BajaNomad - traveling doglets

traveling doglets

ibannie - 1-13-2009 at 10:33 AM

We are headed into Baja in early February with two mini yorkies (all up to date with shots, not yappers and not biters.) from TN. What paperwork apart from their shot records and ownership papers do we need? Some sites list Extra parvo shots and distemper (on top of the ones ours have had) and others say that we need to stop at another vet along the way to get the Form 77-043 signed. Both doglets have had their rabies shots too earlier this month.
Anyone travel with dogs and know the answers?
Much appreciated.
Annie

vandenberg - 1-13-2009 at 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ibannie
We are headed into Baja in early February with two mini yorkies (all up to date with shots, not yappers and not biters.) from TN. What paperwork apart from their shot records and ownership papers do we need? Some sites list Extra parvo shots and distemper (on top of the ones ours have had) and others say that we need to stop at another vet along the way to get the Form 77-043 signed. Both doglets have had their rabies shots too earlier this month.
Anyone travel with dogs and know the answers?
Much appreciated.
Annie

Annie.
I have never seen any of the Mexican customs ever pay any attention to dogs. And usually getting back into the States is no problem either. Traveled with our Lhasas in and out of Baja for over 20 years.( yeah,yeah, not the same dog :biggrin:

) and were NEVER asked for papers.
I have heard though that lately US border may require some kind of paperwork, but it seems to me that what you have should be more then adequate .

BajaGringo - 1-13-2009 at 12:08 PM

If you have any kind of shot records you will have no problems. The chance of them even asking is probably one in a hundred. I once asked a border agent about that once when crossing with my Lab and he mentioned that there is no standard of exactly what shots the dog needs. He then added that if he asked for one it was more to document that the dog was returning home to the US and did not come originally from Mexico. He said that if the dog came from Mexico he "might" look closer at the shot record...

2-tie-dye-4 - 1-13-2009 at 12:10 PM

I took my dog to Baja about a year ago. My vet said all I needed was a certificate that he was current with normal dog shots and that he had been to a vet recently. Nobody in Mexico ever asked about the dog, even the checkpoints didn't make me take him out of his house. We crossed back at TJ and the agent never noticed the dog, he was being quiet.

Woooosh - 1-13-2009 at 12:14 PM

All correct info above. You do only need the rabies shot certificates to get back into the USA.

The other shots would be good for your dog as added protections from parvo, cornovirus, etc. should they come into contact with mexican dogs or their droppings (inevitable). Extra (booseter) shots won't hurt your dogs and any mexican vet can give the exact (Fort Dodge usually) same shots they do in the USA for a fraction of the price.

DianaT - 1-13-2009 at 01:43 PM

Annie,

Couple more important things----protection from heartworm, fleas and ticks. Our dogs are on frontline and heartguard.

Diane

BajaDove - 1-13-2009 at 02:21 PM

We took our Boxer across the border both ways with Mexican plates and no one asked more than does she bite.

castaway$ - 1-13-2009 at 04:45 PM

We have never been asked either. A word of caution if you get your dogs shots updated before you go do it 5-6 days in advance so if they have an allergic reaction your vet can treat them, we lost one of our dogs on a trip awhile back because she had an allergic reation to a parvo shot even though she had had them before. If we had be home when this happened where our vet has all of the records it would have been a simple treatment however without them she was misdiagnosed, not a good way to start a trip, just be cautious their worth it their your family.

El Camote - 1-13-2009 at 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ibannie
We are headed into Baja in early February with two mini yorkies (all up to date with shots, not yappers and not biters.) from TN.

All good advice. I've been traveling into Baja with my Yorkshire Terror for the last 13 years without a problem. Well...unless we run out of her favorite English tea, then all hell breaks loose. That's what I get for marrying a Yorkshire Lass. :lol:

bajacow - 1-13-2009 at 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
All correct info above. You do only need the rabies shot certificates to get back into the USA.

The other shots would be good for your dog as added protections from parvo, cornovirus, etc. should they come into contact with mexican dogs or their droppings (inevitable). Extra (booseter) shots won't hurt your dogs and any mexican vet can give the exact (Fort Dodge usually) same shots they do in the USA for a fraction of the price.

http:www.news.wisc.edu/8413

Woooosh - 1-13-2009 at 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajacow

Quote:

http:www.news.wisc.edu/8413

Bet he doesn't vaccinate his children either.

ibannie - 1-13-2009 at 06:36 PM

Oh wow - thanks for all the responses! When we went into British Columbia, Canada last year, we actually forgot the dogs shot records and had absolutely no paperwork for them! The Canadian official did not ask anything at all and I think the American Immigration Officer saw my genuine look of surprise when he asked for their papers on the way back into the USA.

I think we will be ok - we have got all their shots up to date, the official records, got a vet certificate to say they are healthy and will retain that look of surprise if all else fails...

Interesting article, Bajacow.
El Camote - I can see your Yorkshire Terror NEEDS to be one with you around

Diane - thanks for the extra advice....
Castaway$ - Oh how horrible about losing your dog

Thanks again -you guys are all great! Many Thanks.
Annie

bajaguy - 1-13-2009 at 10:52 PM

I would take some photos of your dogs and put them on a CD or a thumb drive just in case....., and also get a couple of extra dog tags with your Mexico contact info on them

DrTom - 1-14-2009 at 07:17 AM

i recommend annual 4dx heartworm/lymes/ehrlichia test in addition to the regular heartworm/flea/tick meds.......too many dogs coming back from baja have issues.....