Vaccinations required?

[Hev&Jon]

Hi Everybody,

We have two dogs and a cat that we're taking to France with us when we move in March.  Does anybody know if they need any vaccinations (other than rabies) before they go?

Many thanks,

Heather & Jon.

[Eslier]

As long as you have your EU Pet's Passport then you don't need anything else. This will usually be issued once a satisfactory blood test result has been returned showing that the rabies vaccination has been effective. The blood test cannot be done until 30 days after the rabies jab ahs been given, and then allow another week for the test results. Your pets will not be able to return again to the UK until six months following the date of the blood test.

Annual vaccinations for cats and dogs are very similar to what you have been used to in the UK but you will probably find them to be significantly cheaper. Rabies boosters are required every year (not every two years as in the UK) if you wish to keep the Pets Passport active.

[Deimos]

My understanding is that to ENTER France you need a rabies

vaccination and a wait of 1 month – no blood test, etc.  You do need a Pet Passport but to get this

you do not require a blood test. 

However, to enter/re-enter the UK you (or rather each pet) need(s) a

blood showing adequate immunity plus a 6 month wait after the successful blood

sample plus a continuous record of rabies booster vaccinations (often at 2

yearly intervals when done in the UK and each year when done in France – the

Pet Passport shows the vaccination date and the expiry date when the next

booster is due).

If you move to France without the blood test I would urge

you to get it done anyway.  Its

relatively cheap and one sees a depressingly regular stream of pets needing to

be re-homed as their owners plans have had to change and they cannot wait in

France for the required 6 months for their pet(s).

Most people tend to have the other “routine” set of

vaccinations (if you get the “normal set” and rabies done at the same time, I

have found the “combined” set cost significantly less than having the rabies

done separately).

I have been told that some kennels require a Kennel Cough

vaccination – though on the few occasions mine have been in kennels this has

not been mentioned – so I would wait until asked and forget it unless there are

specific considerations.

A few people have their dogs vaccinated against Piroplasmose

and Lyme diseases.  Risk depends on

where you live.  Whenever I ask my vet

they seem to alternate between “good idea” and “use Frontline” (to control the

tick carriers).  I’ve not vaccinated against

these (as I don’t like continually having thing injected into my pets).  I’m told that many hunters have their dogs

vaccinated but nobody at my local dog club has had their so vaccinated.  I believe that most people (myself included)

are just careful about ticks, treating e.g. Frontline monthly (for ticks),

regular checks for ticks and visit the vet at the first sign of Pirpolasmose

symptoms (a disease which strikes quickly, but can be treated if caught early

but can be fatal if left).

I’m not a vet and the best thing would be to consult with

your local vet on arrival.

Hope this helps

Ian

[levisiteur]

We brought a golden retriever to France 2 yrs ago

She was up to date with the usual vacs.

DEFRA were very helpfull.

We phoned the local DEFRA for an export licience (our vet gave us the number).

The vet had to perform a through health check 24hrs before departure.(no rabies jab needed)

I believe if you pet has a rabies vac. certain time and blood tests to perform (see very important)

DEFRA need several weeks notice.      Payed vet around 80 quid.

Suggest you phone DEFRA,   NOW!!   (to check for LATEST regs. and forms.)

The other method is a pet passport of which I have no knowlege .

VERY IMPORTANT

To take a pet back to Britain the pet needs a  rabies jab wait 1 month, then blood test, and wait 6 months before travel - more difficult!!

I hope this helps, but DEFRA are the authority.

Best wishes and good luck.

Levisiteur

 

[Hev&Jon]

Hi All,

We have already had our dogs issued with passports and to do this we had to do the following: -

First we had them microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies, then after one month they had a blood test which had to be sent away to a lab.  Once the vet had confirmation back from the lab that sufficient rabies antibodies were present he was able to issue the passports.

Thanks for your input.

Heather & Jon.

[Deimos]

[quote user="levisiteur"]

We brought a golden retriever to France 2 yrs ago

…

We phoned the local DEFRA for an export licience (our vet gave us the

number).

…

Payed vet around 80 quid.

[/quote]

I’m surprised your vet went that route as it is both

expensive and very constrained.  As of 2

years ago (in fact for many years prior to the introduction of the Pet

Passports) your vet could have issued you UK PETS paperwork.  This lasts for at least a year (from issue

date), and allows re-entry to UK, re-entry to France and costs nothing (except

for your vet’s admin charge – which for me was free).  Knowledgeable vets hold the paperwork “in-stock”, no need to

contact DEFRA, etc.

For animals covered under the Pet Passport scheme I believe

that a Pet Passport is now required and that export licenses are not

available.  There may be exceptions

(e.g. more than 3 dogs etc. – but I’m unsure about this).  In practice Pet Passport is easier, cheaper

and lasts for longer so in effect the Export License mechanism is finished for

some animals.

 

[quote

user="Hev_Jon"]

We have already had our dogs issued with passports and to do this we had to

do the following: -

First we had them microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies, then

after one month they had a blood test which had to be sent away to a

lab.  Once the vet had confirmation back from the lab that

sufficient rabies antibodies were present he was able to issue the passports.

[/quote]

Blood test is not 

requirement to have a Pet Passport issued.  It is only a requirement to enter UK (plus a couple of other EU

countries).  However, most UK vets will

want it done – mainly because they ask DEFRA and DEFRA control entry of animals

into the UK and not e.g. France.

However, the blood test is a good idea and not particularly

expensive.

Ian