Pet Passports - Planning for travel abroad

Pet passports were initially developed to enable dogs to travel to and from the continent. Over the last 10 years more and more countries now qualify for the pet passport. This means that it is ever easier to take your dog on holiday with you, should you choose to do so. It is also of use if you are working for a period of time overseas.

The Pet Passport requires a number of steps to be taken to qualify for it:

1. Microchipping: Microchipping is essential to allow unique identification of your pet for transport into or out of the United Kingdom. This is the first step required if your pet has not already been microchipped as a puppy.

2. Rabies Vaccination: This vaccine is against rabies infection. It can be given alongside routine vaccination in dogs. It can also be given at another time if more suitable.

3. Rabies Blood Sample: Currently this is taken no less than 21 days from the date of vaccination.

4. Has vaccination worked?: The rabies blood sample taken will tell whether your pet is fully protected from the rabies infection. If the "blood titres" are high enough, then a passport will be issued. Greater than 95% of rabies vaccines are successful the first time they are given. Only a very small number require repeated vaccination. The important point is that assuming they are - your pet may re-enter the UK no less than 6 months from the date of blood sampling.

This final point means that you need to plan as far as 7-8 months in advance.

Failure to do so may mean that you are allowed to take your pet out of the country but encounter difficulties on re-entering the UK.

Once all these steps have been taken then it is important to keep the protection offered by rabies vaccination up to date. Failure to do so would mean that the passport would lapse, and the entire process would require restarted.

If you would like to make an appointment in relation to discussing this further, or other information on disease protection while visiting the continent , just call to make an appointment.

For full up-to-date DEFRA Pet Passport Information please click here!

COST OF PET PASSPORT:

The overall cost of the passport is influenced by a number factors. These are correct as per November 2009, and may be liable to change:

Microchip: £27.40
Rabies Vaccination: £45.51
Rabies Blood Sample: £69.00
Pet Passport (or Export Certification): £62.16

These prices are liable to change with the alterations in VAT. Please contact us for up to date prices.