Bringing pets into the UK after 1 January 2012
Pet travel rules from 1 January 2012
From the 1 January 2012 all pet dogs, cats and ferrets (including guide and hearing dogs) can enter or re-enter the UK from any country in the world without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the scheme, which will be different depending on the country or territory the pet is coming from.
Animals which do not meet all the rules must be licensed into quarantine. They might then be able to obtain early release if they can be shown to comply with the necessary pet travel requirements.
Pet cats and dogs travelling to the UK, on or after 1st January 2012, can undergo the necessary pre-entry treatment (e.g microchipping, vaccination and blood testing as required) either before they travel in the country of origin, or if they enter quarantine in the UK, whilst they are in quarantine. To ensure that pets are compliant for travel on or after 1st January 2012, pets may begin the process of preparation now in any country.
What you need to do if you are entering the UK from the EU and listed non-EU countries
Preparing your dog, cat or ferret
- Step 1 – Have your pet microchipped – Before any of the other procedures for pet travel are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.
- Step 2 – Have your pet vaccinated– After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date. The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after the first vaccination date. A waiting period is not required for subsequent entries into the UK, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date. If the vaccination is in two parts the 21 day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination.
- Step 3 – Get pet travel documentation – For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country or territory you will need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate although note that Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland are also issuing passports.
- Step 4 – Tapeworm treatment – (dogs only): before entering the UK, all pet dogs (including assistance dogs) must be treated for tapeworm. The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK.
- There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment.
- Step 5 – Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – Your pet must enter the UK from a listed country or territory travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.
What you need to do if you are entering the UK from unlisted non-EU countries
Preparing your dog, cat or ferret
- Step 1 – Have your pet microchipped – Before any of the other procedures for pet travel are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.
- Step 2 – Have your pet vaccinated – After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date.
- Step 3 – Arrange a blood test – After your pet has been vaccinated, it must be blood tested to make sure the vaccine has given it a satisfactory level of protection against rabies. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after vaccination. The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is three calendar months from the date your vet took the blood sample which led to a satisfactory test result. The three month waiting period will not apply if your pet was vaccinated and blood tested in the EU and issued with an EU pet passport before it went to an unlisted country
- Step 4 – Get pet travel documentation – You will need to obtain an official third country veterinary.
- Step 5 – Tapeworm treatment – (dogs only): before entering the UK, all pet dogs (including assistance dogs) must be treated for tapeworm. The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK.
- There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment.
- Step 6 – Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – Your pet must enter the UK with an approved transport company on an authorised route.
Costs (including VAT)
| Microchip |
£15.12
|
| Rabies vaccination (single vaccination) |
£55.30 |
| Rabies vaccination (course of two vaccinations) |
£84.64 |
Passport
|
£52.12 |
Contact Information
If you have any queries consult DEFRA for the most up to date information at:
www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets
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 leishmaniasis. 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 suffci
ent 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!