travelling from a ‘Part 1’ or ‘Part 2’ listed country

You must wait 21 days after the primary vaccination (or the last of the primary course of vaccinations) before bringing your pet to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from a Part 1 or Part 2 listed country .

Travelling from a country that is not ‘listed’

You must follow certain rules after having your pet vaccinated if you’re travelling to Great Britain from a country that is not a Part 1 or Part 2 listed country :

Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.

Your vet must send the blood sample to an EU-approved blood testing laboratory from either inside the EU or outside the EU .

The results of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml).

You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel - you do not need to wait if your pet was vaccinated, blood tested and given a pet passport or health certificate in the EU before travelling to a country that is not listed.

The vet must give you a copy of the test results and enter the day the blood sample was taken in a pet passport or health certificate .

The blood test will continue to be valid as long as your pet’s rabies vaccinations are kept up to date.

Booster vaccinations

You must get regular booster vaccinations for your pet. Check your pet passport or health certificate to find out when the booster vaccination is due.

Get an Animal Health Certificate if your pet needs a booster vaccination while you’re in Great Britain.

If you miss the booster and you’re travelling from a country that is not listed, your pet will need to be vaccinated and blood tested again and you’ll have to wait for 3 months before travelling.

Vaccination record

Your pet’s vaccination record in their pet passport or health certificate must show:

• your pet’s date of birth
• microchip number, date it was put in or read, and where it is on your pet’s body
• vaccination date
• vaccine manufacturer and product name, for example Nobivac
• vaccine batch number
• date the vaccination is valid until
• the vet’s signature and contact details

Your pet can be stopped from travelling if the details in their pet passport are in the wrong place.

Pet passports issued from 29 December 2014

The vet only needs to fill in the ‘valid from’ date for the first vaccination (or revaccination if you missed a booster).

If the rabies vaccination record is a sticker, it must be covered by a laminated strip (included with the pet passport).

Part of Bring your pet to Great Britain: step by step

Step 1 : check if you can bring your pet.

• Check if you can bring your pet
• Find out how you're allowed to travel to Great Britain
• Check different rules for guide and assistance dogs

Step 2 : Get your pet microchipped

• Check the rules for microchips

Step 3 : Get your pet vaccinated against rabies

• You are currently viewing: Check the rules about rabies vaccinations

You must wait for a set period of time after vaccination before you can travel.

Depending on the country you're travelling from, you might also need to get a blood test.

and Get tapeworm treatment

If you have a dog, you may also need to get tapeworm treatment before you travel.

• Check the rules about tapeworm treatment

Step 4 : Get a pet travel document

• Check which travel document you need

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Schedule rabies vaccine | walgreens.

Rabies is a serious disease caused by a virus carried in the saliva of infected domestic and wild mammals and is usually spread through a bite. There may not be any symptoms for weeks or even years after the bite, but rabies can cause pain, fatigue, headache, fever and irritability. If untreated, symptoms can progress to confusion, hallucinations, insomnia, seizures and paralysis. Rabies is always fatal in humans if left untreated. Although rabies cases are rare in the U.S., it’s still common in other parts of the world such as Africa, Asia and Central and South America.

The inactivated rabies vaccine can protect those at increased risk of rabies exposure, but it can also prevent the disease if it’s given to a person after exposure to the virus.

If vaccination is required and you haven’t previously received the rabies vaccine, preexposure vaccination consists of a series of 3 intramuscular injections given on days 0, 7, and 21 or 28 in the deltoid muscle in the arm. An additional shot of Rabies Immune Globulin may also be necessary. For people traveling to rabies-prevalent areas, the 3-dose vaccine series must be completed before travel.

If you've been bitten by an animal and potentially exposed to rabies, clean the wound and seek medical attention to determine whether you should get the rabies vaccine.

To learn more about the rabies vaccine from the CDC download this PDF or visit the CDC website .

• People who are likely to come in contact with the rabies virus or with rabid animals
• Travelers who plan to spend time outdoors where rabies is common
• Veterinarians and animal control or wildlife workers
• Anyone with moderate or severe illness should wait until they recover to be vaccinated
• People who previously had a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to the vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine
• People with a weakened immune system should talk with a doctor before receiving the vaccine. This may apply to several diseases and conditions, including:
• HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
• People receiving long-term steroid treatment, such as prednisone
• People with cancer or undergoing cancer treatment

Mild-to-moderate side effects:

• Soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site
• Headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches and dizziness
• Hives, pain in the joints and fever

Severe side effects, although rare, may include serious allergic reactions. Symptoms include

• Permanent brain damage
• Difficulty breathing
• Fast heartbeat

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help ease pain and reduce fever. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any unexpected or worsening reactions after receiving a vaccine.

