TRAVELLING ABROAD WITH YOUR PET

Travelling with your pet

Holidaying with your pet is great fun, but it is recommended to plan your trip with your pet well in advance, especially if you are travelling abroad.  It is commonly dogs rather than cats that travel with their owners abroad, but both dogs and cats can become accustomed to and enjoy the journeys associated with travelling.  Try to acclimatise young pets to travelling from an early age, it will help them to overcome fear and motion sickness.

Staying at home or boarding

If you own a dog or cat that suffers from motion sickness, contact your local veterinary surgery for advice, as the animal may be helped with motion sickness prescription medication from your veterinary surgeon.

However, if your pet is a poor traveller, it may be better to consider not taking them with you.  There are varieties of individuals or groups that offer dog walking and dog sitting schemes, as well as cat sitting or daily cat care schemes.  However, remember, dogs should not be left alone for long periods of time.  Cats may be happier to stay at home with suitable care arrangements.

Kennels and catteries will require a valid vaccination certificate and some kennels may also insist on vaccination against kennel cough.  Therefore, it is best to check with the individual boarding establishments, as to what their specific boarding requirements are.  Prior to making a booking, it is advised to ask to visit the premises and also enquire about exercising facilities.  Dogs and cats should have a secure, clean accommodation area that is made up of a separate warm sleeping area and a separate toilet area.  

Healthcare

Regular vaccination is important for your animal’s health, particularly if you are travelling to an area where infectious diseases may be a problem. Flea and tick treatment should be up to date to prevent problems.  Ensure that your animal is micro-chipped in case it goes missing.  Micro-chipping is a simple process involving injecting a small micro-chip about the size of a grain of rice under the skin at the back of the neck.  The micro-chip contains a unique number that can be read using a special hand held scanner.  The owner’s personal contact details are stored on a central computer which can be accessed by the appropriate authorities on identification of the unique micro-chip number.

It is strongly recommended that pets travelling have current pet insurance, which covers health care and third party liability, as well as travel. 

Pet friendly accommodation

Some hotels and guesthouses in the UK welcome you and your pets, but you should always check that pets are welcome if you are renting holiday accommodation.

There are many restrictions on dog walking on many beaches and public areas, especially at peak holiday times.  However, if you cannot take your dog with you during the day, never leave it in the car, even if the weather is cold.

Transporting pets

For safety reasons, animals should be restrained at all times and should never be held in your arms or on your lap in cars or on public transport.

Dogs in cars should travel in a secure area with a dog guard or a canine seat belt.  Folding cages may be obtained for dogs of all sizes

Cats should travel in a secure, well-ventilated carrier or basket (size dependant on the length of the journey).  Cats prefer a degree of privacy and do not usually need exercise on a journey.

Withhold food several hours before the journey, but allow drinking up to and during the journey.  Ensure that your pet has a comfortable bed with absorptive newspaper underneath and that ventilation is adequate.  Take clean towels, old newspapers, pooper-scoopers and plastic bags.  Always carry fresh water and a clean water bowl with you.  Take familiar food if travelling in the UK to avoid a sudden change in diet.

During the journey, make sure to use a collar and lead for your dog when taking it for essential exercise and try to use designated dog walking areas.  If your journey is very long, then choose a carrier for your cat that is large enough to accommodate a small litter tray and a secured water bowl.

Taking your pet abroad

The quarantine regulations in the UK changed in 2000, meaning that dog and cat owners living in the UK can now take their pets on holiday to certain countries and bring them home again without them needing to stay in quarantine for 6 months.

Under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) animals must be:

All pets travelling under PETS must be issued with an official PETS certificate and must be treated by a suitably qualified veterinary surgeon in the 24-48 hours before returning to the UK against tapeworm and ticks and then issued with an official certificate of treatment.  Treatment for tapeworms is necessary in order to prevent the entry into the UK of the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis, which is carried by many foxes abroad, can be transmitted to dogs and can cause potentially fatal disease in humans.  Treatment against ticks is necessary as ticks may carry exotic diseases into the UK.

The detailed rules and regulations of PETS with regard to documentation, procedures and participating countries are evolving constantly.  Therefore it is recommended that all pet owners considering taking their pets abroad with them consult their veterinary surgeon for the most up-to-date advice.  Pet owners should also inform their veterinary surgeon that they have travelled abroad with their pet, should any illness develop following their return to the UK.  Also, ensure that your pet is fully covered by pet health insurance and that you check that this insurance cover extends to trips abroad.

Further information on PETS, please contact DEFRA on tel: 0870 241 1710, by e-mail on: pets.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk or visit the website: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm. 

For more information, contact DEFRA or the Jersey States Veterinary Officer (SVO).  The Jersey SVO will be able to provide further information about the Pets Travel Scheme (PETS) specific requirements, which MUST be adhered to if travelling abroad with your pets.  Your local veterinary surgeon will also be able to offer your advise on the PETS.

Some countries may require more than the PETS 1 certificate, such as an export health certificate or import permit.  Always check the latest regulations as they are subject to change.

Also, the pet owner must check with DEFRA and the country or countries that you intend to travel to or through well before the date of departure. 

Documents that you should carry with you as a precaution include:

It is possible to obtain advice about seeking veterinary help and advice whilst on holiday on the DEFRA website ( www.defra.gov.uk).  Veterinary provision for small animals varies throughout the different countries that participate in the PETS scheme and may be very different from the UK veterinary practices.

Pets abroad – exotic diseases

Dogs and cats originating in the UK may experience difficulties in extremes of climate unless allowed time to acclimatise.  Very hot or very cold temperatures or high altitudes may cause distress or illness.  Ask your veterinary surgeon for advice before you travel, particularly if your animal is young, elderly or has a chronic medical condition.

If travelling abroad, you may not be able to take pet food with you.  Try and obtain food that is most similar to your pet’s diet to minimise the risk of digestive upsets. 

Your animal may be exposed to a number of potentially fatal diseases overseas.  Contact your veterinary surgery and check with DEFRA if you intend to travel, particularly off the beaten track, with your dog or cat.  Rabies is an established disease in many European countries, but not yet in the UK.  It was decided that controlled movement of certain identifiable animals (through PETS for example) would not increase the risk of rabies entering this country, provided these animals were subject to strict rules.  Also, with the increased use of vaccines against Rabies, the disease appears to be better controlled in the countries participating in the Pet Travel Scheme.  However, unfortunately, rabies is still a risk. 

There are also other diseases that it is important to consider to which your dog may be at risk of while abroad.  These may include leishmaniasis, babesiosis, heartworm and erlichiosis.  Further information can be found in the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter ‘Travelling with your pet – exotic diseases’ fact sheet.

Remember: 

JSPCA working to

“prevent cruelty, promote knowledge, provide for aged, sick, lost and unwanted animals.”

 

Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Inc.)

Founded 1868 – Incorporated 1936

89 St Saviour’s Road, St Helier, Jersey JE2 4GJ         

Tel: 01534 724331          Fax: 01534 871797

E-mail: info@jspca.org.je          Website: www.jspca.org.je

 

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