We have a 9 day holiday booked in France in August with our caravan, crossing on the Eurotunnel and staying not far from Calais (at La Bien Assise).
However, we have just committed to getting a puppy - which we are hoping will be coming on the holiday too. He is only 2 1/2 weeks old at the moment, so will be around 5 months when we depart.
I've just been reading up some basic info - like adding him into the Eurotunnel booking will cost £30 and he will have to have a Pet Passport. However, I've also read that he will need to see a vet for a worming treatment during the holiday.
Could anyone advise me please? We've never owned a dog before and haven't even got him yet. So, as you can imagine - we aren't even familiar with veterinary care here, never mind in France!
We'll be taking out pet insurance for him shortly and he will get signed up to our local vet for his jabs & such.
So, we would like travel advice aimed at dog novices please - e.g. what do we need to do and when.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
gives you all the info you need - it really is simple and easy, on the tunnel you can at least stay with your pet as you all stay in your vehicle, on a ferry you would have to leave your pet in the car on its own
There have been quite a few threads on here in the past on this subject, I don't know if you have read any of those. However, since the beginning of this year some things have changed, and there is 1 thread which was posted in January which contains very useful contributions HERE. One suggestion is to have a good talk with your vet, which to me seems a good idea.
I would imagine that those campsites near to Calais (Bien Assise included) would have information at reception on local vets. I think there might even be a list somewhere.
David
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 08/4/2012
I would imagine that those campsites near to Calais (Bien Assise included) would have information at reception on local vets. I think there might even be a list somewhere.
David
Yes, I'm sure. We have only stayed at La Bien Assise once on an overnighter, but I remember that there were loads of people with dogs, and we were told that it is used a lot on the way home for vet treatment.
Thanks so far. I should probably clarify. It is the experience of other dog owners I was really looking for. I don't need help with Googling basic information - been doing that for more years than I care to think about!!!
Does anyone know approximately how much a French vet will charge for the worming treatment/passport stamp? Is it an easy procedure to arrange? Obviously, we will talk to our vet in due course - but we don't have one yet!!
Hi, don't panic! it is a well trodden path by many of us - in our case 3 dogs over 5 years. Costs vary, as we stayed to the West of Calais, we used a vet in Marquise, they were very used to the methodology and apparently much cheaper than Calais. Dead easy to arrange - go in and ask! Production of a pet passport tells all you need, but French does help - but as they are so used to we Brits it all runs very smoothly. I recall the costing was about 45e but we supplied our own tick treatment (Advantix) and wormer. This year it all became a whole lot easier the DEFRA web-site tells all. It really is easy and so much better for you and your dog. Dog acceptance in France is universal, so long as we Brits adopt the usual etiquette with poo bags, which is unfortunately not always the case. Go for it!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
we used to pay around 60 euros for a 55kg dog, vets provided wormer and tick treatment - perhaps someone could point you to a vet close to the site/location that youre on that they could recommend?
Your dog will need to be microchipped prior to vaccination, and should be no younger than three months old. Following his vaccination he will be able to travel twenty-one days afterwards.
When returning home he will need to see a French vet for tapeworm treatment. This needs to be done no less then forty-eight hours or more than 120 hours before travel.
I paid €42 for my dog last time but that was for tick and tapeworm treatment. I should think it would cost about €30 without tick treatment.
Quote: Originally posted by Ulti-Mates on 08/4/2012
Hi
Thanks so far. I should probably clarify. It is the experience of other dog owners I was really looking for. I don't need help with Googling basic information - been doing that for more years than I care to think about!!!
Sorry, just trying to help, as were others, I wasn't suggesting Googling for info, just thought that the recent thread contained worthwhile info, which may have been of use.
As for cost of vets in France, I'm sure that varies from vet to vet from what I've heard from friends who take their dog to France.
Quote: Originally posted by Ulti-Mates on 08/4/2012
Hi
Thanks so far. I should probably clarify. It is the experience of other dog owners I was really looking for. I don't need help with Googling basic information - been doing that for more years than I care to think about!!!
Sorry, just trying to help, as were others, I wasn't suggesting Googling for info, just thought that the recent thread contained worthwhile info, which may have been of use.
As for cost of vets in France, I'm sure that varies from vet to vet from what I've heard from friends who take their dog to France.
Hope you get the info you need.
Ina - no need for you to aplogise at all. You were of course trying to be helpful. Its just that I later realised my original request was a bit too vague and I needed to refine it a bit. I wasn't just being lazy asking UKCS to go and do my internet research for me, but was hoping for first hand experience. Thank you for taking the time & trouble to reply.
I do now have a much better idea of what's involved, thanks to all who replied.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Vets all over France sem to know the routines. We paid 25E last time. You can always take your own medication, that your dog is used to. Whatever you do, though, check that the vet enters both time and place of the check and treatment on your dog's passport. Returning last time we saw a family held up for 24 hours because only date, not time, had been recorded and they could not contact the vet in question because of a late crossing.
In general, some puppies can get a bit upset about long distance travel when they are not used to it, When you see your vet in the UK, it may be wise to ask him about some form of dog travel sickness medication, and be prepared for a bit of 'the runs' just incase, and take plenty of 'moping up' equipment with you for his bed and your car.
Im sure he will be fine, but better to be safe than sorry if he did happen to have any little 'accidents' in the car, and be ready to clean it up.
Julia
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Topic: Dog Newbies - Taking pup to France
but was hoping for first hand experience. Thank you for taking the time & trouble to reply.
