You can now bring your pets to and from EU countries (and many other countries) on holidays without the need for quarantine.
WHERE DO I START?
The rules for traveling between different countries vary and are subject to change so ensure you have the most up to date information.
Check:
- The Department of Agriculture in Ireland.
- The equivalent Dept of Agriculture in the country you are travelling to.
Call:
Your Veterinary Team at Village Vets to ask us for more advice and book your appointment so we can go through everything.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Visiting another country by car?
CHECK if the car rental company allows pets.
Traveling by plane?
Certain airlines do not accept pets at all, so your first objective is to find a pet friendly airline.
Traveling with pet cargo?
CHECK the requirements of the airport of your destination. Some countries may require that you provide them with advance notice that you will be arriving with a pet.
PREPARE YOUR PET FOR A LONG TRIP
Forget sedatives or sleeping pills
Sedating cats or dogs during travel may increase the risk of certain problems. Instead ask our team about calming pheromones that you can use.
Consider crate training
Start early, the dog or cat who is comfortable in the crate will travel safely and stress free.
Take them for a short car ride
Begin by getting your pet used to traveling as early as six months old. Taking them for short car rides will help to ease stress and get them used to traveling. In general, when travelling within the EU and other ‘low- risk countries’ your pet will need to be vaccinated against rabies prior to travel and this vaccine must be up to date. Have a health check with the vet 1-3 days before traveling abroad and also on the return journey. Treatment for tapeworms and an external parasite treatment may also be necessary. This is to prevent the entry of a specific tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis, into Ireland, which is widespread in
certain parts of Europe. Whilst this tapeworm is harmless in dogs, it can have serious harmful effects on humans. Some countries may also require a blood test after the rabies vaccination to ensure it was effective. It is also important to be aware of other pet diseases that we do not have in Ireland such as heartworm, Leishmania, Ehrlichia etc. Hence, when going abroad please ask us for the correct products to protect your pet from these potentially fatal diseases and what symptoms to look out for. Finally, the passport must be signed by a veterinary surgeon.
*Various countries have different rules and regulations regarding bringing pets in. It is imperative to get the official rules from the destination country if traveling outside the EU. Once you have these, we can make a plan together and discuss what is involved.
