Leptospirosis Danger for Traveling Dogs

Vaccinate Before You Go Overseas--Leptospirosis is emerging around the world. If your dog is infected it can cause kidney damage, liver failure and even death. Prevention is easy, according to Walter M. Woolf, VMD, veterinarian founder of Air Animal Pet Movers. Vaccination with a booster 14 days later prevents Leptospirosis and protects dogs for 12 months.

“Before traveling overseas with a dog, pet parents should direct their veterinarian to give the leptospirosis vaccine,” said Woolf. “This vaccination is really important for traveling dogs moving offshore. It’s not an emerging disease in the United States. That’s why some veterinarians will tell you that the jab is not needed.

“You don’t want to go overseas with your precious pet and have them become sick because they’ve walked in the woods, splashed in puddles or chased a squirrel through brush. If your veterinarian is reluctant, show them the links to the American Veterinary Medical Association leptospirosis information below,” Woolf said.

Air Animal Pet Movers has helped thousands of families relocate with their pets. They’ve also provided pet health certificates for thousands traveling with their small pets in the passenger cabin.

Leptospira organisms occur anywhere. They are more common in wooded areas and locales with warm climates and high annual rainfalls. Leptospirosis is rare in people. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control advises reducing potential exposure by:

• Avoiding swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine.
• Wearing protective footwear when walking through the woods or near contaminated water and soil.

The American Veterinary Medical Association offers more information in English  and Spanish .

Special note: If you live in an area inside the U.S. that has experienced flooding, you should vaccinate your dog for leptospirosis.

While traveling with you pets, keep them safe from Leptospirosis by getting them vaccinated before you go.

Pet Health Certificates

Before you move or travel with your pet, you'll need a pet health certificate. 

Air Animal offers international pet health certificate services for:

• Pet parents traveling overseas "above the wing" in the passenger cabin with their small pet when permitted by the destination and airline.
• Pets traveling air cargo booked by their pet parent.
• Airline and cruise passengers traveling with trained service animals.
• Veterinary appointment required.

Air Animal offers domestic health certificate services for:

• Pet parents traveling from Tampa Bay and Central Florida to the Continental U.S., Alaska, Canada, Cuba, Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands as air cargo. We also work with those traveling with their pet "above the wing" in the passenger cabin and aboard private boats.
• We assist airline and cruise passengers traveling with trained service animals as well.
• Veterinary appointment at Air Animal Tampa offices required.

Learn more

Puerto Rico Pet Import Rule Changes

Puerto Rico changed several significant pet import rules effective May 1, 2023.

Review the new rules carefully. They affect all dogs and cats entering the territory. 

Different regulations apply to birds, exotic pets and all pets from other countries.

Dogs and cats that do not meet the regulations will be returned to the U.S. at the pet parents' expense.

Australia Changes Pet Entry Rules

Relocating to Australia for work or returning home from an American assignment just got tougher, advises Air Animal Pet Movers. “Plan ahead at least seven months because the new pet identity declarations have expanded the timeline,” said Walter M. Woolf, VMD, Air Animal CEO and founding veterinarian.

The new rules effective immediately require two pet identity declarations by two different U.S. Department of Agriculture-accredited veterinarians. Those declarations have to be sent to the USDA electronically. Then the USDA provides the pet identity declaration certificate. “Not all veterinarians are USDA-accredited. Setting up two veterinary appointments for a pet at the start of the process can be tough without guidance from the pet’s regular veterinarian or an experienced pet shipper.

“We’ve updated our Australia Resource page at airanimal.com to help people understand the 18 steps and how the process has to proceed,” Woolf said.

From the Air Animal Australia Resource page

1. Microchip the pet (if not previously microchipped).
2. Verify the rabies vaccinations.
3. Arrange two required identity pet examination/declarations by two different USDA-accredited veterinarians and obtain an identity declaration certificate.
4. Schedule a FAVN-OIE Rabies Antibody blood draw by a USDA-accredited veterinarian.
5. Schedule antigen tests for Leishmania, Brucella Canis and Leptospirosis (dogs only).
6. Submit the blood serums to an approved government laboratory.
7. Arrange for a USDA RNATT declaration by a USDA-accredited veterinarian.
8. Fulfill the requirements of the 180-day waiting period that follows step #7.
9. Secure a DAFF import permit which can take more than four months.
10. Book quarantine space in Melbourne, Australia. Pets that complete all Australian identity check steps, and pet parents who can prove their pets originated in Australia, are eligible for 10 days quarantine. All others will spend 30 days in quarantine.
11. Arrange for the approved external and internal parasite treatments.
12. Arrange a veterinary exam to apply for an international pet health certificate.
13. Obtain USDA endorsement and all Australian health documents.
14. Book a USA cross-country flight (if necessary).
15. Book Los Angeles transfer (if necessary).
16. Schedule the trans-Pacific flight.
17. Obtain an airline air cargo air waybill and check pet in for the international flight.
18. Pick up pet after quarantine or arrange for pick-up and residential delivery by an experienced pet transporter.

