It is now possible to travel abroad to certain countries with your dog or cat. Your pet will need a microchip and a rabies vaccination, done at least three weeks before they travel. There are also other recommendations depending on where you are travelling to and we recommend that you contact DEFRA to ensure you have all the information necessary. The majority of our veterinary surgeons are able to issue passports, but please ensure you advise our receptionists of the reason for your appointment.

This is intended as a general guide only and owners should always refer to the government website before travelling.

Planning to take your pet abroad after 29th March 2019?

Currently nobody knows the outcome of Brexit negotiations but there is a chance that the existing Pet Passport scheme may not suffice for clients wishing to travel with their pet after 29th March.

If you need to travel in the first three months after 29th March we recommend taking a 'belt and braces' approach which means your pet will need additional tests and documentation to minimise the risk of disruption.

A rabies blood test will be needed in the worst case scenario and this will need to be done 4 months before travel.

Please plan ahead and make an appointment well in advance with one of our Veterinarians with an OVS qualification (Louise Hockley, Michael Jackin and Grace England) who are able to assist with the pet passport process.

We will keep everyone updated as we know more but please do not hesitate to contact the practice if you require further information.

Your Pet's Health

Before you travel with your pet, think about what is involved. Your pet may have to be confined in a car for a long time: does he/she get easily stressed when travelling? If you are going to a warmer area, can your pet cope? Dogs with thick coats may struggle in the heat. If you are unsure, why not book a pre-travel check?

Pre-Travel Check

During this check, we will:

Discuss where you are going and what specific health risk your pet may be exposed to.
Carry out a clinical examination to ensure your pet is fit to travel abroad.
Check that the rabies vaccination and pet passports are up to date.
Ensure the microchip is working and reading correctly.
Discuss the preventative treatment needed to protect your pet against ticks, sand flies, heartworm and tapeworm whilst abroad.
Prescribe the most effective medication for your pet and show you how to administer it.

Please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment. This should ideally be three weeks before you travel.

Travelling

Your pet must be implanted with an ISO standard microchip.
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. The vaccination can be given at the same time as the microchip but never before it.
Your pet must be a minimum of 12 weeks old.
Your pet must be issued with a passport.

You cannot travel with your pet until 21 days after the rabies vaccination.

Re-Entering the UK

For all pets, you must show a valid passport before embarking on your return journey.

Dogs must be given a treatment against tapeworm 1-5 days (24-120 hours) before you are scheduled to arrive back in the UK.

The Veterinary Surgeon administering the treatment must record the details in your pet’s passport. This is not required for dogs entering directly from Finland, Ireland or Malta.

Different arrangements apply if you are travelling to a country that isn't on the Government list, if you have more than 5 animals or if you have other pets than cats, dogs or ferrets.