Pet Health Certificates in Chicago, IL
for Smooth, Stress-Free Travel

Please contact your accredited veterinarian’s office as early as you can. Notifying our team early gives us time to research the requirements for your destination and help build a travel plan for your pet. Some countries require multiple tests, treatments, documents, and waiting periods before a pet can travel.

Health certificate endorsements may take several business days and are often completed just 1–2 days before travel. Incomplete paperwork may delay or prevent endorsement.

Our office can track endorsement status through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System, also known as VEHCS. Due to high volume, the USDA cannot provide individual status updates.

The USDA does not currently offer expedited endorsement services.

Please plan ahead and have a backup option in place in case your certificate is not ready before your departure. This may include leaving your pet with a trusted caretaker or adjusting your travel dates.

If mailed documents are missing or delayed, contact the shipping company directly. Lost packages must be reissued through VEHCS by your accredited veterinarian and will require an additional endorsement fee from the USDA.

Please note: If documents are reissued, the original endorsed documents will be invalidated.

Possibly. The CDC requires all U.S.-vaccinated dogs that have traveled to a high-risk country for rabies within the past 6 months to have a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form. This form must be submitted by a USDA-accredited veterinarian before the dog leaves the United States.

Please note: If your dog was not vaccinated in the United States, visit the CDC Dog Importation page for additional guidance.

The Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form is a USDA-endorsed form submitted by an accredited veterinarian to verify that a dog is up to date on rabies vaccinations. Your dog must meet specific requirements before the veterinarian can complete the form.

Please note: This form must be completed before your dog leaves the United States. It cannot be issued retroactively. The CDC confirms that the form must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian before the dog departs the United States.

You can find more information on the CDC’s Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination page.

This form can be used multiple times to bring your dog back into the United States during the validity period of the rabies vaccine. The CDC notes that the form is valid for one dog only, and each dog must have their own form.

Please review the CDC’s most current High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies list. The CDC states that dogs that have been in a listed high-risk country within the past 6 months must meet additional requirements to enter the United States.

Please review the most current list of New World screwworm-affected countries through USDA APHIS. USDA APHIS directs pet owners to its recognized animal health status resources for the current list and travel considerations.

Please note: The FDA has recently approved the use of lotilaner, the active ingredient in Credelio, for the treatment of New World screwworm. West Loop Veterinary Care uses this range of products for parasite treatments required for international travel.

Because pet travel requirements vary widely by destination, we can provide an accurate quote after a team member has received your travel details and your pet’s relevant medical records.