Pet Passports and important travel tips

• A Pet Passport can be used to travel with your pet to countries within the European Union, and to some countries outside the European union. The requirements for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling within EU and listed non-EU countries are:

• 1- Microchip
  2- Vaccination against rabies at least 21 days before travel.
  3- Pet passport issued by official veterinarian  (Mr A Young or Mr M Wilson are both able to do this at Young Veterinary Partnership)
  4- Before RETURN ONLY  to the UK dogs must be treated for tapeworm by a vet, 1-5 days before getting on the ferry or plane. ( there is no requirement for cats).

• However you may not be aware that there are a number of diseases that can be caught when your pet travels abroad that we do not have in the United Kingdom. The commonest ones are spread by ticks, mosquitoes or sand flies. It is important to use preventative measures to avoid your pet picking up one of these serious diseases whilst travelling.

Tick borne diseases:

• Babesiosis is transmitted by ticks to dogs and is present in central and southern europe.  It causes fever , anaemia, red or brown urine and can cause jaundice amongst other signs.

• Ehrlichiosis– a tick borne disease encountered in Southern Europe and many other countries worldwide. It causes swollen glands, fever and bleeding amongst other signs.

• Hepatozoonosis is another tick borne disease affecting dogs mainly but occasionally cats in countries bordering the Mediterranean. Diagnosis and treatment is difficult.

• Tick control– avoid wooded areas , and areas with livestock, use tick spot on treatments such as Advantix, or a collar such as Scallibor. Also take a tick removal instrument (o’Tom tick twister) and remove any ticks as soon as possible. Remember to start tick preventative treatment BEFORE you travel.

Sandfly and mosquito borne diseases:

• Leishmania– transmitted by sandflies in Spain, France, Italy and other Mediterranean countries, affecting dogs and cats. It causes skin inflammation and ulceration. Prevention is by using sandfly repellants ( started 3 weeks BEFORE travelling), keeping pets indoors from 1 hour before dusk to 1 hour after dawn, and using fly repellants in the house. There is also a vaccine available for dogs, but it needs to be given before travelling.

• Heartworm– affects mostly dogs, but occasionally cats, and is transmitted by mosquitoes. Most southern European countries ( and any with mosquitoes) are affected. It can take many months before symptoms appear and causes weakness, coughing  and heart failure.  Monthly Advocate spot on treatment is recommended.

• See DEFRA’s website for further details, and a full list of countries included in the Pet passport scheme. https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad

• The British Veterinary Asociation has produced a very useful leaflet outlining the common diseases.The link to the leaflet is

http://www.bva-awf.org.uk/resources/leaflets/