Pet Passport
- what you need to know
This page aims to break down exacty what
you need to know to obtain your pet passport.
The good news is, you don’t have to squeeze into a photo booth with Floyd, Bonnie or Hector on your knee. The bad news is, there are strict controls in place if you want to take your dog out of the UK.
Six months before your trip
If you're thinking about a holiday abroad with your dog (ie crossing the Channel from the UK) start preparing at least six months in advance.
The first thing to do is to make sure your dog has been
microchipped. This is simply injecting a microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, under your dog's skin. Your dog will then have a unique number which can be read by a hand-held scanner.
Secondly your dog will need to have a rabies jab and shortly after that (s)he will need a blood test to make sure the vaccination has worked.
To obtain your pet passport you will need to visit a government authorised vet known as a Local Veterinary Inspector or LVI. Check that your local practice has a resident LVI and if not ask where the nearest one is based.
When you go to get the passport, take details of your pet’s microchip number, date of vaccination and date of the blood test.
The passport will be valid exactly six months after the blood test was taken. Your holiday abroad will then be able to start.
For ten top tips for travelling abroad with your dog
click here.
Crossing the channel
Remember that if you're thinking of crossing the Channel by boat, your dog will usually have to be locked in the car in the hold. It cannot come up on deck with you. If you travel with Brittany Ferries there are certain boats that have kennels which you book in advance. You can access the kennels with a swipe card during the crossing and there is an exercise area available.
For further information on travelling with Brittany Ferries and which boats have kennels,
click here.
Travelling by train of course means you can stay in the vehicle with your dog.
Please note that currently dogs are not allowed on the Eurostar between London and Paris even though they are allowed on the French TGV.
On your return to the UK
Before you check in on your return home, you will need to find a vet in the country you are on holiday in. Here your dog will be treated against ticks and tapeworms. This treatment will be recorded in your pet passport.
It is important that you do not administer this yourself.
Timing is also crucial here. You will have to wait 24 hours after treatment before checking in on the train/boat but make sure it is not longer than 48 hours. If it is, the treatment will have to be done again.
This all seems quite complicated so I would advise finding a vet in the country you are visiting before you leave the UK. It's probably best to book an appointment beforehand as well, so that you know you will definitely have an appointment.
Dogs Away
offers an appointment booking service for vets in France and Spain.
Also, on the
Brittany Ferries
website, there is a list of contact details for French and Spannish vets.
The DEFRA website
has some excellent information on everything you'll need to know about going abroad with your dog (cat, rabbit or ferret!)
Take me from Pet Passport to the Home Page
Top
About 'Site Build It'
|
