29/03/2025
With today's uncertain future, more and more people are looking at becoming Even if it's just a fleeting thought or retirement plan, today we will talk about something that is the first step in order to move your pets with you. Even if you aren't considering it, if you know us, you know our motto is, "It's better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it."
We will present it with a question we get asked a lot:
WHY DOES MY PET NEED TO BE MICROCHIPPED FOR TRAVEL? They have a on their collar.
Microchipping is the first step in preparing your pet for any international travel. If you are considering a possible move in the future, looking at or moving for work, getting your pet microchipped now and a rabies vaccine AFTER microchipping is the first step.
Microchips are more than just for lost pets. Microchips are the equivalent of your pet's passport or government issued ID. You can't travel internationally without one of these documents, neither can your pet (there are a few exceptions, but very few).
What is a Microchip?
A Microchip is an scannable ID transponder the size of a grain of rice that is implanted under the skin (usually on the back of the neck). It does not hurt or bother your pet, the initial implantation may be uncomfortable, as with anything injected with a needle (like vaccines). But after that, pets don't seem to notice it.
Where can I get my pet Microchipped?
Many places with microchip your pet. First, your vet can, many low cost vaccine clinics or humane societies offer it as a highly discounted price. Or, not recommended, you can buy them on Amazon or similar place and do it yourself, though low-cost vaccine clinics are usually the same price or cheaper.
Why is a Microchip so important for travel?
Microchips are your pet's identifier that can not be changed or removed easily. Therefore, governments use your pets Microchip number to identify that the pet listed on any required documentation, test results, vaccine records, is the pet in front of them. This is important to keep deadly diseases and inflictions from spreading.
There are several countries that are Rabies Free, such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Guam, and even Hawaii, to name a few. They have strict pet import requirements to keep their countries Rabies Free, and the very first step is a microchip with a rabies vaccine after. It's not just Rabies Free countries either, most countries, including any in the EU, require a new rabies after microchipping, even if your pet's current rabies, prior to microchipping, is still valid. The first rabies AFTER microchipping is considered to be the "Primary" vaccine.
My pet is a rescue, how do I find out if they are microchipped?
You can take your pet to any vet, and most of them will scan your pet for a microchip for free. Or many rescues, pet resorts, or even some transporter companies *cough* like PPT *cough* have microchip readers.
So we highly recommend, if your pet isn't microchipped, consider microchipping them at their next visit. Of if you are considering an International move, get them microchipped and a new rabies vaccine. PLEASE NOTE: When the rabies vaccine is given, ask the person giving it to record the microchip number, name brand, lot number, and expiration date on the certificate, as these will need to be on the records. If using your personal vet, these records are easy to find. But if using a low-cost clinic or something else, getting this information at the time of vaccine is much, much easier than trying to find it later.
We hope everyone has as great of a weekend as one of our previous guests, Moose, who is now living his best life on the beaches of Costa Rica!
For more information about our services or for a free quote check out our website at www.PawsitivePetTransport.com We help every step of the way from pre-booking to delivery and beyond
USDA & IATA certified, insured caring and compassionate Flight Nanny service. We transport International and Domestically.
