Acorn House Vets

Pets' Passport Check List

1. Before any of the other procedures for PETS are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so that it can be properly identified.
2. After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies (usually 2 vaccinations, 2 weeks apart - the first can be done in the same appointment as the microchipping). Rabies vaccination cannot be done within 2 weeks of any other vaccination.
3. 3-4 weeks after your pet as been vaccinated you will need to arrange a blood test to make sure that the vaccine has produced a satisfactory level of protection against rabies. It will take approximately 2 weeks for the results to come back. We will phone you with the results once we receive them. Your pet can leave the UK 3 weeks after the initial rabies vaccination but CANNOT RE-ENTER WITHIN 6 CALENDAR MONTHS of the day of the successful blood test. If an animal fails the blood test, the test must be repeated following revaccination. The six calendar month wait before re-entering the UK will start form the successful blood test.
4. Once your pet has a satisfactory result from the blood test make an appointment for your vet to issue an EU passport. This appointment must be with an LVI vet, currently Gill Monsell, Sally Gray, Jo Morrall, Katharine Nelson, Sheldon Middleton.
5. The rabies vaccination we use is valid for 3 years. Check your passport as booster rabies vaccinations must be ON OR BEFORE the date stated in the passport. Some EU countries require yearly boosters so we advise that if you are abroad for 3 months or more check this with the relevant authority.
6. Always make sure you realise how long this can all take. As a general rule start to finish will be 8 months.
7. Your pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) BY A VET not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before it returns to the UK. This treatment must be given EVERY TIME a pet re-enters the UK and it is your responsibility to ensure that this is done. The vet will sign and stamp the relevant pages of the passport.
8.  Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route. For more information see: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/territory.htm
9. Animals travelling to non EU countries still need to be accompanied by a DEFRA Export certificate which you must request from DEFRA. It will be sent directly to us and you must make an appointment with an LVI vet to have the certificate filled in 24-48 hours before you depart. You will need to check with the Embassy of the country you are travelling to to find out about their vaccination requirements before you travel.

There are no requirements for dogs and cats travelling directly between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Costs (including VAT)

Contact Information

If you have any queries consult DEFRA for the most up to date information at:www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm

PETS helpline:0870 241 1710 (Mon-Fri 8.30-5pm)

Email: pets.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Travelling abroad with your dog: precautions against disease

If you are taking your dog abroad there is a risk of him/her picking up diseases which are not normally seen in the United Kingdom. The risks from a short holiday are low but there are some precautions that you should take before and during your holiday to protect your dog. Rember that the PETS travel scheme is designed to prevent dogs form bringing rabies, ticks and tapeworms back to the UK. It is not designed to protect individual dogs whilst they are abroad.

Please read the following information regarding the common exotic diseases present in Europe. If you are travelling to areas affected by these diseases your veterinary surgeon will be happy to help you select the appropriate preventative treatments prior to your trip.

Leishmaniasis

Common around the Mediterranean including Spain, Portugal, Southern France, Italy and Greece.

This disease causes skin problems, weight loss, lameness and kidney failure. Many of the scruffy looking dogs you see on holiday, especially those with hair loss around the eyes, will have lieshmaniasis. Symptoms can often be improved with treatment, but the disease is difficult to cure completely. The disease may not develop for several years after the initial infection.

Leishmaniasis is spread by sandflies. Sandflies are mostly found in wooded areas and gardens, and are particularly active at night during the summer months. Prevention is by reducing the risk of bites by sandflies:

• Do not allow your dog to sleep outdoors at night
• Use a preventative treatment to repel sandflies. There is a choice of two products which may be purchased in the UK before you travel. One is a collar (scalibor) which contains deltamerithrin and lasts for 6 months. The other is a spot-on treatment (Advantix) which lasts for 2 weeks. Plug-in insect repellants are also useful to keep the inside of the buildings insect-free for animals and people!

Heartworm

Common in Australia, America, Spain, Southern France, and Italy. However, with global warming this disease is starting to occur further north, with occasional cases reported as far north as Brittany.

The heartworms live in the heart and large blood vessels, causing heart failure and breathing difficulties. Symptoms are not usually seen for 6-12 months after infection.

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes. Treatment is based around preventing mosquito bites, and also medication to prevent worms from developing if your dog is infected.

• Prevention of mosquito bites can be achieved by using the Scalibor collar or Advantix spot-on, as for preventing bites by sandflies.
• The drugs which prevent heartworms developing are given monthly, starting before you leave the UK and continuing for a short period after your return. The choice is between a spot-on product (Stronghold) and a tablet (Milbemax). Because heartworm is common in the at-risk areas and is serious and difficult to treat once the worms are in the heart, we recommend that all animals travelling to risk areas are given one of these preventative drugs.

Babesiosis

This disease is particularly common in France but also occurs in most other European countries.

Babesiosis is a parasite of the red blood cells which causes severe anaemia. This disease can have a dramatic onset with fatal consequences 2-3 weeks after exposure to the ticks which spread Babesiosis. It is essential to get an immediate diagnosis and treatment, so if your dog suddenly becomes ill whilst abroad or soon after returning, seek veterinary attention immediately.

Babesiosis is spread by ticks. In most cases the Babesia parasite is not transmitted to the dog until the tick has been feeding for 24-48 hours. Treatment is based on avoiding ticks, preventing them from biting the dog, and removing them within 24 hours if they do bite the dog. We recommend:

• Avoid rough ground and forests, especially where other animals graze
• Advantix spot-on or a Scalibor collar should be used. These products repel ticks and make them much less likely to attach to your dog. If ticks do attach they are killed by Advantix (but not by Scalibor). Frontline spot-on kills ticks after they attach to the dog but does not repel them.
• Do a thorough groom of your dog every day and check carefully for ticks. Use a tick hook to remove any ticks found as soon as possible (tick hooks are very easy to use and can be purchsed ar reception)

 Ehrlichiosis

This disease is seen in all Mediterranean countries. It often causes disease in dogs at the same time as Babesiosis because it is also transmitted by ticks.

Ehrlichiosis is a parasite which infects the white bood cells. Initially it causes a fever. Following this, some dogs recover completely. Other dogs remain infected and develop problems with their immune system and blood clotting system.

Prevention is by preventing tick bites as for Babesiosis

Before you travel

• Check that your PETS passport is correct and up to date.
• Check that your transport is booked and that you are aware of any specific regulations, for example, crate sizes if you are flying
• Start treatment with Stronghold or Milbemax for heartworm (if travelling to an at-risk area)
• Start treatment with Scalibor or Advantix to prevent ticks, sandflies and mosquitoes

Whilst you are on holiday

• Check daily for ticks and remove any found with a tick hook
• If using Advantix, re-apply every 2 weeks (every 3 weeks if suffcient for ticks and every 4 weeks is suffcient for fleas, but protection against sandflies and mosquitoes requires fortnightly application)
• If using a Scalibor collar, this will last for six months before requiring replacement
• If in a heartworm area, repeat Stronghold or Milbemax every month
• Arrange for tick and tapeworm treatment to be given not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before you check in for your return journey to the UK. This treatment must be given by a veterinary surgeon and the appropriate section of the PETS passport must be signed by the vet. The 24-48 hour timing is very strictly enforced!