With the dog to Panamá

Even though Mr. Sheffield is no longer with us, the memory of him travels with us in his “Wuddele” – and will also take over the check of dog-friendly addresses on our tour 😉.

On the way to Panama via South Africa and Brazil, it was invited straight into the cockpit by our super attentive steward Jo on the flight to Cape Town. He had seen Sheffield’s favorite stuffed animal sitting with me and made a quick decision. No wonder, he himself had lost his dachshund Gucci just a few weeks ago and immediately recognized our story in our “Wuddele”. And since Captain Mars also has three dogs, there was an immediate photo shoot for Holawuff.

So now we are in Panamá and are researching more dog-friendly addresses for you. First of all: Panamá is a really dog-friendly country where dogs are welcome in many areas of public life. They are generally allowed in parks and public facilities, but you should still find out what the exact rules are beforehand.

Shopping with dogs allowed

We were positively surprised that dogs are also allowed in shopping centers. There are large signs there that summarize the most important rules. For example, four-legged friends are not allowed in the restaurant areas and grocery stores, but that is the only restriction.

You are also asked to clean up after your dog and keep it on a lead. All tips that a responsible dog owner doesn’t need to be told anyway.
Lots of noise, lots of traffic

Panamá has many green spaces, but even more traffic and as dog-friendly as the regulations are, the city is unpleasant for four-legged friends. Too much noise, too much traffic, too many fiestas.

Entering Panamá with a dog

Here you can find out everything you need to know about the entry requirements for dogs to Panama. You need certain documents to enter Panamá with dogs:

• Health certificate: A health certificate issued by a veterinarian confirming the dog’s current state of health.
• Rabies vaccination certificate: A certificate of a valid rabies vaccination carried out at least 30 days and a maximum of 16 months prior to entry.
• And then, of course, you also need an import permit. This import permit is issued by the veterinary office in Panamá City(Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Ministerio de Agricultura Comercio e Industrias).
• Your dog can be quarantined for 40 days. If you do not want this, you can also apply for a “quarantine at home”. If you want to know more about this, you can contact the consulate of the Republic of Panama in your country.
• If you want to transport your dog within Panamá, there may be restrictions on public transportation. Please inform yourself in advance about the respective regulations and consider whether it might be a good idea to consider another transportation option.

Veterinarians in Panama

There are many veterinary practices in Panamá, especially in the larger cities such as Panamá City. It is therefore a good idea to find out about vets near where you are staying before you travel. That way you can act quickly in an emergency.

Dog food and supplies in Panamá

Dog food is available in most supermarkets and specialty pet supply stores. Prices vary depending on the brand and quality. You can get both dry and wet food. For example, a 4 kg bag of Pedigree dry food costs around two US dollars.

Conclusion:

Panamá is definitely a dog-friendly country with plenty of opportunities for dog owners. The city is less ideal, as there is an incredible amount of traffic and noise, which is very stressful for most dogs.