TRAVELLING ABROAD WITH YOUR PET - EXOTIC DISEASES

Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), which permits the re-entry of animals to the UK without entering quarantine, has dramatically changed our attitudes to and the practicality of taking pets abroad.

Quarantine was an efficient barrier, not only to rabies, but also many other exotic diseases that are common overseas, but fortunately absent from the UK.  Many of the diseases that occur abroad, but are not seen in the UK, are actually transmitted by biting insects and ticks.

British pets abroad will not have met these diseases before and therefore are likely to be highly susceptible to them.  This aim of this fact sheet is to inform pet owners who may be considering taking their pets abroad with them about the risks and prevention of some these common exotic diseases.  It outlines in general, some of the more common exotic pet diseases that may be encountered when travelling with your pet abroad, but it is recommended that all pet owners consult their veterinary surgeon for specific advice before travelling abroad with their pets.

Further information about PETS and travelling with your pets can be found in the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter ‘Travelling abroad with your pet’ fact sheet.

Rabies

With the increased use of vaccines against Rabies, the disease appears to be more well controlled in the countries participating in the Pet Travel Scheme.  However, there are 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.

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a severe, infectious disease that is transmitted by sand flies.  It occurs commonly throughout the Tropics and especially the Mediterranean coastal area of Southern Europe.  The disease is caused by a protozoon parasite called Leishmania infantum, which is taken in by the bloodsucking insect when it feeds on an infected dog.  The parasite then completes its lifecycle in the sand fly’s gut.  Leishmaniasis is then carried from dog to dog by the protozoon parasite, via sand fly bites.  Dogs can be bitten up to 100 times an hour during the sand fly season (May to September) and sand flies often feed at night.  However, sand flies have a limited range, although this range is increasing, and therefore local knowledge is often very helpful before visiting an area. 

When an infected sand fly bites a dog, parasites are deposited in the skin.  A tiny skin lesion called a chancre – appears at the site of the bite, usually on the muzzle or ear.  The parasite then invades the dog’s body system.  Signs of the disease are very variable and in some cases, may take a few months to several years to manifest after a visit abroad.  Affected dogs commonly may develop a fever, show signs of hair loss (particularly around the eyes), lose weight and develop skin sores and nail disease.  Unfortunately, as the disease progresses, many organs may become involved leading to problems like anaemia, arthritis in many joints, eye, liver and kidney disease.  The disease, if untreated is fatal and even with complex therapy is not curable, with affected animals being permanently infected, so prevention is the best course of action.  Diagnosis can be confirmed from a blood test or microscopic examination of tissue samples. 

Prevention of Leishmaniasis:

o      Avoid ‘high risk’ areas; leave your dog at home in the UK if necessary

o      Keep animals indoors from one hour before dusk until one hour after sunrise. Use insecticides to control flies indoors

o      Specific medications, such as impregnated collars, to help protect your dog from sand flies are available from your veterinary surgeon.  Some medications may need to be applied two weeks prior to exposure.

o      There is no vaccine against the disease.

Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichia is tick-borne infection transmitted by ticks, which is passed on when a tick feeds on the blood of an infected dog (or cat) and then bites another.

This disease is widely distributed throughout the world and is particularly prevalent in the Mediterranean basin and the Rhone Valley.  Symptoms of this disease vary widely and may include immunosuppression, severe depression, fever, swollen glands, nose bleeds and haemorrhages under the skin and elsewhere because the blood clotting ability is effected.  Less common signs include vomiting, nasal discharge, lameness and severe inflammatory changes in the eyes.  Chronic infections may progress to chronic debility, weight loss, arthritis and neurological disease including convulsions.

Diagnosis is confirmed by blood sample.  Treatment is by antibiotics in the early stages.  Cases of longstanding infection are less likely to respond and many affected dogs often die.

Prevention:

o      It is vital to protect your dog from ticks, so it is recommended that owner’s check their dog’s coat every day. 

o      Tick control: specific spray, impregnated collars and spot-on medications are available from your vet.  Apply before travelling and continue to do so regularly when abroad.

o      Under PETS tick treatment must be carried out between 24-48 hours before returning to the UK.

o      Consult your vet if symptoms appear, always making it clear if your dog has been to an affected area.

Heartworm

Heartworm is a disease primarily of dogs, although cats are also at risk.  It is transmitted by mosquito bites and is common in Southern Europe, the USA and many tropical countries.

After infection, the larval worms are present in the bloodstream and develop inside the heart and the blood supply to the lungs and can be transferred to an unaffected dog via a mosquito bite. 

Signs may take several years to manifest and include a soft cough, tiredness, weakness, loss of weight and condition.  Eventually heart failure may ensue, leading to death.  Diagnosis can be confirmed from blood samples.  (Signs of the disease in cats are often more variable.)

Prevention of Heartworm:

o      Avoid mosquito-infested areas.

o      Ask your veterinary surgeon about preventative treatment.  Once a month tablet or ‘spot on’ preparations are available in the UK and may be obtained from your veterinary surgeon prior to your planned trip abroad, or from a local veterinary surgeon on arrival at your destination.

o      Always treat a dog travelling to a heartworm area.

o      If abroad for less than a month, give preventative treatment on return.

o      If aboard for more than a month, give preventive treatment abroad.

If your dog has been exposed to infection without preventive treatment, even if it was some months ago, have a blood sample analysed; infections are far easier and safer to treat before major symptoms arise.

Babesiosis

This disease is a serious protozoal disease transmitted by ticks, which is caused by the Babesia organisms that invade, multiply in and destroy red blood cells. Tick areas are relatively common on the continent with the condition babesiosis being particularly prevalent in France.

Affected animals develop fever, anaemia, weakness, lethargy, weight loss, anorexia and blood in the urine.  The animals may also show signs of jaundice.  Susceptible dogs can die within a couple of days of the clinical signs appearing.  British dogs are particularly vulnerable because they will have never encountered the disease and therefore will have no resistance to it.

Diagnosis can be confirmed from blood samples and treatment involves specific drug therapy alongside supportive therapy and care, such as blood transfusions in severely anaemic dogs.

Prevention of Babesiosis:

o It is vital to protect your dog from ticks and check its coat every day, while abroad and at home.  If you can remove the ticks, within a day of attachment, it may be possible to reduce the risk of the disease occurring. 

o Tick control: specific sprays, impregnated collars and ‘spot-on’ preparations are available from your veterinary surgery.  Apply before travelling and continue to do so regularly when abroad.

o Under PETS, tick treatment must be carried out between 24-48 hours before returning to the UK.

Hepatozoonosis

This is a widespread disease of both dogs and cats living in warmer climates and is caused by a protozoan parasite carried by a bloodsucking insect, mite or, most commonly, a tick.  There are two main species of the protozoan parasite that can affect dogs:

o H. canis – Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.  Signs can include fever, lethargy, weight loss, anaemia and secondary liver, lung and kidney disease.  This disease can be diagnosed by a blood sample.

o H. americanum – Southern States of the USA.  Signs can include severe pain, lameness and paralysis and the occurrence of abscesses (all in muscles).  This condition can be diagnosed by muscle biopsies.

Prevention of Hepatozoonosis

o Tick control – specific spray, impregnated collars and spot-on preparations are available from you vet.  Apply before travelling and continue to do so regularly when abroad.

o Under PETS tick treatment must be carried out between 24-48 hours before returning to the UK.

o Avoid known severely affected tick habitats 

 

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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

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References and further reading: