Pet Passports

Get set for the summer holidays!

If you are planning to take your cat or dog abroad on holiday this summer, NOW is the time to start the process of obtaining a Pet Passport.

For full details of the countries involved in the Pet Travel Scheme, plus specific information for your holiday destination, please contact Animal Health on 01872 265500 or visit the website at www.defra.gov.uk/pettravelscheme.

To obtain your pet’s passport, the following procedures must be completed:

1. Microchip

If your pet is not already fitted with a microchip, this will be the first step. It is inserted under the skin at the back of the animals neck, and provides a permanent form of identification.

Current cost £21.53

2. 1st Rabies vaccination

This can be administered at the same time as the microchip, but should be seperate from your pets standard annual vaccinations.

Current cost £30.00

3. 2nd Rabies vaccination

This needs to be administered 2-4 weeks after the first vaccine.

Current cost £30.00

4. Blood test

An interval of at least 30 days now needs to be left before a blood test can performed. This test will show whether sufficient immunity to rabies has been achieved. This test must be carried out at an approved laboratory and so cannot be performed at the Practice. Where the test shows that insufficient levels have been reached, a further rabies vaccine will need to be administered, followed by a further blood test. However, although this is a very rare occurence, the extra time and costs involved should be taken into account when deciding to obtain a Pet Passport.

Current cost £74.67

5. PETS (1) certificate

Following a successful blood test result, the vet can issue the Pet Passport (PETS 1). However, this is not valid until six months after the date of the blood test. This means that you and your pet could leave the country at any time, but would not be allowed to re-enter until the Passport becomes valid.

Current cost £34.00

6. Re-entry into the UK

Between 48-24 hours before embarking on your journey back to the UK, your pet will require treatment for ticks and tapeworms. This must be administered by a Government approved vet in the country from which you are travelling. For day-trips abroad, this treatment must be applied before you travel. The administering vet will then issue you with a PETS 5 certificate detailing the treatment given.

Rabies booster vaccinations

Once your pet has a valid passport, you must continue with the rabies vaccines every 1-3 years (depending on where you may be travelling). Be aware of vaccine booster due-dates as a late vaccine will require a further blood test.

Exotic diseases

There are many diseases that pets may come into contact with when travelling abroad, and so it is important that careful consideration is given to these risks when deciding upon travel plans with your pet. Further information on the prevention and treatment of diseases such as Leishmaniasis, heartworm, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and tick control can be obtained from Animal Health on the contact details given above. Alternatively, the leaflet “Taking your pets abroad” is available from the surgery.

Please contact the Practice if you would like further help or advice regarding the Pet Travel Scheme.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 6:30 pm and is saved under Uncategorized