Pet Travel Scheme
These notes are a rough guide to the procedures involved in taking your dog or cat abroad. Taking your pet out of the country is a relatively simple procedure and for most countries this can be completed within a month. However, bringing an animal back into the UK is more complicated and you should set aside 8 months in order to meet the regulations. We always recommend that you contact DEFRA for up to date rules and regulations relating to the individual country that you are travelling to:
Tel – 0191 229 5400
Website – www.defra.gov.uk
1. MICROCHIPPING
Must always be done before any other procedures are performed, as the microchip number must be read at the time of all other procedures involved in PETS.
2. RABIES VACCINATION
The 1st injection can be given on the same day as the microchip.
Animals to be Exported
One injection is adequate followed by boosters every 3 years (some variation between countries). If it is decided later to bring the pet back into the UK, this injection should still be adequate to pass the blood test. If the blood test is failed, the animal will require 2 vaccinations 2 weeks apart then repeat the blood test at least 3 weeks later.
Animals Going Abroad and Returning to the UK
According to vaccine manufacturers, one vaccination should be enough to pass the blood test. However, if the animal fails the blood test, a second vaccine is required then a repeat blood test which works out more expensive than just doing 2 vaccinations initially. Again boosters are required every 3 years (although there is some variation between countries and it is always best to check).
3. BLOOD SAMPLING:
Animals should be blood sampled 3 weeks after the rabies injection.
Animals to be Exported
No blood test required unless you later decide to bring them back to the UK in which case the blood test can be performed here or abroad at least 6 months before they enter the UK.
Animals Going Abroad and Returning to the UK
An animal cannot enter the UK less than 6 months (to the day) from the day of blood sampling for which a positive result for rabies antibody was attained. The blood sample can be taken at any time after the rabies vaccinations but the peak in antibody (and therefore the most likely time to get a positive result) is 3 weeks after the last rabies injection.
4. PASSPORT
Animals to be Exported
A passport can be issued on day 1 at the same time the microchip is placed and the 1st rabies injection given.
Animals Going Abroad and Returning to the UK
The passport is issued once the results come back from the lab providing the result is positive.
5. WORM AND TICK TREATMENT
A few countries require these treatments to be performed 24-48hrs before leaving the UK but generally it is only the UK that insists that these treatments are performed before re-entry. Unless the animal is travelling abroad for less than 2 days, these treatments would usually be performed abroad 24-48hrs before entering the UK. These treatments must be performed and signed for by a registered vet. DEFRA can provide you with listed veterinary surgeons abroad.
6. EXPORT CERTIFICATES
A few countries require the animal to be examined and certified by a vet within 24hrs of export. DEFRA can advise on this.
7. OTHER
Preventative treatment of heart worm is essential and it is recommended that routine flea and tick treatment (every month), worming (every 3-6mths) and vaccinations (for Parvovirus, Distemper, Leptospirosis etc, annual boosters) are kept up to date but this is not essential to meet the requirements of PETS.
So all in all, deciding to take your pet abroad should not be taken lightly due to the time and costs involved. The DEFRA website is a useful source of information when it comes to arranging the logistics of transport of your pet particularly when long distances are involved.
An animal cannot enter the UK less than 6 months (to the day) from the day of blood sampling for which a positive result for rabies antibody was attained. The blood sample can be taken at any time after the rabies vaccinations but the peak in antibody (and therefore the most likely time to get a positive result) is 3 weeks after the last rabies injection. – No blood test required unless you later decide to bring them back to the UK in which case the blood test can be performed here or abroad at least 6 months before they enter the UK. – According to vaccine manufacturers, one vaccination should be enough to pass the blood test. However, if the animal fails the blood test, a second vaccine is required then a repeat blood test which works out more expensive than just doing 2 vaccinations initially. Again boosters are required every 3 years (although there is some variation between countries and it is always best to check). – One injection is adequate followed by boosters every 3 years (some variation between countries). If it is decided later to bring the pet back into the UK, this injection should still be adequate to pass the blood test. If the blood test is failed, the animal will require 2 vaccinations 2 weeks apart then repeat the blood test at least 3 weeks later.
