Large Animal

Health Certificates

Potlatch Veterinary Clinic streamlines getting your health certificates in Potlatch, ID, to help you comply with regulations for both domestic and international travel.

What Are Health Certificates?

Health certificates, otherwise known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), are official documents from accredited veterinarians that verify an animal has been examined by a licensed veterinarian and is fit for travel. They confirm that the animal is up-to-date on vaccinations, free from infectious diseases, and meets all necessary health standards for transport. These certificates are often required for animals crossing state or international borders and may be needed for travel by air, land, or sea.

Our veterinarians at Potlatch Veterinary Clinic are fully accredited to issue health certificates for both Idaho and Washington, allowing us to serve clients in both states. Whether you’re traveling with a dog, cat, horse, or livestock, we ensure that your animal meets all the required health standards.

A brown cow stands in a grassy field

When Do You Need a Health Certificate?

Health certificates are generally required in the following situations:

  • Interstate Travel: If you plan to transport your animal across state lines, a health certificate is often required. This helps prevent the spread of contagious diseases between states.
  • International Travel: Many countries have strict health regulations for animals entering their borders. A valid health certificate is often mandatory, along with specific vaccinations and treatments.
  • Airline Travel: Airlines frequently require a health certificate for pets flying in the cabin or cargo hold. This ensures that animals are healthy and fit for air travel.
  • Livestock Transport: For farmers and ranchers transporting livestock across state or country borders, health certificates help ensure the health and safety of the animals, as well as the health of other animals at their destination.

Key Benefits of Our Health Certificate Services

  • Accredited Veterinarians: All of our veterinarians are accredited to issue health certificates for both Idaho and Washington.
  • Thorough Examinations: We conduct comprehensive health checks to ensure your animal meets all requirements.
  • Travel Guidance: We provide expert advice on vaccinations, treatments, and other requirements for both interstate and international travel.
  • Convenient Scheduling: Our clinic offers flexible scheduling to accommodate your travel plans, ensuring you have the necessary documentation on time.

Health Certificate FAQs

What animals need a health certificate?

Whether they are a pet dog or cat, an equine (horse, donkey or mule) or another farm animal (cow, goat, sheep, llama, alpaca, yak, pig, buffalo, rabbit etc.), most animals will require a CVI to travel.

When does my animal need a health certificate?

Anytime your animal leaves the state in which it resides, it will need a health certificate. Certain events, even if they occur within the state that the animal resides, will also require health certificates such as livestock fairs and rodeos, dog shows or competitive events, or boarding animals at certain facilities.

Does my animal need anything in addition to the CVI?

Most likely! The requirements for any animal will vary depending on state of destination, species, gender, age and mode of transportation. Whether that is just a rabies vaccination for your pet dog or additional testing, such as an EIA blood test (Coggins) for equines, we at Potlatch Veterinary Clinic can help you determine what you and your animal will need.

What health certificate options do you have for Equines?

For horses, donkeys and mules, we also offer digital 30 day health certificates and digital 6 month Extended Equine Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (EECVIs). By using an electronic health certificate and Coggins, you can have your paperwork in the palm of your hand (i.e. cell phone) at all times. For more information or to obtain your equine’s information, visit the GVL (GlobalVetLink) website at https://www.globalvetlink.com/

While the 30 day health certificates and Coggins results can be printed and carried like a traditional paper certificate, 6 month Extended Equine Certificates of Veterinary Inspection cannot. The following is from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture website:

“In the past, Idaho has accepted paper 6-Month Equine Passports for horses leaving and entering the state. This has changed and paper 6-Month Equine Passports are not valid movement certificates for equines; they are no longer accepted as a legal movement document by any of Idaho’s surrounding states. Horse owners who would like an Extended Equine Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (EECVI) will need to utilize the services of a veterinarian with access to the GlobalVetLink (GVL) system. Valid EECVIs require owners to log-on and enter destination information prior to each trip in order to obtain legal movement documents. While electronic EECVIs are accepted by many states throughout the country, not all of Idaho’s surrounding states participate in this program. You will need to check with your states of origin and destination to ensure the document is valid for your anticipated movement(s).”

Veterinary Services in Potlatch, ID