Equine Coggins Testing and International Export Health Certification

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), often referred to as Coggins Disease, is a rare but serious viral disease that can be fatal to the Equine family including horses, donkeys, and mules. Unfortunately, there is no cure or vaccine available for EIA at this time, and horses infected with the virus will remain carriers for life, making them a potential and deadly source of infection for other animals. To prevent the spread of the disease, the infected horse will be either quarantined or euthanized on guidance of the provincial veterinarian. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly for further information on EIA and the proactive measures we can take to protect our horses.

• Coggins testing is a crucial step in ensuring the health of your horse, other horse populations and complying with show, sale, and international export requirements. We offer Coggins testing services conducted by our accredited veterinarians.
• A negative Coggins test result is required for exporting horses to the USA. This means that your horse must be tested for EIA within the last 6 months and have a negative result to be eligible for export.
• Coggins testing usually takes 2-4 business days to process, depending on the lab workload. We’ll notify you by phone or email as soon as we receive the results.

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Preparing your horse for international travel involves obtaining the necessary export health certificates. A health certificate is a document that certifies that your horse is in good health and fit for travel following an examination by your regular veterinarian. It must be signed by both your regular veterinarian and a veterinarian from the CFIA located in Red Deer.

• A negative Coggins test result is required for exporting horses to the USA. This means that your horse must be tested for EIA within the last 6 months and have a negative result to be eligible for export. EIA testing will be performed at the time of the examination if suitable documentation is not available.
• Horses must not have been vaccinated during the 14 days preceding the date of the examination/exportation. Please contact us regarding vaccination recommendations for travel at least 1 month prior to the examination date.
• There are two types of exports – temporary and permanent which are determined by the length of exportation. Please note, this time frame is determined from the date of inspection, not the length of stay once in the States.
•  Despite your length of stay, once the health certificate is signed by the CFIA veterinarian, you have 30 days to cross the border from the date of examination.
• If your horse plans on staying in the US for longer than 60 days, you will need to get a new health certificate (CVI) completed by an accredited vet in the US before returning to Canada.
• Health papers take 5-7 business days to process, depending on the state requirements. An additional 2-3 business days is required if a Coggins test is also required. Please book accordingly to ensure you receive your documentation in time. We’ll notify you by phone or email as soon as we receive the completed health certificate.