Canine Export Testing

With our ever shrinking world, more and more pet owners are choosing to travel and even move their pets overseas. KSVDL has provided export testing for pet owners for over 20 years. We take great pleasure in assisting owners with ensuring their beloved pets can travel with them. We know firsthand the frustrations and time consuming processes that pet owners and veterinarians face trying to navigate the export country’s regulations for animal travel. With the added testing requirements for canine travel, exporting a dog can be very frustrating. Wasted time and money can be avoided with proper planning and research prior to sample collection. The following guidelines will help make your clients’ export experience a success.

The first step in a successful canine export is to research the requirements of the country accepting the dog. Each country may require different testing, vaccinations, micro-chipping, and parasite preventives. The country accepting the dog usually specifies not only the required tests but also the timelines necessary for completion of the tests prior to the animal traveling.

The regulations and requirements should be researched long before the proposed travel date. Unfortunately, these regulations are subject to change at any time during the testing process without notice. We recommend you start this process at the USDA webpage titled "Travel with a Pet." located here http://1.usa.gov/1BPxtQc

Your local USDA Veterinarian is also a valuable source of information.

Once you have determined the tests needed and the time frame the tests need to be completed by, the next step is to find a laboratory that can complete those tests for you.

KSVDL offers the following export tests for dogs (these are the most common tests needed for export):

• Rabies serology – FAVN Rabies Antibody http://www.ksvdl.org/rabies-laboratory/favn-test/index.html
• Canine Brucellosis serology – Tube-ME Agglutination http://www.ksvdl.org/laboratories/serology/sample-submission.html#canine
• Ehrlichia canis serology – IFA screen
• Leptospira canicola serology – MAT
• Leishmania infantum serology – IFA screen
Heartworm testing http://www.ksvdl.org/laboratories/parasitology/sample-submission.html
• Occult Heartworm (antigen)
• Knott’s Test (microfilariae)
• Heartworm Difil Filter Test (microfilariae) Prior to submitting the samples, please complete the KSVDL Canine Export Submission Form or FAVN

Submission Form found at http://www.ksvdl.org/submission-forms.html. We ask that you fill out the form clearly and legibly, checking all information for accuracy. An asterisk on the form denotes critical information needed for export. Omitted information or errors may require a resubmission of the sample and paperwork.

All samples should be labeled with the date the sample was collected and the dog’s microchip number. The tube must be labeled legibly even if it is the only tube in the package. The label must be securely attached to the tube so that it cannot be separated, erased or become illegible in-transit. KSVDL cannot process unlabeled tubes.

Clear, non-hemolyzed serum is required for all serology tests and Occult Heartworm testing. Each test requires 1 ml of serum. The best samples will be obtained from a patient that has fasted overnight. We recommend that the sample be allowed to clot and the serum removed from the clot prior to submission. This allows you to detect any hemolysis.

This also prevents the sample from becoming hemolyzed during shipment. Serum separator tubes may be used. If a serum separator tube is used, allow the sample to clot and spin-down the sample prior to submission. It is unnecessary to remove the serum from a serum separator tube.

Whole blood is required for microfilariae testing. We recommend using EDTA (purple top) tube. If sample quantity is not sufficient (for any test) due to leakage, damage, or original volume we will notify the submitting veterinarian.

One additional requirement for most countries is that the dog must be micro-chipped prior to the collection of any samples for export testing.

Careful planning and following these steps will ensure your patient and client are able to move or travel together to their destination country.