Changes to pet travel rules

Abstract

infection with ensuring the greatest likelihood of compliance, thereby reducing the risk of untreated animals entering the UK. Tick treatment of pets will no longer be mandatory when entering the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme. Of course, there are other welfare and disease risk considerations to be made when travelling with pets, and it is essential that pet owners get good veterinary advice when planning to take their animals abroad. Please continue to advise your clients to regularly treat their pets against ticks and tapeworms to protect against a variety of diseases both endemic and exotic. Around 100,000 pets currently enter the UK each year, most of which belong to UK residents returning from holidays abroad. The change in rules will make it simpler and easier for pets to travel, and we anticipate that these numbers may increase in future. Under the new rules, as with the old, correct identification and certification is essential to the effective functioning of the scheme. We hope that small animal practitioners will take this opportunity to find out about the new rules so that they can advise their clients appropriately. Information is available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/ pets and further questions and answers for vets are at http://animalhealth.defra.gov.uk/ about/official-vets/guidance/index.html

Changes to pet travel rules: rabies, ticks and tapeworms

“…AS announced by Defra on June 30, the UK is to harmonise its pet movement rules with those of other member states of the European Union (EU). As a result, dogs, cats and ferrets entering the country from EU member states and listed non‐EU countries will no longer require a blood test to confirm seroconversion following rabies vaccination (Gibbens and Locke 2011). Pets being imported from unlisted ‘third countries’ will no longer have to enter six months' quarantine in the UK, but once vaccinated, blood tested a month later, and following a further three‐month wait in the country of origin, they may enter the UK with the appropriate certification.…”