Flying Your Dog to Paraguay: The CDC Rules That Changed Everything

Getting your dog INTO Paraguay is simple. Getting back to North America is where it gets complicated.

Paraguay has minimal import requirements - rabies vaccine, microchip, health certificate. You can land in Asuncion with your dog and clear customs in under an hour.

But here's what most pet travel guides skip: Paraguay is classified as a "high-risk country for dog rabies" by the CDC. If you ever want to return to Canada through the US - or visit the US at all - you're now dealing with blood tests from approved labs, mandatory quarantine risks, and entry restrictions that didn't exist before August 2024.

I've helped clients navigate this both directions. Here's what you actually need to know.

The easy part

Bringing Your Dog TO Paraguay - Summary:

Up to 5 dogs allowed as personal pets

Rabies vaccination required (30 days to 12 months before travel)

Microchip required (ISO compatible)

International Veterinary Health Certificate (within 10 days of travel)

Health certificate must be in Spanish or include certified translation

No import permit required for personal pets

No quarantine period

Note: Paraguay is classified as a HIGH-RISK country for rabies by the CDC

Five dogs, one certificate, no quarantine

What You Need to Know:

You can bring up to 5 dogs to Paraguay. A licensed veterinarian must complete the Veterinary Certificate for Paraguay prior to travel. The health certificate must be translated into Spanish.

All pets should enter Paraguay via Silvio Pettirossi International Airport.

This is where it gets complicated

Returning to Canada or Traveling Through the US:

Paraguay is classified as a "high-risk country for dog rabies" by the CDC. If your dog has been in Paraguay within 6 months of entering/returning to the US, these requirements apply:

Microchip: ISO-compatible, must be implanted BEFORE rabies vaccination

Age: Dog must be at least 6 months old

Rabies vaccination: Must be current and administered AFTER microchip implantation

Rabies titer test: Blood test from a CDC-approved lab - OR face 28-day quarantine at your expense

CDC Dog Import Form: Required online form

Entry points: Can ONLY enter US at airports with CDC-registered facilities

The Timeline That Catches People

The CDC requires rabies vaccination AFTER microchip implantation. If your vet did it the other way around, you start over.

The rabies titer test takes 2-4 weeks to process, and only CDC-approved labs count. Plan this months before travel, not weeks.

If you skip the titer test, you're looking at 28 days of quarantine at a CDC-registered facility - at your expense. That's $2,000+ and a month of your dog in a cage.

Bottom line: if there's any chance you'll transit through the US within 6 months of being in Paraguay, get the titer test done before you leave Canada.