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Debra730
  6/14/2015 08:10 EST

We are relocating to Panama in July and of course bring our 3 Pomerania with us. Have searched the Internet to the point of exhaustion and can not find any site that tells me where get food for my dogs. Am looking for raw food diets for my dogs.
We are living 3 miles from Corrando.
Any help is appreciated

Oldcameraman
  6/14/2015 09:02 EST

I doubt you have any worries on THAT score! The stores are loaded with pet food and supplies. There are a number of stand-alone pet stores too in the Coronado area. We don't have a pet ourselves at the moment since our beloved American Eskimo dies, but we cannot help noticing how much there is in the way of pet supplies!

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abcdef814
  6/14/2015 09:25 EST

Most interested in this topic as well are moving our 2 dogs next year. They are also on the raw diet. Are you flying or driving in?

cheryl4209
  6/14/2015 09:34 EST

I brought my Shih Tzu to Panama and wound up packing clothes instead of a 6 mo. supply of her dehydrated raw Primal brand chow. Big mistake. Raw food diets- of any brand-are not currently available in Panama. Period. I have done the boots on the ground search from Pedasi to PC, as well as checked both Origen and Primal brand websites for distribution areas. The kibble, even the stuff offered at the vet's offices will merit 3 stars at best on www.dogfoodadvisor.com, usually due to a large percentage of corn, a filler as far a canine needs are concerned. I am now making my own, and supplementing with a vet-recommended GNC dog vitamin, also purchased in the states. The pet supply stores in the PC area do carry canine vitamin supplements, but not halved, as needed for my little girl, nor nearly as tasty. Also recommend hiring Tocumen Royal Saloon at PTY before you arrive. They will meet you at the top of the ramp, breeze you through Customs, the vet, and take you to an A/C lounge for a glass of wine (water for the pups), while they wrangle your luggage and haul it to your car. Best deal in Panama!

cheryl4209
  6/15/2015 14:48 EST

Just checked Shipping costs through Mailboxes Etc. on a grill part. They did not have the part, and agreed to send me an entire new grill (nooooooo), but yes, it's the only way they will replace this small plastic part? So here is the breakdown for MBE:

$16 per kilo = $180.00 for 20 lbs.
I tend to order my dog chow from Chewys.com, to get free shipping on over $100 worth. MBE notes that if the value is over $100, there will additional Customs fees of $15, plus sales tax of 7%.

Long story short, I will be picking up my grill in the states and packing it inside my suitcase along with the good freeze dried (aka less weight) raw dog chow. Oh my!

sealodgeg9
  6/16/2015 10:04 EST

Dog food/ current info on getting your pets into Panama:

We arrived 2 months ago and our dogs were on Natural Balance dog food due to one of them having skin problems.
We could not find that brand here and checked out the ratings of Kirkland dog food sold at Price Smart. 4 stars. So we have had them on it for about a month and no problems. We have friends that make their own dog food which is very easy to do here. It still must be supplemented with all the nutritional ingredients of vitamin’s and minerals.

For the most current info on flying your pets in cargo to PTY you can check out our blog:

thepazeras.wordpress.com

Cheers,
John & Susan

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Kovalenko & Vera is a Panamanian law firm that specializes in immigration law, corporate law, real estate law, banking, contract negotiation, taxes and flag registry. With more than 20 years of professional practice, Kovalenko & Vera builds lasting relationships with our clients to ensure your interests are safeguarded.

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Kovalenko & Vera Attorneys at Law in PanamaKovalenko & Vera Attorneys at Law in Panama

Kovalenko & Vera is a Panamanian law firm that specializes in immigration law, corporate law, real estate law, banking, contract negotiation, taxes and flag registry. With more than 20 years of professional practice, Kovalenko & Vera builds lasting relationships with our clients to ensure your interests are safeguarded.
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ChiriquiDebbie
  6/17/2015 13:34 EST

Hi Debra,
I brought my 2 dogs, a Chihuahua & Chinese Crested, last September. We could not find suitable dog food so we Googled recipes and started making our own ~ it's actually very easy. :) Since your pups are small, they will probably travel in the airplane cabin with you, as mine did. If you have any questions about the process, I wrote an article that details everything you need to do to transport them. It's really very easy and the AG office is right there when you get to customs. Here is the article I wrote: http://expatfreedom.com/how-to-transport-your-dog-from-the-usa-to-panama/

kimbattlincoln
  6/17/2015 14:44 EST

Hey, I have a chinese crested too! He'll be moving to Las Lajas with us.

