Hi I just posted this in another section but was advised that this might be the better place to ask....
I have just been to a vet to ask if my pet passport that was stamped for 3 years is valid, she says yes but that france and spain has just a 1 year passport and my susie wouldn't perhaps be allowed into either France or Spain.
She told me about the worming and flea stuff which I know about, the 24/48 hour thing
Anyone had any problems of this sort please?
I dont want to book to go away if customs wont let me through, she says that the UK would let me back with it and that if had an ok customs man I would be allowed in to France and also into Spain.
Thanks
Trish
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it apears to me that most uk vets have not the knowledge to understand what happens. its hard to find a vet with sense . luckily i have found one . here and spain. but yes in spain they rabies jab every year .in some countries they use a different vaccine to us but allow our dogs in . our dogs rabies jab started at one year .then later lasted 2 years now its 3 years .still the same vaccine .its an on going thing . i have been told it may soon last 5 yr .hope so, make it alot cheaper then.
The rabies jab is valid for three years now so no problems with that but your dog will still need it's annual booster for other diseases which gets written up in the passport. We've never had anyone official look at our pet passport other than employees of Eurotunnel or Norfolk Line who check it in France before we come home. Some sites will ask to see it when you check in but most don't bother.
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The EU rules, as it was explained to me, are that whatever vaccination sceme is in force in each member state, the other member states will honour. That means that if your GB vet gives the 3 year vaccine and stamps the passport with a 3 year expiry date, that will be accepted as the dog being covered to travel until that date is past. If a French dog came to the UK with a one year vaccination, and it had just expired, it wouldn't be accepted even though an English vet might have given 3 years. No-one ever asked about any other vaccinations apart from the rabies jab, and the 2 treatments required to return to the UK.
And additionally, no-one ever asked which countries we had visited. It was only those covered by the pet passport scheme for us, but there are countries on the continent not covered by the scheme, and if you have been there, you should declare it and put your dog in quarrantine if you come home. Check the DEFRA website first if you are off to wander in Europe!
I hope this is clear. We never showed our passport to anyone but the vets and ferry staff before return. Oh, and once to a campsite when booking in. As long as it's current according to your vet, and he has signed to that effect, it's no problem.
Hi Thanks to all who replied and to minicamper ,no it doesnt confuse, the vet confused us when she said about the rules being different there and we might not be allowed in, we were worried about being turned away at the ports after booking the trip, this is such a helpful forum thanks to all who contribute.
The vet here said something similar to my husband which let to our dog getting her rabies jab eighteen months early. The vet gave her the annual booster at the same time, she should have known better as the drug companies advice is to have a gap of at least two weeks between jabs. The poor dog had a dreadful reaction which led to two operations and fears we might lose her. OH should have known better too, we've been to France with the dog about eight times now and no-one is that interested. As long as the passport is valid here it'll get your dog home again.
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We did use a vet in Spain last year and she did say that the Spanish preferred a yearly rabies booster rather than a three year one. She actual said that if our dog bit anyone then there could be a problem if the vaccination was not less than a year old.
Over the last 10 years our dogs have visited 9 European countries.
The only time that the paperwork is checked is returning to the UK. Having said that, in Switzerland for example the dog must have had a rabies jab (or booster) within 12 months of crossing the border. Whilst they have never checked ours at the Swiss border, if they did then that rule would apply.
It does say on the DEFRA web site that it will take some time for different countries to enact the EU rules into their own legislation. In the meantime it is up to us, the traveller, to check local regulations before travelling. You MAY be OK relying on UK rules regarding the life of a booster jab, but depending on the official that you get (if you do ever get one at a border) you MAY NOT be OK.
Annual jabs, other that those connected with the PETS scheme need not be recorded in the passport, which in any event does not make provision for them. They should be recorded on the animals separate vaccination record.
Regarding the Tick and Flea treatment: Am I right in saying that it is only the UK that insists on this being done 24/48 hours before returning to the UK and that we, the UK, have this a special exemption that expires in 2010?
Quote: Originally posted by happybonzo on 28/10/2010
Regarding the Tick and Flea treatment: Am I right in saying that it is only the UK that insists on this being done 24/48 hours before returning to the UK and that we, the UK, have this a special exemption that expires in 2010?
I'm not sure about the exemption but when you think about it I suppose it must only be the UK that insists on it as no proof of treatment is required to enter France. I'm not sure French dogs have to undertake the same when going home either?
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" You MAY be OK relying on UK rules regarding the life of a booster jab, but depending on the official that you get (if you do ever get one at a border) you MAY NOT be OK."
I think most people will only be concerned that they can get their pets back to the UK, and I don't think any French port official is going to stop a dog with an English passport returning to the UK as long as the tick and worm treatments have been complied with, and the passport is valid according to UK regulations.
I understand that a one year extension has been granted as it should have expired this year but it's now 2011
Mike
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Topic: 3 year passport for dogs ??
