USDA Veterinary Services

For residents and producers across Nebraska, the name "veterinary care" typically brings to mind a local clinic or animal hospital. However, the USDA Veterinary Services office, located right in Lincoln, represents an equally vital, yet specialized, level of animal health and safety management. This is not a typical animal hospital for your sick dog or cat, but rather a crucial Federal office responsible for protecting and improving the health, quality, and marketability of our Nation's animals, animal products, and veterinary biologics—a mission particularly important to Nebraska's robust agricultural sector.

This office plays a critical role in the state's economy and public health, working to safeguard livestock, support international commerce, and ensure pet owners can travel safely with their animals. Their work is a fundamental layer of the "One Health" approach, recognizing that the health of animals, people, and the environment are intrinsically linked. They achieve this through proactive Disease Management, rigorous inspections, and the issuance of official certifications required for movement and trade.

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### Introduction / Overview

The USDA Veterinary Services (VS) in Lincoln, NE, is a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This office functions at the intersection of public safety, global trade, and animal well-being. Their mission is highly focused on regulatory veterinary medicine and large-scale animal health programming. They are the experts in managing national programs to prevent, control, or eliminate animal diseases, as well as enforcing the rules and regulations necessary to protect Nebraska's livestock and poultry from infectious conditions. They also handle key public-facing tasks, such as the endorsement of official Health Certificates for pets traveling internationally.

The office coordinates extensively with state veterinarians, accredited private practitioners, livestock producers, and exporters. In addition to animal health, the site also manages Plant Protection and Quarantine services, addressing threats to the state’s agricultural resources. Their services are regulatory and preventative, ensuring the overall health infrastructure of Nebraska's vast agricultural enterprises remains strong and compliant with both domestic and international standards.

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### Location and Accessibility

The USDA Veterinary Services office for Nebraska is centrally located at 5940 S 58th St, Lincoln, NE 68516, USA. This specific address serves as a key administrative and regulatory hub for the state.

As a Federal administrative facility, the office is structured to be accessible to all members of the public who require their services. Accessibility features provided at this location include:

• Wheelchair Accessible Entrance: Allowing for ease of entry into the building.
• Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot: Designated parking areas to ensure convenient access to the facility.
• Wheelchair Accessible Restroom: Accessible restroom facilities are provided on-site.
• Restroom Amenities: Standard restroom amenities are available for public use.

Due to the nature of the regulatory and specialized work performed, most services, especially certificate endorsements, are handled by appointment or through a specific Federal process. It is highly recommended to contact the office by phone to confirm procedures before a visit, particularly for time-sensitive matters like Health Certificates for Pet Travel.

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### Services Offered

The services provided by the USDA Veterinary Services office are high-level and regulatory, directly impacting veterinary practices, livestock producers, and pet owners planning international travel. Key offerings include:

• International Pet Travel Certificates: Endorsing or issuing official Health Certificates required for pets to travel from the U.S. to foreign countries, a crucial step in preparing for Pet Travel.
• Animal Health Regulatory Programs: Managing national programs for Disease Management, including surveillance, testing, and control of foreign animal diseases (FADs) and other high-consequence pathogens affecting livestock.
• Emergency Preparedness: Coordinating Emergency Management efforts related to animal and plant health crises, protecting Nebraska's agricultural producers from potential outbreaks.
• Veterinary Accreditation Support: Providing training and information to the network of accredited veterinarians across Nebraska who perform regulatory tasks, such as issuing certificates and performing required testing.
• Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ): Protecting agricultural and natural resources from the entry and establishment of pests and diseases, a function known as Plant Protection and Plant Health.
• Biotechnology Regulation: Overseeing the safe development and use of genetically engineered organisms through Biotechnology Regulatory Services.
• General Animal Health Information: Serving as a key resource for information on animal importation and exportation rules, and ensuring compliance with regulations like the Animal Welfare Act.

It is important to note that this Federal facility generally does not provide direct clinical services to the public, such as Rabies Vaccination (unless related to a program) or Parasite Treatment, which are typically handled by private veterinary clinics. However, they are the endorsing body for official documents often requiring proof of these routine procedures.

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### Features / Highlights

The Lincoln USDA Veterinary Services office holds distinct features that highlight its importance to Nebraska:

• Gatekeeper for Safe International Pet Travel: For any Nebraskan planning to move or travel internationally with a pet (dog, cat, or other species), this office holds the authority to endorse the necessary Health Certificates. This makes them an indispensable resource for pet owners preparing for global relocation or extended travel.
• Central to Nebraska's Agricultural Security: The office is a frontline defense against animal diseases that threaten the state’s massive livestock industry. Their work in Disease Management and Emergency Management provides stability and security to Nebraska's farmers and ranchers, protecting the value and marketability of U.S. animal products globally through International Services.
• Integrated Plant and Animal Protection: The co-location of both Veterinary Services and Plant Protection and Quarantine activities ensures a holistic, 'agro-security' approach to protecting Nebraska’s entire agricultural base, from cornfields to cattle.
• Support for Accredited Veterinarians: By serving as a resource and regulatory center for private veterinarians, the office indirectly raises the standard of care across the state, ensuring local practitioners are equipped and authorized to meet Federal and international animal health requirements.

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### Contact Information

For inquiries regarding animal or plant health regulations, international pet travel endorsement procedures, or other USDA-APHIS programs in Nebraska, please use the contact information below:

• Address: 5940 S 58th St, Lincoln, NE 68516, USA
• Primary Phone: (402) 434-2300
• Mobile Phone (Alternative/Urgent Contact): +1 402-434-2300

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### What is Worth Choosing

For the average Nebraskan, choosing the USDA Veterinary Services is about two primary, non-negotiable necessities: safe, legal pet travel and national food security. If you are a pet owner needing to move your animal overseas, this office is the singular, authoritative Federal entity that can endorse the required Health Certificates—a step that cannot be skipped. Choosing to engage with them properly ensures compliance with complex international import laws and saves pet owners from potential quarantine or rejection at foreign borders. For farmers and the wider community, choosing to rely on the regulatory oversight of the USDA means choosing robust protection against devastating animal and plant diseases that could cripple the state’s economy.

Ultimately, while you won't take your sick pet here for a simple check-up, the Lincoln USDA Veterinary Services office is an essential, highly specialized, and professional asset that keeps Nebraska's animals healthy, its exports viable, and its people safe through an overarching framework of Animal Health and Disease Management that is critical to the entire state.

USDA Veterinary Services

5940 S 58th St, Lincoln, NE 68516, USA