Travelling with your pet to Thailand is possible only if the pet import regulations required by the Department of Livestock Development in Thailand are fulfilled satisfactorily. Pet vaccinations are a vital step in the international pet transport process, and all countries require pet dogs and cats to be fully vaccinated before travel.

If you plan to travel to Thailand with your pet dog or cat, here’s the vaccination schedule your pets need to follow:

Why are pet vaccinations necessary?

Pets can carry several diseases that can be dangerous for humans and other animals. Zoonotic diseases such as rabies can spread quickly from dogs and cats to humans. Pet vaccinations protect your pet from these diseases and ensure they have a long and healthy life.

Vaccinations are all the more essential before international travel because they prevent the spread of exotic diseases from one country to another through pets. Some countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, have mandatory quarantine to ensure the pet is healthy and free of all diseases before entering the country.

Vaccination schedule for Thailand

Thailand requires all pets to be vaccinated against rabies and other common pet diseases before travelling to the country. Thailand is not a rabies-free country; if your pet is travelling from a rabies-free country, it is recommended to vaccinate them against rabies before travelling. Remember to keep the rabies vaccination current during your stay in Thailand; it will make it easier when you return to a rabies-free country.

Pet dogs travelling to Thailand need the following vaccines:

• Rabies vaccination: Dogs need to be vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine, not less than 21 days before travelling and not more than one year before the date of travel.
• Leptospirosis vaccination: At least 21 days before the date of travel.
• Distemper, Parvovirus and Hepatitis: At least 21 days before the date of travel.

Pet cats flying to Thailand must be immunised against the following feline diseases:

• Rabies: Pet cats must be vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine, not less than 21 days and not more than one year before travelling to Thailand.
• Feline Panleukopenia Virus: At least 21 days before travelling.
• Feline cat flu
• Feline Viral Tracheitis
• Chlamydia

Remember to record vaccination details such as date of vaccination, batch number and name, and expiration date in your pet’s vaccination card before travel.

International pet transport to Thailand

Pets travelling to Thailand must be fully vaccinated and have all the documentation required for travel before flying to the country. Pet import rules are different for every country and often change depending on the rabies status of the origin country.

International pet travel with pets can be complex, and it is advisable to partner with an IPATA-member pet transport agency for the relocation. International pet import rules make it safe for your pet to travel but can be complicated for pet parents. Most countries are very particular that all pet import conditions are met; failure to do so could lead to your pet being denied entry into the country or, worse, sent home. An experienced pet travel agency can ensure your pet has the proper documentation and has a pleasant pet travel experience.

Petraveller is an Australian IPATA-member pet travel agency that specialises in zero-harm pet travel. Contact Petraveller for more information on pet transport and a free pet travel quote if you plan to travel to Thailand with your pet dog or cat.