Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Kennesaw is a vet in Kennesaw, GA, that completes domestic health certificates for dogs and cats going to another US state. A domestic health certificate, also called a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI), is a vet's signed statement, made after an exam, that your pet looked healthy and is current on required vaccines, which means rabies in most states.
Only some Petfolk Kennesaw vets do certificates, and only on some days, so call (770) 404-8937 to check before you book. Petfolk Kennesaw completes certificates for trips to other US states only; for travel outside the US, the USDA APHIS pet travel site explains the steps.
Do I need a health certificate to take my dog to another state?
Sometimes, and the destination decides. USDA APHIS says interstate movement requirements are set by the destination State or Territory, so the State Veterinarian's office there is the place to ask. Indiana, for example, asks for a certificate completed within 30 days before a dog or cat enters (Indiana Board of Animal Health), while other states ask for less or nothing beyond a rabies certificate.
Does my cat need one too?
Yes, the same rules apply to cats. A cat flying in a carrier needs a certificate whenever the airline or destination asks for one. Petfolk Kennesaw completes certificates for both dogs and cats.
Is the airline's rule different from the state's rule?
Yes, and you may need to satisfy both. Airlines set their own paperwork rules, and many ask for a certificate dated within about 10 days of the flight. That is common practice, not universal, so check your airline before you book the appointment. If you fly out of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport, ask your airline for its pet policy in writing and bring it to the visit.
What does the vet actually do at the visit?
The vet examines your pet, checks the vaccine record and completes the forms. Bring the rabies certificate, not just the tag, along with the destination address, your travel dates and your pet's microchip number if there is one. Petfolk uses Fear Free, gentle handling, so exams stay low stress.
You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment; the final bill can differ if the plan changes.
Coming into Georgia is a different question
Georgia asks for proof of rabies vaccine. The Georgia Department of Agriculture says all dogs and cats entering Georgia must have proof of a current and approved rabies vaccination, and a certificate is required only for pets being sold, traded or exchanged for compensation. If relatives are visiting Cobb County with a dog, that is the paper to tell them to bring.
Hawaii, Alaska and the US territories have their own extra entry rules, so mention those destinations when you call.
How far ahead should I call?
As soon as the trip is set, because certificates depend on which vets are in and when. Calling is the step that saves trips. Tell the Petfolk Kennesaw team your destination, travel dates and whether you are driving or flying, and they can say whether a certificate vet is in on a day that works. Certificates are by appointment, so book well ahead of departure. If a vaccine turns out to be due, there is then time to give it before the destination's deadline instead of scrambling the week you leave. Keep the signed certificate with your boarding pass or car documents so it is easy to find at a checkpoint.
If your pet seems unwell before you leave
A fever, vomiting or limping usually means a sick visit before travel paperwork. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital for trouble breathing, collapse or uncontrolled bleeding.
Find us off Ernest W Barrett Pkwy
Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Kennesaw is at 1155 Ernest W Barrett Pkwy NW, Suite 204, Kennesaw, GA 30144, serving families from the Town Center at Cobb area and Northwest Marietta. Call (770) 404-8937 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Kennesaw, or see all veterinary services in Kennesaw.
More questions before you travel
Certificate visits off Ernest W Barrett Pkwy