Cross-border adventure with Fido? New rules for dogs entering the U.S. designed to curb spread of rabies

As of August 1, all dogs crossing the U.S. border will need up-to-date documentation from a veterinarian showing the dog is vaccinated for rabies, microchipped and is in good health. The requirements apply to all dogs, including service dogs, no matter how long or short a stay in the U.S.The new rules include a ban on puppies crossing the border. Only dogs six months or older will be allowed into the U.S. Owners will need to submit a photo of the dog taken within 10 days of entry into the U.S. The new Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s regulations are meant to stop the spread of rabies. While rabies in dogs was eliminated in the U.S. in 2007, it isn’t controlled in more than 100 countries, the CDC noted in a press release. CDC announced the changes on May 8.Read: An ounce of prevention: Now is the time to take action on H5N1 avian flu, because the stakes are enormousThere are still cases of rabies in dogs in Canada, according to data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). In 2023 there were three cases of rabies in dogs reported to the CFIA.“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,” the CDC website states.The microchip requirement is so the CDC can confirm that the rabies vaccine was given to that specific dog, veterinarian Enid Stiles explained to CTV News Montreal. It may be difficult to provide evidence that dogs who received the microchip before the vaccine has indeed been immunized, she said. Stiles practices at Sherwood Park Animal Hospital Beaconsfield, Quebec. There are different regulations on what documentation a dog needs depending on where the dog has been for the past six months. For dogs who have only been in countries at low risk for rabies for the previous six months, which includes Canada, the CDC requires:A CDC dog import form completed by a veterinarian in Canada A certification of foreign rabies vaccination and microchip form (or a similar form), signed by a veterinarian completed within 30 days of entry into the U.S. A valid rabies serology titer or veterinary records from the previous six months (valid only for one entry into the U.S.)A veterinarian from CFIA will have to sign off all the import forms, Stiles said. The form requires an official government veterinarian in an exporting country to certify that the veterinarian who completed the form holds a valid license and that the information is accurate. How long it will take for CFIA to process the form is not yet known. CFIA is currently reviewing the new regulations and will soon provide guidance to dog owners, it said on its website.A veterinarian from CFIA will have to sign off all the import forms, Stiles said. The form requires an official government veterinarian in an exporting country to certify that the veterinarian who completed the form holds a valid license and that the information is accurate. How long this will take is not known. CFIA is currently reviewing the new regulations and will soon provide guidance to dog owners, it said on its website.The CFIA changed their rules on importation of dogs in 2022 to stop the spread of rabies. Canadian regulations no longer permit the importation of dogs from countries or regions at high risk of rabies when the dogs are being imported for commercial purposes. This includes rescue dogs, dogs sold as pets, dogs imported for breeding or dogs imported for show or exhibition.Rabies is caused by a Lyssavirus of the Rhabdoviridae family. It causes fatal encephamyelitis once the infection reaches the central nervous system. It can be prevented by pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis. People at high risk for rabies exposure should get a rabies vaccine. This includes veterinarians and veterinary staff, spelunkers (cavers), lab workers who handle the virus and hunters and trappers in areas with confirmed rabies, according to Health Canada. Read: More than half of U.S. dog owners have vaccine hesitancy around their pets

Cross-border adventure with Fido? New rules for dogs entering the U.S. designed to curb spread of rabies

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