The import process for a senior dog is the same as for any other dog — but there are additional considerations around fitness to travel, quarantine welfare, and the honest question of whether the move is in your dog's best interests.
The fit-to-fly certificate
Qantas Freight requires a veterinary certificate confirming a pet is healthy enough to fly for any pet over 12 years of age. This is an airline requirement (confirmed on the Qantas Freight website), not a separate DAFF government requirement.
For younger senior dogs (8-12 years), no fit-to-fly certificate is formally required, but it is worth having your vet assess suitability. The flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne is approximately 15-17 hours. For UK routes via Dubai or Doha, the journey can be 20+ hours with a connection. This is a long time for any dog — for an older dog with stiff joints, anxiety, or health conditions, it warrants careful consideration.
DAFF's own guidance on elderly pets
DAFF's Group 3 step-by-step guide notes for elderly pets: "Overseas travel can cause stress to animals. If your cat is sick or elderly, consider if this is the right decision for them." DAFF notes that international travel can cause elderly or sick animals to "de-stabilise and rapidly deteriorate" and that "even animals with well-managed chronic diseases can arrive in distress and poor health."
This is not a regulatory barrier — DAFF does not ban elderly pets from import. It is an honest welfare consideration.
Chronic medication in quarantine
If your senior dog takes daily medication, flag the requirements when booking quarantine through the PEBS system, and confirm the facility can accommodate them. DAFF has strict guidelines on medicating animals in quarantine. Do not assume a medication taken at home will automatically be administered on the same schedule without prior arrangement.
The rabies vaccination history issue
Older dogs sometimes have more complex health histories or lower immune responses. Confirm with your vet that your dog's rabies vaccination history is continuous and current, that their titres are likely to pass the 0.5 IU/ml threshold, and that there are no gaps in the record.
The honest question
For a healthy 11-year-old dog, the move is often completely fine. Many older dogs do well. For a dog with significant health conditions, the calculus is more complex. Have this conversation with your vet early — ask specifically: "Given my dog's age and health, is this journey manageable? What should I prepare for in quarantine?"
Regulations can change. Always verify directly with DAFF at agriculture.gov.au.