American citizen services
Pets in Senegal
Although no quarantine period is required, dogs and cats must have a valid health and rabies certificate in order to enter Senegal. Senegal only requires that the health and rabies certificates be issued by a licensed veterinarian in the U.S. They do not require, as do some other countries, that USDA endorse the certificates or that a federally accredited veterinarian examine the pet and issue an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) form.
Some airlines restrict the transport of pets during the months of May through September. Airlines charge a handling fee to ship pets, which must be paid upon the pets’ arrival in Dakar. In addition, pets shipped from Dakar are charged a special tax that is based on the weight of the animal.
For more information on the shipping of pets, consult the following Department of State website: http://www.state.gov/m/fsi/tc/c10442.htm.
Several veterinarians practice in Dakar, including a few who speak English and a couple who do house calls. There is also at least one veterinarian who does basic and emergency surgery. Minimal services, however, are available for seriously ill animals, i.e., no MRIs or CAT scans.
Tumbu fly larvae or “mango worms” infest animals that lie on bare ground, and can infest humans, as well. The larvae can be removed and a shot administered monthly as a preventative measure. Fleas and ticks are also very prevalent and require, along with heartworm, regular preventative treatment.
Canned and dry pet food is available in Dakar, but it is expensive and not as good quality as U.S. brands. As an alternative, haché pour le chien (coarsely ground meat scraps) and pate de chien (similar to canned American dog food) can be obtained from local butchers and some grocery stores.
For information on bringing your pet back to the U.S., please visit the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/faq_animal_importation.htm.
