Mixed Messages from the Vets on Rabies
Comments
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Robbie - my vaccine was for three years but the passport was stamped for one only - apparently due to the French rules as seen above where there is a possibility of being caught up in a rabies outbreak in France in which case the dog would be destroyed because the French have the one year rule.
I am having the passports redone for the 3 years but taking the risk that I won't get caught up in a rabies outbreak where the police have the power to euthanase.
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I had the same problem when the pet travel scheme was first introduced in 2002. The initial vaccination was valid for two years and one year later my vet sent me a reminder for my dog's rabies booster.
I contacted DEFRA who didn't have a clue, and I then wrote to the European Commission. After much correspondence they eventually agreed that the vaccination was valid for two years for travel in Europe.
The Nobivac rabies vaccine is valid for three years and the deciding factor for renewal is the date in your Pet's Passport. No other countries apart from Ireland, Sweden and the UK seem to bother about the entry of pets.
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I agree with you about other countries not being interested - or so it seems, I can only vouch for France. I wouldn't want to get caught up in a rabies scare area though with the authorities in France having the power to Euthanase but I would be pointing out the date on my passport pretty forcibly if they were after my dogs.
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I've had a phone chat with a guy from DEFRA this afternoon and he was very helpful on a number of things regarding the Pet Passport scheme.
One thing I asked about was the 'yearly' rabies treatment suggested by your Vet.
The DEFRA guy said that some UK Vets were 'trying it on - to line their own pockets'.
As long as your UK Rabies vaccine is up-to-date on the Pet Passport then that is sufficient.
But - if you live in France then you must have a one year vaccine as laid down by French legislation.
Visitors dogs from the UK do not, and never have, needed the rabies vaccine yearly.
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Thank you K&M - did you ask specifically if there was an outbreak of rabies in France?
I am fairly confident that my vet (not the one who gave me the one year thing) was being honest and I didn't have to push too far to get the date changed. (at least I have posted the passports to them for the change since they are a distance from me)
It does seem that there are people out there who believe the French won't have mercy on our dogs if we are in the middle on an outbreak without a "one year" rabies as per French dogs.
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did you ask specifically if there was an outbreak of rabies in France?
Yes, he said as far as he knows, and he seemed to know a great deal, France has the status of being Rabies free since May 2015.
If you want to scare the living daylights out of the paranoid rabies community tell them to have a look at an article in the Independent from 1996 about bats and rabies in Germany - easy to Google - entitled 'Why aren't Germans all dead from Rabies?'
We're off to France on Thursday with our dog - rabies or not!
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well I have made a mistake - sending the passports - it now seems I should be in France at my brother's bedside
but the vet is not in today to change them. At least that doesn't give me the option of leaving home today - except I could leave them with my daughter - but I would rather they were with me to keep me company and mop up the tears!0 -
Brittany Ferries always check pet passports going out and really. Entering the UK.
Our vet told us the actual vaccine dose is the same whatever the interval.
Three years ago, (long story) our dog had one jab in France in March and one in the UK in September. She didn't suffer from any side effects.
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I am glad she didn't crissy. I knew I had heard it somewhere and saw it again today - there is a proven link between Rabies vaccination and Hypothyroidism in dogs - hence my reluctance to over vaccinate an elderly epileptic dog. I may drop her off with my daughter near Plymouth before sailing but will probably keep her with me - at least I can leave them both in Plymouth if they don't like the amended passport and keep my fingers firmly crossed for the return. I will definitely change my vet if I have a problem!
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On the subject of vaccination, has anyone a recommendation for a vet in the area around Le Chateau du Deffay, we need to have our dog vaccinated for the return to the UK 5 days before our return, thanks for any insight......
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It should be worm and tick treatment only? For the return? Unless you normally reside abroad? Be careful because the rabies Vac has to be at least 3 weeks old before you can get back into the UK. That is if you started in the uk may be different if starting in France or somewhere.
some one will come up with approved vets list but the further away from the port you can do the less the cost often. I just walked into a vets at the appropriate time.
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Isn't this going around in circles again!
Belgium, Germany, it matters not if you don't live there. Your vaccination is for re-entry into the UK and your length of time be it 1, 2 or 3 years will be stamped for a renewal date and will be recognised by all other EU countries.
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