Dog Passports New Rules?
I will check with DEFRA tomorrow but has anyone had experience with the new format of dog passports? I ask because 4 years ago or so I got my first two passports for the dogs and I know it involved them being up to date with the usual jabs and once those were up to date Rabies was added. (I had been keeping them covered for the usual UK stuff with homeopathic remedies but was told those wouldn't wash for the passport. The passport now comes
Today I went to get a passport for new to me Molly. She has an up to date record of all her jabs since 2008 when she was born but the vet only recorded the Rabies injection he gave her today. This seems a bit odd to me but he assures me the passport will be valid for return to the UK in 3 weeks. Not that I have exact travel plans yet.
It doesn't feel right if dogs are allowed to travel without ALL inoculations in place but I do realise that there is a movement not to give dogs yearly injections after a certain length of time.
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Whilst the passport may only require details of the rabies injection I think you should still keep up to date with everything else, and keep that record separately but together with the passport.
Our passport, for our cat, only carries details of the rabies jabs (and that's all we need to show on returning to the UK) - but we still keep up to date with all the other required jabs and keep the vaccination record together with her passport. (And you've reminded me that we need to get them done soon).
The reason for the passport is so that animals don't bring back rabies into this country - and that's what needs to be checked when they are brought back in, not that they are protected against kennel cough, etc, Strictly speaking, these days, the dog shouldn't just be given 'boosters' for anything and everything every year, but should be protected every year against any particular and prevalent diseases and this should be given in conjunction with an annual health check.
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My dog's Pet Passport, used a few weeks ago to return to the UK, has his Vaccination against Rabies stamp and Echinococcus Treatment recorded.
The Clinical Examination has also been recorded but it is not mandatory – I just like to get my moneys worth when visiting a Foreign Vet.
The only other obligatory requirement is his Microchip number and date of microchipping.
There is a description of the dog, and we've added a photo, which should ensure our/your dog has an untroubled visit to the PP Office.
Any other treatments or medication given to your dog is not required by the Pet Passport Office when entering the UK.
His first Pet Passport from 2008 had Tick Treatment and Other Vaccinations recorded but the newest one dated 2015 does not have, or need, them recording.
Hope this helps.
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.....and the foreign vet also has to certify the animal is 'fit to travel', and there is a specific place to do this - see page 28 onwards?
You're correct Pippah45 - it doesn't seem right, but as Valda rightly says the scheme is to protect against rabies only (the echinococcus bit was probably an EU requirement to get more money out of us!).
But let's face it - all responsible owners will ensure their pets innoculations are up to date. You know that your pet is protected and that's the most important part!
Enjoy your trip with your pets!!
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From the Gov.uk website 'Bringing your Pet dog, cat or ferret to the UK' -
Before you travel
Check if the company you’re travelling with:will accept your pet for travel - and how many they’ll accept if you have more than one
needs any proof that your pet is fit and healthy to travel, for example a letter from a vet or certain information in your pet passportIf you travel with more than 5 pets or for commercial reasons then the rules are different.
The 'Fit to Travel' section does not need to be filled in if, as most of us do, you travel by Ferry or Eurotunnel from an EU country with your pets and these companies do not insist on having that section completed.
Many people do not have the 'Fit to Travel' section filled in as it is not mandatory.
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Thank you everyone - I get quite nervous going home through customs for some reason so I want to be sure that there is no reason to get stopped! This new to me dog's microchip is way back behind her shoulder blade - so not so easy to find! But at least I made a mental note of where and the vet put it in the passport too.
I am glad they are slowing down the jabs a little as some years ago a very old dog of mine went very strange after her yearly booster - the normal sort - not rabies she was pre passport era.
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The fit to travel section (on the old passport) is definitely optional. If you look there are only five sections that can be completed when there are many more sections for the rabies vaccinations and worming treatments. 12 for Rabies vac and 15 for the worming treatment I was concerned about the fact our PP only has one slot left for certification as 'fit to travel' and enquired with the staff at Pet Passport control at Coquelles when we came home last year. She explained there was no need to be concerned as if it was full and the vet had no space, the main concern was certification of the rabies vac and the worming treatment.
I don't know how many 'fit to travel' sections there are on the new passport.
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Thanks for the clarification. I suppose I fell into the trap of 'all the French vets we have used had completed this part!' - not correct in this case.
I shall watch with interest when we visit the vet to bring our dog back to the UK in June.
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Why o Why do they try and confuse things. We have two dogs and the older one has travelled three times with us the younger one twice , his passport is slightly different but they are both up to date with Rabies , Vaccinations and they are both Microchipped . I take worming tablets with me to France for the vet to give to the dogs.I make sure when i visit the vets here in the uk that everything is written in the passport and the little sticker for the vaccinations is stuck in the passport. The same in France. Maybe when we leave the EU taking dogs abroad it might be a bit more difficult we will have to see but for now enjoy taking your Dogs with you .
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When you go to the pet check in they hand you the scanner to scan the chip yourself, so you do need to know where it is. My dog’s chip is in a similar place.
Nora
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