Ahoy All,
I was just told by a vet here in Daytona that the health certificate for a pet is only good for 48hrs. Has anyone had this problem? and how do you get a certificate within that amount of time prior to leaving? Thanks for all help.
Greg and Barbara Franklin

Given the uncertainty of weather windows and limited access from a boat to a veterinarian this requirement seemed quite cumbersome to me, so I made direct inquiry to the Bahamas Department of Agriculture in Nassau (242-325-7502). They advised that there is a exemption to the 48 hour timeframe for personal pets entering the Bahamas aboard a private vessel. In such cases the dog or cat needs to have been examined by a USDA certified Vet and found to be disease free.  The examination & USDA documentation must have been completed within the past year.  I was told that the 48 hour requirement is for animals other than personal pets that arrive in the Bahamas on other than private boats.  The DOA further advised that since we would be entering on a private boat with a personal pet we need 3 itemsonly.
1:  A current Import Permit
2:  A current Rabies vaccination Certificate &
3:  A USDA health certificate that was completed within the last year.
These are the documents we presented to the Customs Officer at West End and it was a non-issue.
You will of course need to apply for and have the "Import Permit" sent to you by the Bahamas Department of Agriculture prior to bringing your dog to the Bahamas.  The fee for this is $10 (cash or money order only).  For another $5 (cash or money order) the Department will fax the approved permit back to you.
The actual requirements (as shown on the Import Permit) are:
A: The animal is six months of age or older
B: The animal must be accompanied by a valid certificate which substantiates
that it has been vaccinated against rabies by either:
      1     one year duration vaccine – the vaccine must have been
administered within not more than 10 months and not less than one month prior to importation.
      2.    three year duration vaccine – the vaccine must have been administered within not more than 34 months and not less than one month prior to importation.
C:  The animal must be accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate issued within Forty-Eight (48) hours of importation by a licensed   Veterinarian in the country of origin certifying that:
      1.    the dog has adequate levels of immunity conferred by being actively immunized against the following diseases: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Adenovirus and Coronavirus
or
      2.    the cat has adequate levels of immunity conferred by being actively immunized against the following diseases: Feline Leukemia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus, Feline Panieukopenia and Feline Pneumonitis.
      3.    The animal is free from internal parasites as determined by a negative fecal floatation examination.
      4.    The animal is free from external parasites.
      5.    The animal is 6 months of age or older.
D:  The animal must be presented to a Licensed Veterinarian for examination within forty-eight (48) hours of arrival in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The duplicate copy of the health certification documents and permit should be left with the Customs Officer on arrival. 
E:  Form # IMP /1 (B), completed by a licensed veterinarian in the country of export is presented.
Hope this helps and I would suggest that you call the Bahamian Department of Agriculture directly for confirmation of what I was told.
We are currently in the Bahamas with our dog Jackie.  We (including Jackie) cleared customs at West End w/o problem.  Jackie's USDA medical exam and certificate occurred some two months prior to importation.
Rick, Diane & Jackie the boat frump