Message Forums

Hi, I've read all the bumff on the net re taking your dog abroad but has anyone actually did it and how easy was it (or not) and what should I be aware of and have you any tips - whew!  I'm thinking of taking "Mack" abroad next year and don't want to start the process of jabs etc if it's not practical.  thanks

Teeny

Hi Teeny

I take my dog every year and it is now a lot easier firstly you have to have your dog microchiped the you then you have the dog vacinated  against Rabies then a blood test is taken that all has to be done six months prior to you going away. The law has recenly changed and now a dog can have the rabies vacination every two years.

You are issued with a passport some countries require a health check certificate from your vet before they travel abroad On the return journey you have to find a vet that will treat your dog for fleas aqnd tape worm but you have to make sure it is with products deemed acceptable by the British Government this has to be done between 24 - 48 hours before leaving to board Ferry or Tunnel Make sure the vet signs passport document with the product they have used and the time it was administered. It all sounds complicated but its not once you have got the hang of it.

Happ camping with your dog.

Pepe

Forgot to mention that  the microchip  and waiting for blood test is a one off thing you will have to have the dog vacinated against rabies every two years there after

Hope this helps

pepe

Thanks for the replies.  We were going to do it this year and left things too late.  I would like to be prepared for next year.  When you say microchipped what do you mean?  My dog was microchipped when we got him out of the dog pound a couple of years ago - is it the same thing?

thanks  Teeny

Hi Teeny

In that case you won't have to get him microchipped.

Your next step is to get him vaccinated against rabies.  Your vet will need notice of this intent, as the rabies vacc is not stored at the practice and will have to be ordered specially.

Approx 1 month after his rabies vaccination he will need a blood test.  This will determine the level of rabies antibodies in his system.

He wil not be able to *return* to the UK until 6 months after the successful blood test

If there are insufficient antibodies, he will need to be vaccinated again....this is rare, but it can happen, so be aware.

We advise people to allow a minimum of 7 months before taking their dog abroad.

Ask your vet to check that the microchip your dog has is an ISO-approved microchip, informing the vet that you plan to apply for the pet passport will help him advise you on this.  If it is not, there's no need to rechip, but you will have to invest in your own scanner...as the port authorities tend to have scanners for ISO micrchips only.

The reason for the microchip is to prove that the vaccination record, treatment records and the blood test results belong to that dog, and that dog only.  And your dog will be rescanned at every step, to confirm this.

Any probs, please email me.  The process can be very daunting the first time, but very simple when you get into it.

Teeny

I'll let you know next month how easy I found it for a first trip when we get back from France, if it all goes wrong I'll be staying there with the dog

Claire, have you picked out a vet in France for the treatment before coming back?

We found the website http://freespace.virgin.net/passports.forpets had a useful list of vets in Europe.