Planning a dog or cat move into, out of, or across Texas? Start with the pet’s age, rabies record, exact pickup county, and destination. Texas has straightforward ordinary entry rules, but current disease-control orders can affect trips leaving parts of the state.
Reviewed September 12, 2026 · Rules can change; verify before travel.
For an ordinary interstate move into Texas, a dog or cat generally does not need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. A pet 12 weeks of age or older must be currently vaccinated against rabies and accompanied by a properly completed rabies vaccination certificate. If the first rabies vaccination was given less than 30 days before arrival, confinement for the balance of that 30-day period may apply.
Texas does not normally require a CVI for dogs or cats entering the state.
Dogs and cats 12 weeks or older must be currently vaccinated and travel with the vaccination certificate.
A trip leaving a Texas New World Screwworm infested zone may require authorization, inspection, treatment, and movement documentation.
Texas lists the vaccination date, vaccine used, revaccination due date, identifying information for the animal, custodian contact information, and the responsible veterinarian’s signature and contact information.
For interstate arrivals under 12 weeks, Texas recommends home confinement until 30 days after the initial vaccination. If a first vaccination was administered less than 30 days before arrival, confinement for the remaining period is recommended.
If pickup is inside a current Texas NWS infested zone, movement out of the zone can require prior Texas Animal Health Commission authorization and inspection by TAHC or an approved inspector. Check the live zone map before dispatch; county status can change.
Local rabies ordinances can be stricter than the statewide entry rule. After arrival, check the city or county requirements where the pet will live.
Snout Route coordinates door-to-door ground pet transport in Texas as part of service across the 48 contiguous U.S. states, Alaska, and Canada. We review the route and the documents supplied for the trip before pickup; the pet owner and veterinarian remain responsible for satisfying the applicable government requirements.
These links go to the agencies responsible for the requirements summarized on this page.
Not for ordinary entry under the current Texas dog-and-cat rule. A veterinarian, carrier, destination facility, or another state on the route may still require one.
Texas applies the interstate rabies vaccination requirement to dogs and cats 12 weeks of age or older.
Not always. Current New World Screwworm movement controls can affect animals leaving an active infested zone, so the exact pickup county must be checked before travel.
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