• Plan ahead to travel with your service dog to Guatemala.german shepherd seeing eye dog image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
  
  Your service dog may be your eyes, arms, legs, your life saver--but if you are traveling to Guatemala with your canine partner, don't expect to rely on goodwill and a global love of "man's best friend." Take steps well in advance of traveling to ensure a trouble-free visit.
  
  

Your Vet

• Take your service dog to a veterinarian before you travel.hemostats and clamps image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
  
  Take your service dog to your vet to complete an international health certificate, says Jorge Archile, vice consul with the Chicago Consulate General of Guatemala. The certificate, known as a Form 7001, indicates that your dog is healthy and can travel, says Matt Kincaid, director of client relations for PetRelocation.com. The form notes relevant vaccinations. Guatemala requires current vaccinations against rabies and parvo, as of July 2010.
  
  

U.S. Department of Agriculture

• The USDA's Veterinary Services branch oversees certifying service dogs for travel.Department of Treasury Building image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com
  
  The U.S. Department of Agriculture certifies service dogs for travel through its Veterinary Services. You can find the closest Veterinary Services office by visiting the department's website; you will need to have that office certify your veterinarian certificate.
  
  

Certification

• Be prepared to show your vet's certificate and U.S. certification on arrival in Guatemala.american & russian documents image by Galina Barskaya from Fotolia.com
  
  "We want to see that the animal has rabies vaccination and just that the animal is healthy and safe for travel. We really just want to know that the animal is healthy," says Angela Dirks, export document examiner for the USDA's Veterinary Services office in Springfield, Illinois. A traveler can make an appointment to bring the vet's document to the local Veterinary Services branch or mail the documents to the closest office. Those relying on mail should expect at least a two-day turnaround from the time the office receives your request, Dirks says. In addition, unless you have a military service dog, be prepared to pay a fee for the government's certification. As of July 2010, it costs $35 to certify a service dog traveling to Guatemala, Dirks says.
  
  

Guatemala

• Vaccinate your service dog against rabies and parvo before traveling to Guatemala.travel image by Anton Gvozdikov from Fotolia.com
  
  Policies regarding jet-setting animals can change without notice, according to Dirks, so check the agriculture department's list of country-by-country regulations before traveling. As of July 2010, Guatemala reported no specific concerns regarding service dogs. Owners of service animals do not need import permits, Archile says.