If you believe you have a medical emergency, please call 911 .

Blog » Vaccinating Your Dog Against Rabies

Vaccinating Your Dog Against Rabies

A while ago, we took an in-depth look at rabies and how it can affect your dog. Luckily, for those based in the UK, rabies in dogs has been eradicated thanks to stringent measures. However, the disease can still be found in very rare circumstances.

The last case of rabies in the UK occurred in 1970, due to an imported animal that was outside of quarantine. However, the illegal trade of animals could easily cause a rise in cases once again.

If animals are transported correctly and processed through the proper channels, there is nothing to worry about. That’s why, as specialists in dog travel , PBS Pet Travel can help keep you and your pet safe and eliminate potential risks.

In this blog, we will cover how to safely transport your dog into and out of the UK, ensuring all rabies risks are eliminated along the way.

Table of Contents

Taking your dog abroad

If you are looking to take your dog out of the UK, there are several things you must do to ensure legal compliance. If you fail to follow all required measures, you risk having your animal taken away from you.

Part of this compliance includes proving that your dog has been vaccinated against rabies. Your dog must be at least 12 weeks old before receiving the vaccine, and their age must first be verified with the vet.

If you are looking to travel to the EU or Northern Ireland with your pet, you will need to wait for 21 days after the first vaccination before you travel.

The vaccine must be an inactivated or recombinant vaccine that has been approved in the country of use.

Bringing your dog into the UK

If you live outside of the UK and are looking to visit the country, you will need to be aware of the requirements that the British government have in place.

Before travelling to the UK, you must ensure your dog is vaccinated against rabies. As with taking your dog outside the UK, your dog must be at least 12 weeks old before receiving the vaccine, and their age must first be verified with the vet.

Depending on where you are travelling from will determine the next steps. If you are travelling from what is know as a part 1 or 2 listed country, you will need to wait until 21 days after the first vaccination after your dog has been microchipped. If you are unsure whether you are coming into the UK from a part 1 or 2 listed country, you can check here .

If you are not travelling from a part 1 or 2 listed country, there are a few additional rules to follow. After vaccination, your pet also must have a blood sample taken within 30 days. The results of the test must show that the rabies vaccine was successful. You can then travel after waiting a further 3 months from the date of the blood sample.

However, if you are planning to enter the UK and your pet was vaccinated, blood tested and issued an EU pet passport before travelling to an unlisted country, you will not have to wait the required 3 months.

Do I need to get booster jabs for my dog?

You will need to arrange rabies booster jabs, and can usually check when they are due by checking your animal health certificate or pet passport.

How long do dog rabies vaccines last?

Vaccines issued within the UK last for three years, but abroad, there are many that only last for one year. Keep this in mind when travelling to avoid any penalties around non-compliance.

How much is a rabies vaccine for dogs?

The prices for a rabies vaccination can vary between vets, but you can expect to pay around £50. In addition, the blood test could cost up to £120.

These costs are variable, so always check with a few vets first to get the best price for you.

Whilst largely eradicated, rabies is an extremely dangerous and fatal virus. It can affect both animals and humans, so it is important to ensure vaccines are up to date.

Whether you are looking into pet travel to Europe or are considering taking pets abroad much further afield, contact the team at PBS Pet Travel. We have over 20 years of experience transporting animals across the globe. Get a free quote now and let us help you help your pets!

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Dogs Entering US Must Be 6 Months Old and Microchipped to Prevent Spread of Rabies, New Rules Say

New U.S. rules require all dogs coming into the U.S. to be at least 6 months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies

Julio Cortez

FILE - A trainer walks with a service dog through the Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport while taking part of a training exercise, Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Newark, N.J. All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped, according to new government rules published Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The new rules were prompted by concerns about dogs coming from countries where rabies is common, and applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies, according to new government rules published Wednesday.

The new rules require vaccination for dogs that have been in countries where rabies is common. The update applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners.