ChiriquiDebbie
  6/17/2015 19:56 EST

Ha! Is he coming with his wardrobe? I only brought my girl's summer outfits :)

Debbie

Email me at my [email protected] address and we can let them play at the beach one day.

lgpars
  7/4/2015 12:22 EST

Does anyone know how small your dogs have to be to fly inside the cabin with you? We have a Boston terrier about 18 lbs. and a senior Schnauzer almost 11 who is probably around 22 lbs. If they are too large, how safe is the cargo area in the plane? Is it air conditioned? Also, since we are coming sight unseen (yes, I know we are nuts), does anyone know of a reputable kennel where we can leave our dogs possibly in the Coronada area until we find a place to live? Can you rent a car at the airport and how expensive is it?

sealodgeg9
  7/4/2015 12:43 EST

You need to check with the airline about size and weight.

Good luck!

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Kovalenko & Vera is a Panamanian law firm that specializes in immigration law, corporate law, real estate law, banking, contract negotiation, taxes and flag registry. With more than 20 years of professional practice, Kovalenko & Vera builds lasting relationships with our clients to ensure your interests are safeguarded.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Kovalenko & Vera Attorneys at Law in PanamaKovalenko & Vera Attorneys at Law in Panama

Kovalenko & Vera is a Panamanian law firm that specializes in immigration law, corporate law, real estate law, banking, contract negotiation, taxes and flag registry. With more than 20 years of professional practice, Kovalenko & Vera builds lasting relationships with our clients to ensure your interests are safeguarded.
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cheryl4209
  7/4/2015 14:46 EST

Pets: Check with your airlines. Each has their own pets in the cabin policy. The pet must fit into a closed TSA approved carrier squished under the seat in front of you. As temperatures are not regulated in the hold or cargo area, some airlines will not allow you to ship pets at certain times of the year. Exporting pets to Panama is quite a process, in itself, as requirements include shot records, recent rabies tags and a visit to your regional FDA vet for stamping, then to your state capital to have the same documents apostilled. Plan your arrival at PTY before the vet leaves the airport. Otherwise, your pet could be quarantined. You will pay, in cash, $130 vet inspection fee per animal, and a $16 paperwork fee, per animal. I suggest you look at the Panamanian embassy website for full instructions. There are no kennels in Coronado. If you want a dog-sitter, you will find several individuals offering this service through "All Things Coronado," on Facebook.

woidsmith
  1/16/2021 21:14 EST

Animals always fly in pressurized and climate-controlled sections of the cargo hold and are usually kept in designated animal care facilities at major airports, according to DOT. Often the cargo areas are climate controlled, as is the vehicle used to carry the animals to the aircraft.

gSky
  1/17/2021 00:50 EST

woidsmith
My three dogs (see pic) came from Amsterdam (25th Nov 2020), an 9 hour flight) and when we arrived, they were frustrated but physically perfect. Good enough to be angry. They behave differently if they are not well. We had yo wait about an hour until the vet arrived. Than came the payment and 10 minutes later we were out of the airport. Other than when we flew from Chicago to Vienna, the agent @ Tocumen actually checked the paperwork, So keep it clean. We took 4 hours in Amsterdam to check in and this only thanks to the help of a wonderful Airport employee. They even kept the plane doors open for 10 minutes longer than the expected departure time. Keep your paperwork clean and get used to wait (a learning experience for Panama) and you will be well (Another lesson for Panama.:Things tend to work out. But not in the timeframe you expect).

We have now 4 dogs. One, Twiggy (guess why) adopted me on the Christmas eve,

One thing you will be glad to find out: Panamanians are totally friendly to animals. They brake for them, smile at them and you. Where I live (Volcan), every house has 2-4 dogs who bark at passers-by, even come out, but do not attack. It's fun to meet them if you realize that they are telling you 'hello, this is our kingdom. You either walk by or pet us or feed us'. Nothing sinister at all. My dog s are meanwhile friends with the neighborhood dogs and no one (human or dog) ever got mad if mine entered the yard to check & sniff it out.

A good place for pets.

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