The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an update to its dog importation regulations and subsequent changes to its import requirements for dogs entering the U.S. These changes take effect Aug. 1 and will impact dogs travelling from Canada to the U.S. Dogs now entering the U.S. must:

• Be at least six months of age.
• Have an International Organization for Standardization-compliant microchip.
• Appear healthy upon arrival.
• Have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt (this form will only be made available by the CDC on July 15 and must be submitted through the CDC website).
• Have additional documentation, which varies depending on where the dog has been in the past six months before entering the U.S., and the dog's rabies vaccination status.
  
  

To help clients understand the requirements and their responsibilities, it's recommended that veterinary clinics send clients to the CDC website and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website. For more information, you can also visit Dr. Scott Weese’s Worms and Germs Blog or read the American Veterinary Medical Association's information handout.

This information is current as of June 25.