Mexico — Pet travel between the United States and Mexico has been thrown into sudden uncertainty after animal health authorities on both sides of the border moved to restrict the movement of several live animal species, including pet dogs, following confirmed detections of New World screwworm in the United States.
The restrictions began on the Mexican side. On June 7, Mexico’s animal health authority, SENASICA, announced the immediate suspension of imports of several animals from all U.S. states. The affected categories include pet dogs, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, ferrets, and certain birds.
On June 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA APHIS, responded by halting exports of those same animal categories from the United States to Mexico. The official APHIS export requirements page for Mexico states that, due to the detection of New World screwworm in the United States, exports of listed species from all U.S. states to Mexico are halted “effective immediately” until further information is received from Mexico.
For travelers, the most important point is this: pet dogs cannot currently be exported from the United States to Mexico under the normal USDA process. Anyone planning to drive or fly from the U.S. into Mexico with a dog should pause those plans and check directly with USDA APHIS before attempting travel.
The move follows USDA’s confirmation of New World screwworm in Texas. On June 3, APHIS confirmed a case in a calf in Zavala County, Texas. The agency describes New World screwworm as a serious pest that affects livestock, pets, wildlife, and less commonly, people and birds. The larvae burrow into the flesh of living animals, causing severe tissue damage and major economic risk to livestock industries.
USDA and Texas officials have launched a containment response that includes a unified incident command team, quarantines, movement controls, surveillance, trapping, wildlife management, and targeted release of sterile flies. USDA also said it is increasing surveillance along the border and working with partners in Mexico and Central America.
This is not a food safety issue. USDA has stated that screwworms do not infest meat, fruits, vegetables, or other food sources. The concern is animal movement, especially warm-blooded animals that could carry or be exposed to the pest.
The restriction currently affects dogs traveling from the U.S. into Mexico. Dogs may still enter the United States from Mexico, provided they meet existing CDC and USDA requirements, including the CDC Dog Import Form and USDA screwworm inspection and certification rules for dogs coming from screwworm-affected countries.
Canada has not banned pet dogs from entering, but officials are advising pet owners to closely inspect animals for signs of screwworm if they have been in Texas or other affected areas. Symptoms can include wounds, maggots, egg masses, unusual discharge, foul odor, or signs of pain around skin openings or injuries.
For pet owners, the situation is especially frustrating because Mexico’s regular entry rules for dogs and cats have been relatively simple in recent years. Since 2019, Mexico has not required a health certificate for dogs and cats entering from the U.S.; animals are normally inspected by SENASICA on arrival. That regular guidance is now complicated by the emergency export halt for pet dogs.
It is worth noting that the current APHIS export halt specifically lists pet dogs, but does not clearly list pet cats in the screwworm notice. Travelers with any warm-blooded pet should still confirm directly with APHIS and Mexican authorities before making plans, because rules may change quickly as both countries coordinate protocols.
Anyone with immediate travel questions should contact the USDA APHIS Customer Service Center at 844-820-2234, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For now, the safest advice is simple: do not assume you can cross into Mexico with a dog until APHIS, SENASICA, or other official authorities update the advisory or provide case-specific guidance.