“This new regulation is going to address the current challenges that we’re facing,” said Emily Pieracci, a rabies expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who was involved in drafting the updated regulations.

The CDC posted the new rules in the federal register on Wednesday. They take effect Aug. 1 when a temporary 2021 order expires. That order suspended bringing in dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.

The new rules require all dogs entering the U.S. to be at least 6 months, old enough to be vaccinated if required and for the shots to take effect; have a microchip placed under their skin with a code that can be used to verify rabies vaccination; and have completed a new CDC import form.

There may be additional restrictions and requirements based on where the dog was the previous six months, which may include blood testing from CDC-approved labs.

The CDC regulations were last updated in 1956, and a lot has changed, Pieracci said. More people travel internationally with their pets, and more rescue groups and breeders have set up overseas operations to meet the demand for pets, she said. Now, about 1 million dogs enter the U.S. each year.

Dogs were once common carriers of the rabies virus in the U.S. but the type that normally circulates in dogs was eliminated through vaccinations in the 1970s. The virus invades the central nervous system and is usually a fatal disease in animals and humans. It’s most commonly spread through a bite from an infected animal. There is no cure for it once symptoms begin.

Four rabid dogs have been identified entering the U.S. since 2015, and officials worried more might get through. CDC officials also were seeing an increase of incomplete or fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates and more puppies denied entry because they weren't old enough to be fully vaccinated.

A draft version of the updated regulations last year drew a range of public comments.

Angela Passman, owner of a Dallas company that helps people move their pets internationally, supports the new rules. It can especially tricky for families that buy or adopt a dog while overseas and then try to bring it to the U.S., she said. The update means little change from how things have been handled in recent years, she said.

“It’s more work for the pet owner, but the end result is a good thing,” said Passman, who is a board member for the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association.

But Jennifer Skiff said some of the changes are unwarranted and too costly. She works for Animal Wellness Action, a Washington group focused on preventing animal cruelty that helps organizations import animals. She said those groups work with diplomats and military personnel who have had trouble meeting requirements, and was a reason some owners were forced to leave their dogs behind.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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CDC tightens pet import laws into the US. What are Florida's pet laws?

Traveling with or adopting pets outside the country just got a little harder with new restrictions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

The new regulation , announced Wednesday, puts the following changes in effect as of August 1:

• All dogs under 6 months old are banned from entering the U.S.
• Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival
• Dogs older than six months must show proof they have not been in a country identified as high-risk for rabies or face potential quarantine.
• Dogs must be microchipped.
• Dogs must have a CDC Dog Import Formonline submission receipt . 

The CDC said it was updating its dog importation regulation to "protect the health and safety of people and animals by making sure any dog arriving in the United States is healthy and doesn’t present a risk to our communities." The regulation is more in line with the World Organization for Animal Health’s standards for the international movement of dogs from countries with a high risk of dog rabies, the CDC said, and addresses recent challenges such as "fraudulent documentation" and dogs kept in unsafe conditions if they didn't meet importation standards.

Rabies in dogs was eliminated in the U.S. in 2007, the agency said, and they want to prevent reintroducing into the country from one of the over 100 countries at high risk for dog rabies.

Critics say the restrictions will negatively impact traveling families and add unnecessary complications to pet adoptions, especially from disaster areas.

"In emergency situations, like the aftermath of a hurricane, for example, obtaining proof of a dog’s whereabouts might be impossible for families or rescue workers in high-stress situations," the Humane Society Legislative Fund said in a press release on Wednesday . Airlines may also struggle to comply.

How can I tell if I can bring my dog into the U.S.?

The CDC has a personalized question-and-answer tool, "DogBot," that can tell you what rules apply to your dog depending on travel dates, countries and vaccination dates.

Traveling with your pet can be tricky: Are you traveling with dogs or cats this summer? Download these helpful apps

What are Florida's pet laws?

Florida does not restrict entry of pets like dogs and cats into the state , unless you're bringing them in to sell. You'll need current rabies vaccination documentation. Some Florida counties require pets to wear a rabies tag at all times.

According to Florida Statutes , dogs and cats transported into Florida to be sold must be tested and vaccinated between 14 and 30 days and receive an official certificate of veterinary inspection before entry into the state and be vaccinated or treated against rabies, roundworms and hookworms. Also canine distemper, leptospirosis, bordetella, parainfluenza, hepatitis and canine parvo (for dogs) and panleukopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis, and calici virus (for cats).

