For Cats, Dogs and Ferrets

(Please note, these requirements also apply to assistance dogs)

Step 1: Your pet must be microchipped first for identification purposes.

Step 2: Rabies vaccination (this can be done immediately after Step 1)

• Your pet needs to be at least 12 weeks old before rabies vaccination.
• You will need to wait 21 days after any primary rabies vaccinations before you travel, so bear this in mind when you are planning your travel and Animal Health Certificate (AHC) appointment.

Step 3: You need an Animal Health Certificate for your dog, cat or ferret if you’re travelling from Great Britain (England, Wales or Scotland) to an EU country or Northern Ireland. You do not need an Animal Health Certificate if you have a Pet Passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland, but this must be up-to-date and can no longer be updated by a UK vet.

Step 4: Tapeworm treatment for dogs:

• A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm and record it in the Animal Health Certificate if you’re travelling directly to: Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway, AND every time you bring them back to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) from any country except those listed above. The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive.
• The treatment must be approved for use in the country it’s being given in, AND contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm.

How to get an Animal Health Certificate

• Make an appointment to bring your pet to see the vet no more than 10 days before you travel. The AHC may only be issued by one of our Official Veterinarians who hold the appropriate Companion or Small Animal Official Controls Qualification, and you must be able to tell us your port of entry. You will require a 1-hour appointment. We are unable to do this at weekends so allow plenty of time and book well in advance.
• If we did not implant your pet’s microchip or carry out their rabies vaccine you must provide us with a certificate of your pet’s microchipping date and vaccination history.
• Please check these details are correct, and in the correct order, with us at least 21 days in advance and before you book your AHC appointment.
• Your pet’s Animal Health Certificate will be valid after the date of issue for:
  • 10 days for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland;
  • 4 months for onward travel within the EU;
  • 4 months for re-entry to Great Britain.
• Your pet will need a new Animal Health Certificate for each trip to an EU country or Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

Repeat trips to an EU country or Northern Ireland

• Your pet will need a new Animal Health Certificate for each trip to an EU country or Northern Ireland.
• Your pet will not need a repeat rabies vaccination so long as his or her rabies vaccinations are up to date.
• Your dog will need tapeworm treatment for each trip if you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway.

Vaccination record

Your pet’s vaccination record in their Animal Health Certificate must show:

• your pet’s date of birth
• microchip number, date it was put in/read & location on your pet’s body
• vaccination date, and the date until which the vaccination is valid
• vaccine manufacturer, product name and batch number
• the vet’s signature and contact details

Your pet can be stopped from travelling if the details in their Animal Health Certificate are in the wrong place.

Please be advised that a GB vet will no longer be able to update the EU-issued Pet Passport, other than the tapeworm and clinical examination sections.

As a final check, you may wish to contact the relevant Embassy in GB to discuss any further lawful entry requirements. They can be located at the following link:
https://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/united-kingdom

Alternatively check for the destination’s specific requirements at the following link:
https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-movement/ms-websites_en

Exotic Diseases: IMPORTANT PLEASE READ

When travelling abroad your pet may come into contact with diseases spread by mosquitos, sand flies and ticks. These diseases are not present in the UK so your pet will need extra protection to prevent them becoming poorly.

Our clinic nurses will be happy to arrange a consultation to go over what is needed to protect them.

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There are three important diseases and two parasites you should be aware of before you travel:

• Babesiosis: Spread by Tick bites, a serious disease that infects and destroys red blood cells causing anaemia and jaundice.
• Ehrlichiosis: Spread by Tick bites, affects the white blood cells, signs are difficult to spot.
• Leishmaniasis: Caused by a parasite which is spread by the Sandfly. A serious condition with a wide range of symptoms that can present a long period after infection. A vaccine is available from the practice, please call us to discuss.
• Dirofilariasis (Heartworm): Spread by Mosquito bites to dogs and cats, once infection has been acquired, the prognosis is poor so prevention is best!
• Echinicoccus multiocularis (Tapeworm): Humans can acquire this tapeworm from their dog and, once infected, there is no cure and life-long treatment will be required.

These diseases are all spread by parasites. Now, don’t worry too much, there are parasite control regimes you can use before, during and after your holiday to protect you and your pets.

Visit the Canine Vector Borne Diseases Website for more information and to assess the disease risk in your country of destination. Please book a FREE appointment with our clinic nurses to receive a tailor-made plan for parasite prevention for your pet. We are happy to give advice on all the issues discussed here, to help you and your pet have a safe and enjoyable trip.