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More and more pets are travelling abroad with their owners under the
Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
which enables dogs, cats and ferrets to return to the UK after travelling to an increasing number of destinations without quarantine.
For your pet to be eligible to travel under PETS, there are a number of guidelines which must be adhered.
The Procedures
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Your pet should be microchipped.
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After the microchip has been fitted, your pet must be vaccinated against rabies.
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Your vet will then carry out a blood test on your pet to ensure that the vaccine has worked and will protect him against rabies. Pets can’t enter or re-enter the UK until 6 calendar months after this blood test has confirmed protection against rabies.
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Follo
wing this confirmation, your vet will issue you with an official PETS passport.
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24-48 hours prior to entering or returning to the UK, you
will have to arrange for an authorised vet to treat your pet for tapeworm and ticks. This treatment will be recorded on a separate official certificate of treatment.
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Arrange for your animal to travel on an authorised route - Your animal must enter England from a PETS country travelling on an authorised route with an approved transport company.
In addition to the stipulations that you must adhere to if you’re travelling abroad with your pet, it’s also advisable to protect him against travelling diseases such as
leishmaniasis,
heartworm,
babesiosis and
ehrlichiosis
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The six month rule
Your pet may not enter the UK under PETS until six months have passed from the date that your vet took the blood sample which led to a successful test result. Once the vet has signed the passport and that six month period has passed, the document becomes valid for your pet to enter the UK. This wait is necessary because an animal infected with rabies before vaccination would not be protected by the vaccine. Six months is the time needed for most infected animals to display any clinical signs of the disease.
When to vaccinate
Your pet must be at least three months old before it is vaccinated. This can be done any time after your pet has been fitted with a microchip. Before vaccinating your pet, make sure your vet checks its microchip number and enters it on your pet's vaccination record. If your pet has been vaccinated against rabies before it was identified by a microchip, it will have to be fitted with a microchip and vaccinated again. This is to make sure that your pet is correctly identified when it is vaccinated.
Re-vaccination (boosters)
After your pet has been vaccinated and successfully blood tested, it will need regular booster vaccinations. These must be given by the 'valid until' date on the PETS certificate or pet passport. If this date is missed your animal will not meet the conditions of the scheme and will have to be vaccinated and blood tested again. The 6 month rule will then apply from the date the new blood sample is taken. If your pet always has its booster on time, it will not need another blood test.
Finally, remember to pack a ‘travel bag’ for your pet including his bedding, food, water supply and things like his favourite toys. Your pet should also have plenty of room to turn around and lie down while you’re on route.
For further information on travelling abroad with your pet, contact your vet.
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