Top tips for stress-free travel with your dog to Europe
So, you really want to take your dog on holiday with the family to Europe but where do you start? Pet travel has become a little more complicated since Brexit as UK issued pet passports are no longer valid. You will need to get an animal health certificate (AHC) every time you travel which will be their ‘dog passport’.
***Please check your travel and destination requirements carefully as they may differ and may change from the time of writing. Visit https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad and https://www.esccapuk.org.uk/travelling-pets-advice-owners/ for advice and talk to your vet***
1. Arrange your animal health certificate (AHC) as soon as you can!
This is a document that you must have prepared for you by an official veterinarian (OV) to take your pet into the EU. You must arrange for your vet to do this within 10 days before travel. Up to five pets can be included in the same certificate. Once in the EU the certificate is valid for four months for onward travel within the EU and for return to Great Britain. You need a new AHC every time you enter the EU from the UK.
You can either get these through your own vet or, for a more affordable fee and simpler process, online. We offer AHCs from the comfort of your own home from £99 so please get in touch to arrange.
2. Ensure your pet has a valid microchip
Your pet must be microchipped (normally done when they are puppies or kittens) to be able to identify them when travelling abroad. It is the law for puppies to be microchipped before they leave their breeders so normally a check that their microchip is reading and matches your records will suffice. We check your dog’s microchip when they have their first check-up with us and at least every six months.
3. Ensure your pet has a valid rabies vaccine
If your pet has never had a rabies vaccine before then they must have this done at least 21 days before travel. Day 1 is the day following the vaccine so, for example, if you have a rabies vaccination done on the 1st February then you can travel on the 22nd February. Please do not leave this until the last minute! Your puppy must also be at least 12 weeks old to get their first rabies vaccine.
Most rabies vaccines given in the UK are valid for three years while on the continent they are often given yearly. If your pet is just getting a booster vaccine and it has not lapsed then there is no need to wait the 21 days before travel. Please check with your vet if you are not sure - if it has lapsed and you are close to travel you will not be able to take your pet.
4. Arrange tapeworm treatment
Echinococcus multilocularis is a tapeworm that is highly pathogenic and zoonotic, meaning that it can spread to humans. The UK, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway are tapeworm-free so require a worming treatment to be given by a vet no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive in the country. This is then recorded on your animal health certificate.
You need to arrange this with your vet in the UK before you travel and arrange an appointment with a vet in your destination country before your return. It’s a good idea to get in touch with a local vet anyway in case any emergencies arise while you are away.
5. Think about other parasite prevention (depending on your holiday destination and time of year)
Due to the lovely warm weather in certain areas of Europe, they have different endemic parasites to us in the UK. Some of these parasites are moving into the UK, especially southern England, with the rise in temperature. To protect your dog from these our recommendation is a combination of a repellent-impregnated collar alongside your regular flea/tick prevention tablets and monthly worming tablets.
Heartworm: This roundworm can infect both dogs and cats and is spread by mosquitos throughout Europe (especially more Southern regions). Dirofilaria immitis adults are large (about 10cm!) and live in the heart and surrounding blood vessels. It can cause heart failure and increases the risk of blood clots. Another variety of heartworm called Dirofilaria repens causes lumps underneath the skin and in other organs. Both varieties can cause disease in humans (usually respiratory or skin symptoms).
The best way to prevent heartworm is to give your pet monthly worm treatments (containing macrocytic lactone) while away and for one month after return to the UK. We can offer additional monthly wormers so please get in touch if travelling. Fly repellent collars (e.g. Seresto containing flumethrin) may have some effect in deterring mosquitos but they are not licensed for this so they can not be used as a sole treatment.
Leishmania: This protozoan parasite is spread through sand fly bites throughout Europe, especially more Southern regions. It can cause vague symptoms in your pet and may not be obvious for months to years. Humans can be affected, but sand flies are not present in the UK yet so spread from dogs to humans is less likely.
There are two options for prevention: permethrin spot-ons (apply at least 2 days before travel and reapply every 3-4 weeks) or flumethrin/deltamethrin-impregnated collar (e.g Seresto collar – apply 1-2 weeks before travel and lasts for up to 8-12 months depending on the product). Vaccination is available to reduce disease if in Europe for a more prolonged period.
Ticks: There are more tick species present in Europe and they can spread diseases such as Babesiosis. The risk can be reduced by using repellent collars alongside usual tick prevention (containing isoxazoline – e.g. Simparica) in high-risk areas. It is also recommended that you look through your dog’s coat and remove any ticks promptly with a tick remover device. Best to check yourself, too, while you are at it!
6. Feeding your dog while on holiday
You are not allowed to take meat or dairy products from the UK to the EU so you need to consider what you are going to feed your dog whilst away. The exception to this is if your dog is on a prescription diet then you can ask your vet for evidence of this. You can still only take a 2kg bag so may need more depending on the size of your dog and your length of stay! You could swap on to a vegan brand or arrange to get your dog’s normal food delivered to your holiday destination. Make sure if you are swapping to a new food to do so very gradually over at least a week to avoid upset tummies.
7. Prepare for the weather - hot or cold!
If your pet has only lived in the UK they may not be used to the warm European climate in summer or, conversely, snow and ice in winter. If you have a brachycephalic breed (one with a short nose), large breed or a puppy they are not as good at regulating their temperature. In hot weather (even as low as 20°C) they can over-heat very easily so it’s best to take them for an early morning walk or not take them for a walk at all. Stay in air-conditioned areas if in any doubt. Check pavements are not too hot that they are going to burn their paws or are too icy (you can get paw covers/boots to protect them).
Be sensible - if it’s too hot or too cold for you then the same is probably true for your dog! For more information on keeping your dog safe this summer click here.
8. Get ready for your journey - driving, flying or taking a ferry?
If you are driving to Europe consider how you are going to restrain your pet in the car to maintain safety for you and them. Ensure they have regular access to water, the temperature is comfortable and that you have regular toilet stops scheduled.
If flying make sure to check any regulations from the airline. Some allow small dogs and cats to travel in the cabin whilst others need them to travel in the hold.
If taking a ferry, be aware that some companies insist that your dog wears a muzzle when outside of the car. It is best to slowly introduce muzzle training to your dog so that it is not an additional stressor. For information on how to do this successfully watch this tutorial from the Blue Cross.
If your pet is an anxious traveller then get in touch with your vet. Ideally, if there is plenty of time before travel, there may be a chance to work with a behaviourist or trial calming nutraceutical products (e.g. Adaptil).
Lastly, remember to relax and enjoy every moment with your dog!
If you have any questions please get in touch with your vet in plenty of time to organise everything. If you live in Edinburgh & the Lothians and would like to arrange rabies vaccination or an animal health certificate (AHC) visit our pet travel page for more information.