Practice News
Travelling with your petsFriday 9th June, 2006
At last we have seen some glorious weather and it definately feels like summer is upon us. And so our minds turn to the long awaited and much deserved summer holiday. In recent years there has been much reported in the media of the 'relaxation' in quarantine laws in this country making it easier for pets to travel abroad with thier owners. Indeed, our practice has experinced a great increase in the number of clients requesting advice on this issue, and although travelling abroad with a pet has never been easier, many are surprised at the detailed requirements involved. The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) dictates the conditions under which a pet cat or dog can enter, or re-enter the UK without the need for quarantine.
The animal will have to be :
1) identifed with a microchip, which is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted usually into the scruff of the neck. This must be done BEFORE the rabies vaccination course.
2) Vaccinated against rabies. This can be done from 3 months of age. Our practice recomends a course of two injections. Booster vaccinations are required everl 1-3 years depending on the vaccine brand used.
3) Bood tested at an EU approved laboratory. 2-4 weeks after the second rabies vaccination a blood sample is taken forom your pet and sent to the laboratory for testing to ensure adequate rabies levels. This is the part that catches many owners off guard, because under PETS the pet cannot enter or reenter the UK for at least 6 months after a blood sample has been taken.
4) issued with a EU Pet Passport. (Or if not in the EU, an officialy third country certifcate) This is usually done once a satisfactory blood test result is recieved. The pets pasport includes the owner's and pet's detials, along with details of the microchip, rabies vaccinations and blood test results, and tick and tapeworm treatments.
5) treated against ticks and tapeworms. Before entering or re-entering the UK the pet must be treated by a qualified veterinarian against ticks and tapeworms. This muct be done not less than 24 but not more than 48hrs before entering the country. Although not a requirement for PETS we recommend treating your pets for these parasites , especially ticks before travel and regularly during travel abroad. This is because ticks can carry potentially fatal diseases which are not present in this country.
As you can see, going abroad with your pet is not an idea that can be taken up on a whim, but requires a great deal of planning. Once up and running however, makes travelling with your pet relavtively straighforward.
If you have any questions please contact the surgery for further advice
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