Pet Passports (Cats and Dogs)

Owners can now travel abroad with their pets to many countries and we can arrange the necessary paperwork.

The process includes :-

• Microchipping and vaccinating against rabies (we now recommend two rabies injections two weeks apart to reduce the risk of failing the blood test).
• A blood sample taken two weeks later and sent to an approved laboratory to test the vaccination has worked.
• Upon passing the test a passport can be issued to enable travel (this also entails a visit to the surgery to issue the passport).

 Although you can use the passport to travel abroad, soon after issue, please note that you will not be able to use the passport for re-entry to the U.K. until 6 months have elapsed from the date of the blood test (i.e. 7 months, at the earliest, from the start of the procedure.)

 To keep the passport valid a rabies booster has to be given before the expiry of the vaccination (currently three years) but as many continental countries require annual rabies vaccinations we issue booster reminders yearly, this also reduces the likelihood of the passport expiring which would mean starting again!

  When you re-enter the U.K. there are requirements for you to have worming and tick treatments applied by a veterinary surgeon within 24 – 48 hours of reaching customs and the passport contains appropriate pages for these to be recorded. You will also be limited in the choice of ports you re-enter through.

 For a current list of countries and routes accepted for the Pets Travel Scheme please visit the government website at -     

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/PETS/Procedures/owners.htm

As a consequence of the increased numbers of pets travelling to and from the continent we are now seeing a rapidly increasing number of “exotic” conditions not previously seen in the U.K. We advise you speak to your vet about products available to protect your pet whilst traveling.

Please note that if you are emigrating to one of the participating countries and have no intention of using the passport to return to the UK the passport can be issued at the same time as the microchipping and vaccination.

For all other international animal movements please refer to the appropriate country's regulations or DEFRA (website or office) for advice.