“Pet parents should always register with a local veterinarian in their new locale to keep their pets’ rabies vaccinations up to date. Veterinarians typically send reminder notices when vaccinations are due. If another move is in their future, they will be ready,” Woolf added.

Air Animal helped Mario, a corgi, relocate with his family from Florida to Australia.

Air Animal Recommends Canine Flu Vaccine Before Relocation, Travel or Dog Groomer Visits

A canine influenza outbreak is spreading across the southern  U.S.—Tennessee, Texas. South Carolina, Alabama and elsewhere. It can quickly spread around the world because more people now travel and relocate with their pets. Air Animal urges all dog parents to vaccinate their dogs against canine influenza before relocating, traveling or any visit outside the home.

“People take their dogs with them everywhere today,” warns Walter M. Woolf, VMD, founding veterinarian and CEO at Air Animal Pet Movers. “Going to the dog park, the veterinarian, the dog groomer or doggie daycare can expose your precious fur baby to canine influenza. Flu in dogs is potentially dangerous and very contagious. It does not currently pose a risk for people.”

Like flu in humans, canine influenza is spread through aerosols and respiratory droplets.

"Dog flu is easily prevented by vaccinating your dog with two doses of the canine flu vaccine,” Woolf explained. “Ask your veterinarian about the vaccine. The first shot provides partial immunity. The second shot given about two weeks later is a booster which gives stronger protection."

There are two types of canine influenza vaccines. Ask your veterinarian which she recommends.

• Zoetis – Vanguard CIV H3N2/H3N8 – 2 vaccinations, 3 weeks apart. Considered fully vaccinated 7 days after the second shot.
• Merck – Nobivac CIV H3N2/H3N8 – 2 vaccinations, 2 weeks apart. Considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second shot.

For people relocating overseas with their dogs, New Zealand, Australia and other countries now require dog flu vaccination, according to Woolf. These countries usually accept a recent booster shot if the documents show full previous immunization and the booster administration date.

Dogs that come down with the flu develop fevers and coughs that last one to three weeks. Dog parents may notice decreased appetite, lethargy and a greenish discharge from the nose and eyes. Some dogs develop higher fevers and pneumonia. Severe dog flu cases cause death.

For people traveling or taking their dogs anywhere outside the home--especially to an overseas destination—canine flue vaccination is an ounce of prevention that really is better than a pound of cure.

Learn more about country requirements for importing pets by using the resource menu at airanimal.com.

Dogs are really social animals. They experience much of their world through their noses. Dog flu is passed by aerosols in the air from infected dogs—that why it is extremely contagious and potentially dangerous to your precious pup. Stop dog flu by getting your fur baby vaccinated.

Australia Considering Rules Changes, UK & EU Update Rabies Rules

Australia, the United Kingdom and the European Union are popular relocation destinations. All have made or are considering significant pet import rule changes.

Australia is considering increasing it's 10-day pet quarantine to 30 days. They may also require 180-day minimum residency in the origin country. Both changes will goes into effect in 2023 if approved.

The UK and EU have both updated their rabies vaccination policies. To enter with a pet you must show proof of a current rabies vaccination:

• The first vaccination after microchipping or any lapse in coverage is a “primary” vaccination and only valid for one year under the new rules--even if the pet received a three-year vaccine.
• If the primary lapses—even by one day--you must start over.
• If your pet receives its booster before the primary lapses, it is valid for one to three years depending on the vaccine manufacturer’s instructions.
• Pet parents are required to prove there was no lapse in rabies vaccination coverage since the primary vaccination.

Want to simplify your paperwork?

Air Animal clients can keep track of vaccination certificates by uploading them to their Air Animal Pet Portal accounts.

Or you might ask your veterinarian to scan your pet’s microchip and give your pet a one-year rabies vaccination at least 21 days but less than one year before your UK travel date. That way, no matter the rabies vaccination history, you only have to keep up with one vaccination certificate instead of several.

After you move:

Please register with a local veterinarian to keep your pet's rabies vaccination up to date. Veterinarians typically send reminder notices when vaccinations are due. If another move is in your future, you and your pet will be ready.

Tropical Storm Closure

 (Tampa and Orlando, FL--Nov. 9, 2022) Tropical storm Nicole is working her way across Freeport, Bahamas toward the East Coast of Florida. Officials in Orlando and Tampa have issued storm warnings. Air Animal's offices in Tampa and Orlando closed today at 3:30 p.m. to allow our team time to safely reach their homes. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 11--Veteran's Day here in the USA.

If you have a pet move in progress and need to reach your pet move manager, please use the mobile number provided in your move documents. As long as we have cell service and electricity we will be able to assist you.

We don't fly the planes. We don't control the weather. We DO find ways around the challenges.

Your Air Animal Team