STEP 1-3
Microchip Implanting
All dogs and cats entering to Japan must be identified by microchip. Therefore you need to have your pet microchip implanted to get things started.
Microchip will be implanted into the neck or shoulder part by using a tool like a syringe. Please ask details to your veterinarian.
Japanese Animal Quarantine recommends microchip of ISO11784 or 11785.
If not these,
it is important to have microchip that Animal Quarantine can read the identifying number.
Please contact the local animal quarantine at your arrival airport to check whether they have the scanner
for your pet’s microchip. If they don’t have an appropriate one, the owner may have to buy and bring in the
scanner.
Following two microchip are the most commonly used in U.S. (as of 2012)
Home Again (Destron)
AVID FriendChip (AVID)
Please contact Animal Quarantine at your arrival airport whether they have the scanner or not.
Rabies immunization twice
After implanting microchip, your pet needs to take Anti-Rabies Vaccination twice. It is necessary to take 2nd vaccination after 30 days of 1st vaccination. Please ask your veterinarian that he/she uses anti-rabies vaccination of "Killed Vaccine" or "Recombinant Vaccine"(effective as of April 15th, 2010).
Organization of Animal Health(OIE)’s standard.
・When you used "Recombinant Vaccine", you must report to Animal Quarantine the
vaccine maker name and product name.
・The vaccination before implanting microchip, or before 90 day-old will NOT be considered as vaccinated for the process.
・AntiRabies vaccination’s valid period are various. Please ask your veterinarian beforehand.
Example 1.)
【Oct 3, 2011】1st AntiRabies Vaccination (valid for 1 year)
【Sep 3, 2012】
2nd AntiRabies Vaccination (valid for 3 year)
*Must be BEFORE blood sampling and antibody test*
*In this case, vaccinations are effective because the 2nd shot was done after 30days from 1st shot and the 1st shot was still valid at the same time.
Example 2.)
【Feb 1, 2009】 1st AntiRabies Vaccination (valid for 3 year)
【Feb 9, 2012】2nd AntiRabies Vaccination (valid for 3 year)
>>1st vaccination has already expired so this will be "1st vaccination".
【Mar15, 2012】 2nd AntiRabies Vaccination
>>This is counted as 2nd because it’s been more than 30days since its 1st shot.
Blood sampling & Antibody test
After taking AntiRabies vaccination twice, your pet will have Antibody. The test result should show the antibody value over 0.5 IU/ml which requires to be called "immunized".
Please contact your veterinarian for this procedure. The blood sample taken will be sent to the laboratory where Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) approves.
The blood sampling must be done 180 day prior to the departure date. If your departure date is less than 180 days prior, your pet must be held at Animal Quarantine Center at the arrival airport until 180 days pass. (The blood sampled date will be the first day of waiting period.)
Following laboratory is the only one(where the veterinarians send samples)designated by Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. (As of 2012)
Kansas State University Rabies Laboratory
2005 Research Park Circle, Manhattan, KS 66502
Tel: 785-532-4483 Fax: 785-532-4474
Email:rabies@vet.k-state.edu Web: www.vet.k-state.edu/rabies
Please download necessary documents here and bring them to the veterinarian.
Click here to download
The documents need to be filled out by your vet who did blood sampling and need to be endorsed by U.S. government at the end.