dogs abroad?

f1re_cr4cker

Could any1 advise me on the jabs etc a dog needs to go to France and the cost? I was told its very expensive??

pboae

All the details are here http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/owners.htm

In the Procedures section. Essentially, you get your dog microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies (usually 2 injections), then a blood test at *exactly* the right time, then wait 6 months (which is effectively the quarantine period). After that you can start to take your dog abroad. In future it's important that the booster is given on or before the due date, or you have to go through the whole rigmarole again, as long as you get the booster done in time, you don't need to do anything more.

Between 24-48 hours before you come back you have to go to a local vet and get your dog flea and worm treated, it's cheaper in France than the UK anyway. On the way back you will have to stop at a check point and have your dog's paperwork checked over. The ferries/eurotunnel charge for this, it's £30 with eurotunnel.

I think the initial jabs and blod tests cost me about £150. It may have been a bit more. We go over every year.

Do be aware that the banned breeds list in France covers some popular dogs here (staffies and bull breeds). Also depending on where you are going there are some additional diseases that you need to protect your dog against (e.g. heartworm).

wuno

If you are just taking it there, you will need to have your dog microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. You won't be able to travel until 21 days after the vaccination.

If you want to bring it back again, you will also need to get a rabies immunity test done, after vaccination, and won't be able to re-enter the UK until 6 months after the test result comes back positive.

A day before you come back, your dog will need to be treated for ticks and worms by a vet in France.

It is difficult, expensive, and involves lots of paperwork. You need to think seriously about whether you need to travel with your dog. If you do, speak to your vet about prices, but your are talking several hundred pounds.

snowman2_2

We charge £125 for microchip, rabies vaccine, blood test and pet passport with a rabies booster every 3 years (about £35). Tick and tapeworm treatment seems to vary from £35 to £50 in France. Best advice is ask your vet. We have an info sheet ready prepared and do about 40 - 50 each year

pboae

I've dug out my receipt for my dog's passport and I paid £127.50 for it in 2005.

The initial procedure was strict, i.e. there was no flexibilty on the dates of the initial jabs and blood test, but other than that it wasn't difficult and once it is set up the paperwork is minimal. We've been all over Northern France and every French vet I have used has spoken English and been familiar with the scheme.

f1re_cr4cker

sorry to dredge this bk up but how do u organise seeing the french vet?

pboae

Either wait till you are there and go in and speak to them, or phone them up in advance and make an appointment. There is some info about using french yellow pages halfway down the page here
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/parasites.htm

I've never had a problem booking an appointment, the vets always seem to know about the scheme, so far there has always been at least one vet at the practice that speaks English. Making the appointment can be tricky (for me anyway because I don't speak any French) so I check and double check what I have booked if I phone. I prefer to make the appointment when I get there now, as it's easier to write dates and times down, if I'm struggling to make myself understood.

If you are going to Northern France I can recommend a few vets.

Annieb

Hiya, We would like to take our caravan to spain for the winter months, we have a small dog which we will be taking with us, so we know we have to start planning now because of the list of things to do for taking Jack (the dog) with us.
As this will be our first time I was wondering if there was any one who already does this and can offer some advice on how to start and what we need to do, or maybe someone knows of any web sites that has forums that we could look at for advice.
Thanks

greyteam1959

Can't offer any advice i'm afraid......only thing I can say is that the south coast of spain has thousands of caravans / motorhomes thro the winter months.

country_girl_4

Hi
The forums on dogpages.org.uk should be worth a try, there's quite a few members who use mse too.

Errata

Re. the dog. Your vet will have all the information about what you need to do for Jack to travel to Spain. Passport, shots what to be careful about etc. They should also be able to give you advice on things like a change of diet if you can't get his regular food there, and also perhaps a list of vet practices near to where you'll be in Spain; the last thing you need is to have to hunt around for the nearest vet if he needs one quickly. HTH and a happy winter holiday to you all.