With summer just around the corner, thoughts are turning to holidays. Many people seek a change of scenery (and climate!) with a trip abroad. However, there are several things you need to be aware of before you make a firm decision whether to take your pet with you. Not only does this include the travel document side of things, but also some significant health risks you should consider. We’ll look at both of these things so that you can make an informed judgement about what is best for your pet this summer.
Table of contents
What does my pet in order need to travel?
The exact documents needed for entry into various countries around the globe vary. So, for the most common pet holidays, we’ll focus on the EU.
To travel from the UK to an EU country (including Northern Ireland) your dog, cat or ferret will need the following:
- A microchip
- A rabies vaccination
- An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) or a valid EU passport issued by a vet in the EU
Following Brexit, the AHC has taken the place of pet passports in the UK, and you will need one of these to be issued each time you travel abroad with your pet. This certificate consists of several pages of information and is completed by an Official Veterinarian. It is issued between 1 and 10 days before your travel (not all vets are Official Veterinarians, only those that have undergone specific training).
Before your AHC is issued, your pet will need to have had a rabies vaccination. This needs to be administered a minimum of 3 weeks before you travel.
You should also note that dogs will need a tapeworm tablet administered 1 to 5 days before you intend on returning to the UK. This needs to be given by a vet abroad so that they can sign to say that your dog has had the correct medication. This tapeworm treatment is important as it can help prevent dogs from bringing home a tapeworm called Echinococcus (that we would rather keep out of our country!). We’ll explore this tapeworm further below.
What diseases and parasites are my pet at risk from when travelling abroad?
If we again consider the EU, focusing on mainland Europe, there are many parasites and diseases that could cause disease in both us and our pets. Here are some examples of the most common ones –
Rabies
Rabies is a virus that attacks the brain and nervous system. It is spread through an infected animal bite, as the virus is carried in saliva. Humans are susceptible to this fatal disease as well as animals. The UK is currently free from rabies, but many mainland European countries are not. Vaccination helps to protect our pets and, in turn, us from rabies. Because we want to keep our rabies-free status, this vaccination is compulsory for all dogs, cats and ferrets.
Leishmania
Leishmaniasis is a disease that can affect dogs as well as other mammals (including humans). It is caused by a protozoan parasite which is carried by sandflies (Although direct dog to dog transmission can, rarely, occur as well even in the absence of sandflies). Once an animal is bitten and infected, there is an incubation period where the parasite spreads throughout its host which may last months to years. The rate at which clinical disease is seen is very variable, with other factors like age, genetics and nutrition all affecting how quickly this may occur. This means you may be unaware that your pet has been carrying this disease for quite a long time. The infection causes symptoms like skin lesions, nosebleeds, weight loss, eye abnormalities and kidney disease. Even if your pet is treated, they can relapse later down the line.
Babesia
Babesia spp are a type of protozoan parasite which are spread by the bite of infected ticks. All mammals are susceptible, including humans. In Europe, various strains exist including B. canis, B. vogeli, and B. rossi. Babesia canis is the most significant, and is transmitted by a tick called Dermacentor reticularis. B. canis is currently rare in the UK. Affected dogs may have a wide variety of clinical signs including sudden collapse due to destruction of their red blood cells. They may also have swollen lymph nodes, fever, pale mucous membranes and abnormally dark urine.
Brucella Canis
Brucellosis is becoming a hot topic, as we are diagnosing more cases in the UK – mainly from animals imported here, such as rescue dogs from countries like Romania. The issue again with this disease is that people can catch it, though it is uncommon. It is an infectious bacterium that mainly affects the reproductive organs causing fertility issues and pregnancy loss. In some dogs, it can also travel to their spine and joints causing severe lameness. It is usually spread through mating, but also through contact with infected fluids like urine. The risk for pets that occasionally travel abroad is lower than that of stray and rescue animals.
Ehrlichiosis
Canine ehrlichiosis is another disease spread through tick bites. The tick that hosts this type of bacteria doesn’t live in the UK, though it may be able to survive in warm, damp conditions (like kennels). The infection causes non-specific symptoms like lethargy, lymph node enlargement and fever. The dog may improve without treatment from this initial infection and could remain asymptomatic for months or years. But later down the line these symptoms will come back and be even more severe (with weight loss, bleeding issues and symptoms similar to autoimmune disease). Ehrlichia canis (the main organism causing ehrlichiosis in dogs in Europe) does not affect humans or cats.
Echinococcus multilocularis
Echinococcus multilocularis is found across much of mainland Europe. It is the cause of echinococcosis where cystic lesions are seen developing in multiple organs in the body, with the adult tapeworm prevalent in the fox and canine population. This disease is dangerous to humans and has a significant effect on life expectancy.
Only the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland, and Iceland are free from this parasite at the time of writing. This is why your dog must receive a tapeworm tablet before re-entry to the UK, to prevent the spread of this harmful parasite into our country.
Linguatula serrata (Tongue worm)
Linguatula serrata (also known as the tongue worm) is a parasite that lives in the nasal passages of dogs, where it causes mild to severe rhinosinusitis. Affected dogs may have discharge from their nose, coughing, nosebleeds and breathing issues. This parasite can also infect humans. It has been reported in the UK in dogs imported from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Adult parasites are large and tongue-like in shape, growing 30 -130mm in length.
These parasites and infectious diseases have different levels of prevalence in different locations in Europe. For example, we know that Ehrlichia canis is most prevalent in countries France, Spain, Greece and Portugal, whereas Babesia is much more widespread across most of Europe. The European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) has produced an excellent map for you to see which parasites/diseases are most prevalent in which countries.
What can I do to protect my pet from infectious disease?
As well as fulfilling the legal requirements for travel with your pet’s rabies vaccination and dose of tapeworm treatment on your return journey (for dogs), you should also take some additional steps to protect them against some of the harmful diseases listed above.
The number one thing you can do is implement an effective anti-parasite regime before, during and after travel. This should include protection against ticks, but you should also consider a product that is effective against sandflies if you are travelling in an area where Leishmania is prevalent.
It is also recommended that you treat your pet for tapeworm again 30 days after you arrive back in the UK. Whilst this is not a legal requirement it is advisable to be completely sure that your pet isn’t harbouring Echinococcus; as they could have picked something up in the short interval after their vet administered the dose abroad. Treatment for cats, while again not a legal requirement, should also be considered.
If you are unsure which products to use, then speak with your vet who will be able to advise you further.
You should also take sensible precautions whilst on holiday such as avoiding your pet roaming to reduce their chances of encountering stray dog or fox populations where the risk of disease is much higher.
Final thoughts
While it is always nice to be able to holiday with your pet, it’s important to be aware of some of the risks that foreign travel can present. No trip will ever be 100% risk-free, but by taking some proactive measures you can help to keep your pet and your family safe. Speak with your vet if you need any further advice on pet travel or effective parasite treatments.
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