As of June 2010, the Mexican government requires that your pet have two copies of a health certificate (HC) issued within 10 days from the time of departure from the country of origin. The HC must be written in Spanish and English, and must have been issued by a federally employed veterinarian. It may also be issued by any licensed veterinarian, provided that the letterhead indicates his license number. The HC must state that your pet has been examined and was found to be healthy when the HC was issued. Your home address and your destination address must also be indicated in the certificate. If you are sending the dog to Mexico to be received by a new owner, the certificate must indicate your home address, as well as that of the new owner.
Your pet must have received treatment from ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas, as well as from endoparasites such as heartworm. The treatment must have been administered within six months from the time of issue of the health certificate. The certificate must also indicate that your pet is free from ectoparasites.
Your pet must have been vaccinated against rabies within 12 months from the date of departure from the country of origin. The only exception to this requirement is if your pet is younger than three months. In such cases, you could be asked to provide proof of your pet's age so make sure that you have the necessary documents to back up your claim.
If you are traveling by air, your pet must be contained in an airline approved crate or kennel of the proper specifications. It should be constructed out of hard, sturdy plastic with ventilation on all sides. It should be a front-loading crate or kennel, with no door on the top portion. The roof should be high enough so that your pet can stand up comfortably, and can look out through the door without having to duck. It should be wide enough to allow your pet to turn around comfortably, and be long enough so that at least 2 inches of space is left when your pet lies down with his paws stretched out.
