The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) has been running since 2000, and has made it increasingly easy for people to take their pets with them when, either going on holiday, or moving away for longer periods. The regulations have been refined a number of times, and with a few exceptions, travel around Europe is now particularly easy.

• The rules currently apply to dogs, cats and ferrets.
• The scheme applies to an increasing number of countries (listed at the end of this page).
• You must travel with an authorised carrier on an authorised route.
• Further advice can be obtained from the DEFRA website or helpline 0870 241 1710

• Your pet must be microchipped by a veterinary surgeon who will use one of the ISO-approved types of microchip for the scheme.
• Your pet must be vaccinated against Rabies (if over 3 months old). This involves one injection of vaccine and can be done at the same time as microchipping. Booster vaccinations will be required to maintain a valid Passport - the vaccination interval varies between different vaccine manufacturers, but your vet should tell you AND mark clearly on the Passport when the next booster is due.
• 30 days or more after vaccination, a blood sample must be taken and sent to an authorised laboratory, to establish that your pet has produced a sufficient response to the vaccination. The result of this test may take in excess of 1 month.
• After receiving a satisfactory blood result, an authorised veterinary surgeon can complete a Pet Passport for your pet. At the same time a health check will be performed and the microchip checked. Your pet cannot re-enter the UK until 6 calendar months after the date of blood sampling.
• Before re-entering the UK, your pet must be treated by a qualified veterinary surgeon against ticks and tapeworms. The treatment must be carried out not less than 24 hours, and not more than 48 hours before checking in at the ferry or airport.
  If travelling to France on Day-trip, this treatment should be administered before leaving the UK.

Before re-entering the UK, your pet must meet 3 requirements:

• You must have a completed Pet Passport.
• 6 months have elapsed since the date of blood sampling.
• Tick and Tapeworm treatment have been applied and certified by an authorised veterinary surgeon abroad.

 
Emigration and Export

If you and your pet are planning to leave the country permanently, with no intention to return, then you only require:

• Microchip
• Rabies vaccination
• Passport issued
• Leave the country any time from 21 days after Rabies vaccination.

Should you change plans, and you do need to return, then the blood testing can be carried out at your foreign veterinary surgery. However, the 6-month wait starts from the day blood is taken, so a spontaneous decision to return is not possible.

 
Fitness to Travel

Depending on destination and route taken, your pet may require a final Health Check immediately prior to travelling (within 5-7 days of departure, usually).

Certification may take the form of signing the appropriate section in the Pet Passport, or a separate Export Health Certificate.

 
Disease Awareness when travelling

Rabies is not the only 'foreign' disease which your pet may be exposed to on holiday. Heartworm, Leishmania, Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis are a similar threat to the travelling pet. These diseases are transmitted by insects, and all are potentially fatal.

We are very lazy about parasite control in this country. Taking care of parasites is much more important on the Continent, particularly the warmer areas. Ask your vet (either in the UK or abroad) for advice on appropriate tick, flea, worm and fly treatments.

 
Countries eligible for the Pet Travel Scheme.

UK-resident pets can travel to any of the countries below and return to the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme. Pets coming from any of these countries can also enter the UK under PETS, providing they have not been outside any of these countries in the 6 months prior to travelling to the UK.

 
EU

Austria	Faroe Islands	Ireland***	Poland
Azores	Finland	Italy	Portugal
Balearic Islands	France	Latvia	Reunion
Belgium	French Guiana	Lithuania	Slovakia
Canary Islands	Germany	Luxembourg	Slovenia
Ceuta	Gibraltar	Madeira	Spain
Cyprus*	Greece	Malta	Sweden
Czech Republic	Greenland	Martinique
Denmark	Guadeloupe**	Melilla
Estonia	Hungary	Netherlands

*	Pets entering from Northern Cyprus will still be licensed into quarantine for 6 months upon arrival in the UK.
**	Includes St. Barthelemy and St.Martin (French part of the island).
***	There are NO requirements for PETS travelling between UK and the Republic of Ireland.

 
Non-EU

Andorra	Guam	Romania
Antigua & Barbuda	Hawaii	Russian Federation
Aruba	Hong Kong	St Helena
Ascension Island	Iceland	St Kitts & Nevis
Australia	Jamaica	St Pierre & Miquelon
Bahrain	Japan	St Vincent
Barbados	Liechtenstein	San Marino
Belarus	Mauritius	Singapore
Bermuda	Mayotte	Switzerland
Canada	Mexico	Taiwan
Cayman Islands	Monaco	Trinidad & Tobago
Chile	Montserrat	United Arab Emirates
Croatia	Netherlands Antilles	USA (mainland)
Falkland Islands	New Caledonia	Vanuatu
Fiji	New Zealand	Vatican
French Polynesia	Norway	Wallis & Futuna
Grenadines

 
Rabies Vaccination Intervals

Rabisin (Merial) - Dogs and cats every 2 years
Nobivac Rabies (Intervet) - Dogs and cats every 2 years
Quantum Rabies (Schering Plough) - Dogs and cats every 3 years
Canigen Rabies (Virbac) - Dogs and cats every 2 years

Other European countries have been uncomfortable with anything other than annual vaccination, and many UK Veterinary Practices have been advising annual vaccination to avoid problems when travelling. However, this situation seems to be relaxing, and adhering to manufacturer's recommendations (see above) is acceptable now.

Pool House Veterinary Group is currently using RABISIN (Merial).

 
Fees

(All prices are incl. VAT and were correct on 01/02/08)

Microchip (incl. Lifelong registration)	£11.99
Rabies vaccination	£38.15
Blood sampling	£9.35
Laboratory fees	£35.01
Final health check and issue passport	£55.95
Rabies booster vaccination	£38.15

(If an animal fails the blood test it must be revaccinated and resampled. A second charge will be made).

 
Pet Insurance

Not all pet insurance policies extend the cover for your pet whilst travelling abroad, but some do. It would be wise to check whether you have cover for your pet whilst on holiday, before departing.

 
General Considerations

It is the responsibility of pet owners to ensure that the correct regulations have been complied with, when travelling abroad, NOT DEFRA OR YOUR VETERINARY SURGEON. Failure to do so could result in your pet being quarantined or refused entry into the UK.

Pool House Veterinary Group small animal veterinary surgeons are all Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVIs) and are therefore able to carry out all the procedures involved in PETS and Exports.

Alex England is the partner responsible for Pet Passports and Exports at Pool House Veterinary Group and, if possible, deals with every single case at the Practice. The paperwork, timings, and individual requirements of each country are very complex, and we at Pool House find that continuity is crucial in eliminating mistakes.

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