Does Florida allow exotic pets?

That depends on what types of exotic pets you want.

The following wildlife may be kept as personal pets without a permit in Florida:

• Nonvenomous and unprotected reptiles or amphibians
• Gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters
• Honey possums
• Sugar gliders
• Rats, mice,
• Moles, shrews
• Squirrels, chipmunks
• Domestic or European ferrets,
• Prairie dogs
• Chinchillas
• Shell parakeets
• Ringed doves, ruddy doves, diamond doves
• Button quail

Many other species may be kept as personal pets with a permit from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission which covers keeping them at a specified address, traveling with them and taking them to a vet. The permit does not cover taking an exotic pet out in public, which requires an exhibition permit .

Many species of invasive or endangered animals and marine life are not allowed to be brought into the state or possessed except for reasons of research, educational exhibition, control or eradication. Two exceptions: green iguanas and tegus may be kept as pets or sold commercially, according to the FWC.

Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, contributed to this story.

Bringing a Dog into the United States

Starting August 1, 2024 at 12:01AM ET, new rules go into effect. Use the DogBot below to determine what rules apply to your dog based on the dates of travel and where your dog is traveling from. Launch DogBot

CDC issues regulations to control the entry of dogs into the United States from other countries. These rules apply to all dogs, including puppies, service animals, and dogs that left the United States and are returning. They also apply whether you are a U.S. citizen, legal U.S. resident, or foreign national.

If you don’t follow CDC’s rules, your dog won’t be allowed to enter the United States . If denied entry, your dog will be sent back to the last country of departure at your expense. Country of departure is where the last trip originated—not where the dog was born or where it lives.

In addition, you must comply with  U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) and your U.S. destination’s regulations . Please be aware that dogs imported for commercial (resale or adoption) purposes have  additional requirements from USDA .

Determining What Is Needed to Bring a Dog into the United States

The requirements to bring a dog into the United States depend on:

• when your dog will arrive in the United States
• where your dog has been in the 6 months before arriving in the United States
• where your dog received its rabies vaccination (if required)

To enter the United States, your dog will be required to meet specific criteria. Use the DogBot to determine what rules apply to your dog based on the dates of travel and where your dog is traveling from.

Why Entry of Dogs to the United States Is Controlled

Rabies is over 99% fatal and is 100% preventable . The United States eliminated dog rabies in 2007, but dog rabies is not controlled in over 100 countries—creating a risk to the United States in imported dogs. Through regulations, CDC strives to protect America’s families, communities, and pets by preventing the reintroduction of dog rabies into the United States. Preventing infected dogs from entering the United States is a public health priority. Each dog imported with rabies could infect people and other animals and could cost more than half a million dollars to contain.

Why it’s important now:  CDC updated its dog and cat importation regulation in 2024 to protect the health and safety of people and animals and prevent the reintroduction of dog rabies to the United States. The updated regulation will help keep Americans and their pets safe. It addresses recent challenges seen with international dog importations, including the challenges posed by fraudulent documentation.

Standardization of the dog importation process , including standard requirements for the minimum age of imported dogs, microchips, the CDC Dog Import Form , and other documentation, will streamline the importation process and allow for safer and more efficient entry of dogs into the United States.

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What’s driving the anti-vax movement? | The Excerpt

On Sunday’s episode of The Excerpt podcast: Whether someone has or hasn’t been vaccinated for COVID-19, the measles, or even for polio, has become a controversial topic. That's not new. Resistance to vaccines is well over a century old. What is new, and what’s grabbing headlines right now, are the outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable illnesses that are spreading globally. The CDC recently reported that nearly a third of all U.S. measles cases since 2020 happened in the past three months. Hesitancy around vaccines has even spilled over to pet owners, with some not vaccinating their animals against rabies. Both medical professionals and governments agree that vaccines are good for us, so why do some people remain unconvinced? Ina Pinkney, a passionate speaker who travels around the country advocating for vaccines, joins The Excerpt to discuss the anti-vax movement.

Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it.  This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

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Dana Taylor:

Hello and welcome to The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Sunday, May 12th, 2024. Whether someone has or hasn't been vaccinated for COVID-19, the measles or even polio, has become a controversial topic. It's not new; resistance to vaccines is well over a century old. What is new and what's grabbing headlines right now are the outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable illnesses that are spreading globally. The CDC recently reported that nearly a third of all US measles cases since 2020 happened in the past three months. Hesitancy around vaccines has even spilled over to pet owners with some not vaccinating their animals against rabies. Both medical professionals and governments agree that vaccines are good for us, so why do some people remain unconvinced? Our guest today is Ina Pinkney, a passionate speaker who travels around the country advocating for vaccines. Thanks for joining us, Ina.

Ina Pinkney:

Oh, I'm so happy to be here to talk to you about the fact that nobody should suffer from a vaccine-preventable disease because the pain and disability can last a lifetime, which is my story.

Ina, I know that this issue is personal for you, so I'm going to ask you to share your story with us.

On Labor Day 1944, I was 18 months old, and my father came in to take me out of my crib and I couldn't stand up. And when he touched my forehead and realized that I had a high fever, in that nanosecond he understood that the polio epidemic that was sweeping New York City had come to Brooklyn New York, and that was the beginning of a lifetime of disability that I have struggled with.

So tell us really how your life changed with polio, your opportunities, your goals. What do you want people to know about your journey?

I think the most important thing is that we tried so hard to pass for normal for so many years, and we always tried to camouflage. After the original outbreaks, there was a sort of shame around it as well, and we tried to fit in. I was ostracized, marginalized, I was bullied. My whole life was very different than the children around me, and I knew intuitively that I was kinder than they were because I would never do that to anybody else.

Well, as I mentioned, you've been a passionate vaccine advocate. You've talked to people across the country, across the world on this issue. When did you start this work and how would you characterize the anti-vax movement pre-pandemic?

I think there's always been a hesitancy in people, especially years ago when somebody determined and said falsely that autism was as a result of vaccinations. And I don't think that the medical community got on top of that as fast as the internet got on top of the bad news and the information misinformation. I started with Rotary because Rotary had taken on as its mission along with the Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization to eradicate polio. They started this in the '80s and that felt so comfortable to me because they were out and about saying, "We can do this." And to think that polio could be ended in my lifetime was something that was so magical to me.

And when I closed my restaurant 10 years ago, I took on the conversation on a full-time basis as best I could and did lots of in-person and lots of Zooms once COVID hit. So I work very hard to remind people that I had polio 11 years before there was a vaccine. And so I was number one in line to get the COVID.

And then the anti-vaccine movement, I want to talk about that constituency and how they've evolved over time. Did the tone of people who are resistant to vaccines change after COVID-19?

It changed dramatically after that. People said, "Oh, it's too new. I don't want to take it. I don't know what's in it." Mind you, the medical world had been working on a vaccine for over 10 years and was able to do one small tweak and then it took on the SARS. And so here it was a 10-year-old study and research on this one safe, safe vaccine, and people were still hesitant to take it.

I spoke to a doctor, a pediatrician in North Carolina when I was there and I said to him, "How do you approach it when someone comes in with their children? How do you approach the vaccine?" He goes, "Very gently and very carefully and I say, 'We can do it very one at a time. We can wait in between. We don't have to really do them all at once as we all had.'" And I said, "What is the response?" He goes, "It's a hard no, a very hard no." I said, "And then what happens?" He said, "And then they leave my practice and they go to a practice where the doctor doesn't ask." And I thought, oh my God, there are medical professionals out there who are just doing the same bad thing that people are doing on the internet, on the conspiracy theories. And I thought, how could this be?

And so I work twice as hard when I speak to groups, twice as hard. I will say to somebody who's resistant, "So when did you have polio?" And they'll say, "Well, I didn't have polio." And I go, "Oh, that's right, because you had to get a vaccine before you went to school." And they just sort of have to push back a little.

So Ina, I want to talk about the biggest hurdles that you face when you're trying to reach people who are simply against vaccines. What's your approach?

I ask them about any illnesses in their family, and of course some say, "Well, my aunt had polio or somebody I knew had polio." And I went, "And you will never get it." 20 million children are walking around the world right now because they had the polio vaccine, 20 million we saved. And then I talk about measles that we have the latest update today, 125 measles outbreak in this country after it was gone. And 63 are in Chicago. And so I try to just be very simple with my facts. I don't go into a lot of medical stuff. I just say, "We didn't have measles and now we have measles. And so how do you feel about that? How do you feel that your little baby can get sick and have a lifetime disability from measles?" And they have really no answers. They just spout the words that they've read on the internet and that there's no answer for that for me.

