Bon Voyage !

As the holiday season approaches, many owners are considering taking their pet with them – the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) now enables travel with relative ease to an increasing number of destinations abroad. Please phone DEFRA for up to date information on the specific requirements of the country/countries that you intend to travel to or through.

However, there are a number of important things that you need to consider before your trip!  Firstly, you must adhere to the guidelines set down by PETS before your dog or cat will be allowed to travel.  He or she will have to be:

·        Fitted with a microchip

·        Vaccinated against rabies – we would advise you to arrange a rabies vaccination at least eight months before your intended date of return to the UK. 

·        Blood tested

·        Issued with an official PETS passport

·        Treated against tapeworm and ticks and issued with an official certificate of treatment 24-48 hours prior to re-entry to the UK.

It is also important to think about any additional diseases that your dog may be exposed to while abroad, particularly if you are travelling to Mediterranean countries.

One such important disease is canine leishmaniasis.  Leishmaniasis is caused by a microscopic parasite called Leishmania infantum, which is spread by sand flies.  In dogs, this disease may be severe, ultimately fatal, and is difficult to treat.  Animals can be bitten by sand flies up to 100 times an hour during the sand fly season, which begins in May and ends in September. 

External signs of infection may take many months to develop and include loss of hair, particularly around the eyes; loss of weight and skin sores, particularly on the head and on the legs.  In late stages, the claws often overgrow and become twisted.