Getting a Passport
These steps must be carried out in correct order before a passport is issued

*The blood test measures antibodies to ensure that your pet has responded to the vaccine. Around 5% of dogs fail this test. They are often old or large dogs. If this happens steps 2 – 4 would need to be repeated, incurring further costs.

Timing
Re-entering the UK
Your pet may only re-enter the UK 6 months from the date that an acceptable blood sample was taken. This is in case it was incubating rabies at that time. You can travel before this date, but you will not be allowed to return. Rabies boosters are given every 3 years. It is your responsibility to remember this.

IF YOU MISS A BOOSTER EVEN BY ONE DAY YOUR PET WILL NEED TO REPEAT STEPS 2 TO 4 AND WAIT A FURTHER 6 MONTHS BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO RE-ENTER THE UK.

Remember that it will take at least 7 months before you will be able to bring your pet back into the UK from the start of the above listed process. The passport is not valid until 6 months after the successful blood test.

Where Can You Go?
A passport allows you to move freely between countries in the EU. Other selected countries are also part of the Pet Travel Scheme, but travel to/from these countries may require extra travel documents or export certificates. It is your responsibility to check whether extra documentation is required – information can be obtained from DEFRA - 0870 241 1710 or
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/index.htm

Coming Home
Dogs and cats must be seen by a vet abroad before returning to the UK. The vet must administer treatment for ticks and tapeworms that are not present in this country, and then sign and record in the passport that this has been done. The treatment must be carried out 24 to 48 hours before you embark on your return journey.

Staying Healthy
When you travel abroad your pet is at risk from diseases that are not present in the UK. They are all serious, difficult to treat and potentially life threatening. We advise that you take precautions to prevent you pet becoming infected. They affect mainly dogs, but cats are at risk. If you pet is ill abroad or when you return you MUST take it to a vet and explain where you have been. There is a wealth of useful information on the DEFRA website. Please refer to our information sheet ‘DISEASES OF THE TRAVELLING PET’ for further information.

Diseases of the Travelling Pet
When abroad, your pet is at risk from infectious diseases not present in the UK. They are all serious, difficult to treat and potentially life-threatening. We strongly advise taking precautions to prevent your pet becoming infected. The diseases mainly affect dogs but cats are also at risk.

Leishmaniasis – Present along the Mediterranean coasts (including France, Spain, Italy), Germany, South America, the Middle East and the Tropics. Transmitted by sandflies, symptoms include weight loss, skin and eye disease, lameness, fever and liver and kidney damage. Can take years to develop after infection.

Babesiosis – Throughout Europe, particularly France. Transmitted by ticks, causes severe anaemia, weakness and collapse 2-3 weeks after infection.

Ehrlichiosis – Wide distribution throughout Europe (especially the Mediterranean), North and South America, Asia, Africa. Transmitted by ticks, symptoms include fever, poor appetite, vomiting, nose bleeds and neurological signs. German Shepherd dogs are particularly sensitive to the disease.

Hepatozoonosis – Present in Southern Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. Transmitted by ticks, symptoms include lethargy, weight loss, fever, anaemia, kidney and lung disease.

Heartworm – Present along the Mediterranean coast and North and South America. Transmitted by mosquitoes. Adult worms line the lungs and the heart. Symptoms can take months or years to develop, and include breathing difficulties, coughing, collapse and heart failure.

Prevention

Avoidance

• Mosquitoes/Sandflies: active at night, mainly May – October. Do not let pets sleep outside unless protected by a mosquito net.
• Ticks: Forest and rough grazing areas. Mainly Spring-Autumn but can be all year round.

Avoidance

• Ticks/Babesiosis/Ehrilichiosis/Hepatozoonosis: Use either ADVANTIX SPOT-ON which repels and kills ticks for 3-4 weeks or SCALLIBOR collar which repels ticks for 5-6 months*. Check pet daily and remove any ticks with an O’TOM TICK TWISTER.
  *PLEASE NOTE SCALIBOR and ADVANTIX SPOT-ON must NOT be used at the same time. ADVANTIX must NOT be used on cats.
• Sandflies (Leishmaniasis): As for ticks, but please note that ADVANTIX repels sandflies for only 2 weeks. Either the SCALIBOR collar or spot-on will prevent 95% of bites.
• Heartworm: No prevention of mosquito bites possible (except by use of net) so use MILBEMAX TABLETS to kill any transmitted worms. Must begin one month before travel and continue monthly until one month after return.

Remember
Please note you will need to visit a vet 24-48 hours before your return journey for tick and tapeworm treatment; try to time treatments so that they are due to be repeated around this time, to avoid overdosing. If you are using ADVANTIX, MILBEMAX or FRONTLINE then you can take the product abroad with you. If you are travelling with cats then please contact us for specific advice.

Page last updated: Nov 2010