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Pet Passports

Many of our clients at Aireworth Vets have taken advantage of the Pet Travel Scheme so they can take their pets abroad. To prepare your pet to travel under the scheme the first time, you may need to get ready at least eight months before you travel.

All pets must be microchipped, vaccinated, tested and then provided with official paperwork (a passport), pets also require some treatment for ticks and worm shortly before returning to the UK, so you will also have to make an appointment with a Vet in the country you are visiting.

To qualify for the scheme your pet must meet certain conditions. These are listed below:

  1. Microchip: The pet must have a permanent microchip implanted (this must be in place before vaccination) which ideally should meet ISO specifications so that it can be read by any standard microchip reader.
  2. Vaccination: The pet must be vaccinated against rabies (not before it is 3 months old) using an approved vaccine. Be aware that some countries require more frequent rabies vaccination than that recommended on the vaccine manufacturers data sheet - it is therefore important to check the requirements of the destination country.
  3. Blood sample: The pet must have a blood sample taken 3 weeks later and this must be tested in an approved laboratory to ensure your pet is immune to rabies.
    Providing he/she passes the blood test, they can leave the UK 30 days after the date of the blood test - but they cannot return to the UK until 6 months after this date.
    In the (unlikely) event your pet fails the blood test, he/she will be required to have a further rabies vaccination followed by a further blood sample and test (and waiting period), before they are elligible for travel.
  4. Paperwork: Your pet must have an EU pet passport signed by an official Vet confirming that these conditions have been met. Remember that some countries may have other requirements so it is vital to check before you travel.
  5. Up to 48 hours before your return to the UK your pet must be treated for ticks and tapeworm (in particular the fox tapeworm) by an authorised Vet.

From January 2012 the pet travel scheme is being relaxed slightly for EU (and listed) countries, pets will no longer be required to have a blood test to check their rabies vaccination, although they will have to wait 21 days after the vaccination before they can travel. Tick treatment will no longer be compulsory but is still strongly advised.

Full details about the Pet Travel Scheme can be found on the DEFRA Animal Health website. or on the DirectGov website.

Other Travel Tips
Our Vets and Nurses can offer lots of advice about keeping your pets safe, comfortable and calm when travelling. We stock a range of carrying cages and harnesses and can also suggest products to help your dog or cat travel stress-free.

There are several nasty Tavel Bugs that you might want advice about. Aireworth Vets can offer your pets protection from all of these.

Heartworm
As the name suggests, this worm lives in the chambers of the heart and the great vessels. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and is common in southern europe around the Mediterranean. British dogs are particularly susceptible to this disease since they have no resistance. A handful of UK cases are diagnosed each year. There can be a time-lapse between infection and symptoms. In some cases it can be years before signs become apparent. Once a dog has developed heartworm, the outlook is pretty grim so prevention is essential.

Leishmaniasis
This disease occurs particularly around the Mediterranean in summer.
Leishmaniasis is carried from dog to dog by a microscopic parasite spread by sand fly bites. Signs include weight loss, enlarged glands, skin problems and chronic renal failure. Leishmania can also be passed to humans. The sandfly may not be seen to bite the dog and the incubation period can vary from a few weeks to several years. If you are visiting a country where the disease is prevalent, help protect your dog from sand flies for the whole of the season, a special collar is available which also controls infestation with ticks for 5-6 months.

Babesiosis
This is a serious tick-borne disease which destroys red blood cells and only affects dogs. Signs include fever, anaemia, blood in the urine and jaundice and susceptible dogs can die within a day or two of the appearance of signs. British dogs are particularly susceptible to this and other diseases found in mainland Europe since having never encountered them, they have no resistance. Proper treatment for ticks is vital for stopping infection from developing, check your pets coat every day, while abroad and at home.

Ehrlichiosis
This is another tick-borne disease, it is prevalent in southern Europe and in Finland. Signs include fever, severe depression, weight loss, anaemia, swollen glands and in the later stages there are haemorrhages including nose bleeds. Again prevention is aimed at preventing ticks from infecting your pet.