You just shared we are seeing dangerous outbreaks of diseases like measles both here in the US and in Europe. Have you come across anti-vaxxers who have been persuaded by those reports?

Sometimes when I tell my story or I tell the story of a man I know who's 84 years old, a virologist, and he was having all kinds of issues with his mobility and his energy level and muscle weakness. And it was only 20 years ago on his aunt's deathbed that she had admitted to him that he had had polio as a baby because his parents kept it a secret. And he went and got the shots. He went and got his polio vaccine at 84. And so I try to give them stories that are very human. I mean, when I tell them that I was 18 months old and they just look at me. And I said, my whole life, 79 years of my life, I have been dealing with this now, and now with post-polio syndrome, I have more challenges. I have a sign that's on the back of my wheelchair and on the back of my scooter that nobody, nobody should have to suffer from a vaccine-preventable disease. How do you fight with that?

In your years of doing this work, Ina, what surprised you the most about the resistance that you've seen?

The fact that there are people who had the vaccine when they were little to get into school, who now have grandchildren and their daughters and sons will not vaccinate their children. So I see a grandmother who was suffering because she knows she lived through the polio epidemics and now her grandchildren don't have the vaccine. That is the most heartbreaking for me. What cheers me is when somebody I know in an extended family has a baby and they take the baby to the doctor for the vaccine, they call me. They call me and they say, "Ina, my baby has gotten the vaccine now." It makes me cry every time.

As you mentioned, measles was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000. That's according to the CDC. Now it's clearly back. What other diseases might we see a resurgence of because of this resistance to vaccines?

I think every disease is a plane ride away. Every single one that is all over the world that we have not had on our shores is now a plane ride away. The man in Rockland County who got polio two years ago, he was unvaccinated. And a man from Israel who had had the oral vaccine, which sometimes sheds in certain people, he visited his friend in upstate New York, and now that man is paralyzed. And when you think about the accessibility of travel, I mean, there are many migrant shelters where the measles is proliferating now, where they may have gotten it at a doctor's office just sitting there and waiting, and now they bring it back to a shelter. And more of the children have it there too. I mean, there are some incredible numbers that there's 250,000 kindergartners that have not gotten any vaccines. That's a lot of babies that have the potential to be very, very sick and have lifelong disability.

From a medical perspective, there have been some incredible breakthroughs in the last few years in vaccines. We talked about, or you talked about the COVID-19 vaccine being one of those. Are there other exciting possibilities here, including some for cancer and autoimmune diseases? Is it possible that this could be a tipping point for converting people from anti-vax to pro-vax?

I wish I was that optimistic. I'm more pessimistic. And I think the more vaccines come out, the more resistance there will be because people have already dug in and they have determined vaccines are not okay. I mean, there's pushback when they try to give babies some vaccine, which are, because their mother may have hepatitis B, they give them the HPV vaccine. And this is the most important thing you can do, but they say, "Why are we immunizing our babies?" Well, because mom had hep C and could have hep C, and the baby's going to have it.

So how do we get the information out there in a way that matters to people where they actually hear you because the wall is up? They are dug in, and I'm always stunned. I don't know where to put it. And we talk about this all the time on my global Zooms with people who say, "I can't believe that my kids don't want to vaccinate their children." And we are the proof. We are the proof that you need vaccinations. I don't know. I'm not as optimistic as your comment was, do you think there's a tipping point? I am scared that there is never going to be a tipping point.

But you're doing this work, so I know that you're not completely without hope. What gives you the most hope, Ina?

When I finish my talks to the Rotary groups where I speak mostly, at the very end I say, "I need to thank you for every minute you have spent and every dime you have raised for the global eradication of polio. Because to think in my lifetime, I will see the end of that disease that has caused so much despair in the universe, that will be the reason I'm doing everything I do today." And what gives me hope is that immunization currently prevents 3.5 to 5 million deaths a year.

Ina, thank you so much for being on The Excerpt.

Oh, it's an honor to talk to you today and share the news.

Thanks to our senior producers, Shannon Rae Green and Bradley Glanzrock for their production assistance. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to [email protected]. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow morning with another episode of The Excerpt.