do i need a usda health certificate?

im planning on flying him British Airways cargo
PHL to heathrow
my vet wants to charge me $133 for that thang!

You need to go thru the whole pet scheme it takes 6 months.
E has posted a great thread on this and seems to be up to date on all the info.
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=63522.0

You need the EC 998 form completely filled out - your vet fills out the first half, and then your state's USDA vet will sign off on it, and then your vet will fill out the last bit right before you fly.

My vet didn't charge to fill out the EC 998 form (just regular office fees to get the work done), but the USDA vet did charge me to sign off on it.

It depends on what you are actually talking about when you say "health certificate".  You do need to go through the PETS scheme as Chilly say and get the EC998 form completed, signed and stamped by the USDA, but you don't need a "fit to fly" health certificate on BA.  Other airlines require it, but BA just needs a letter from you vet stating that your pet is healthy enough to fly.

yup guys, ive read and done all the research previous to asking this question. and upon relooking at the quotes, yes it must be for that 998. i thought they were just including that in the titre pricing.. OMG.. this is crazy. would be nice if i could find another USDA certified vet in the city. its quite difficult. maybe i'll just drive to harrisburg for all this stuff? arggggh...

Their estimate for me:

$41 travel prep exm
$23 rabies 3 year vaccine
$2 waste disposal

$15 tech appt
$228 rabies export titre (includes overnight and ice packed shipping)

$133 health cert (998)
$33 drontal plus
$23 frontline plus

~$500 total

DAYYAAAAAM

That sounds about right - $228 is a little high (think mine was about $128), but everything else is about what I paid.

If you think these prices are high, wait until you get airfare quotes.

That sounds about right - $228 is a little high (think mine was about $128), but everything else is about what I paid.

If you think these prices are high, wait until you get airfare quotes.

yeah thats exactly what i was thinking. i was reading other people's pricing and it seemed inflated from what everyone else. $400 is def better than $500!

My vet didnt charge for completing the EC998 form (eventhough he had to do it twice due to an error)  You may want to look around for other vet options unless you have a good relationship with your current vet (that can be priceless in a situation as stressful as this).

My vet didnt charge for completing the EC998 form (eventhough he had to do it twice due to an error)  You may want to look around for other vet options unless you have a good relationship with your current vet (that can be priceless in a situation as stressful as this).

My vet didn't charge me to fill it out, but the USDA vet did charge me (I was in Maryland).

Oh yes.. the USDA vet will always charge you.  I paid $80 for the stamp from the USDA. I assumed the OP was quoting prices from his/her personal vet, not the regional USDA authority.