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PETS Travel Scheme

The PETS travel scheme was introduced by the government in February 2000 to facilitate the movement of cats, dogs and ferrets in and out of the UK from certain countries without the need for lengthy periods of quarantine.  The scheme is aimed to keep the UK free of rabies and other diseases.

The following is a summary of the requirements of the PETS travel scheme.
These requirements may be adjusted by DEFRA, and owners are advised to check the requirements against the current DEFRA requirements available at www.defra.gov.uk 

Please note it is your responsibility to comply with the requirements of the PETS travel scheme in full.
Please keep this information sheet and use the tick boxes to confirm that you have met the PETS requirements.

1. Your pet must first be microchipped. 
2. Rabies vaccination must be administered. Pet must be >3months of age.
3. Blood sample taken at 30 days after vaccination. Results of this may take 2 to 4 weeks. Your pet may not enter or re-enter the UK until 6 calendar months have passed from the date that the blood sample which gave a satisfactory test result was taken.Occasionally the response to the vaccination is not adequate. A second vaccination and blood sample is then required, at repeat cost to you the owner. A copy of the blood sample result will be given to you.The PETS passport is valid from 6 months AFTER the date of a satisfactory blood sampling.
4. A PETS passport will be issued by a registered LVI after a successful rabies blood test. 
5. You will need to check with DEFRA whether the country to which you are travelling also requires an export health certificate (This is in addition to, and not part of PETS. An additional fee for issuing this certificate applies.)
6. Treatment for exotic diseases purchased – the information overleaf details the protective measures you must take to protect your pet against potentially fatal diseases abroad.
7. Prior to re entry to the UK you must ensure that you are travelling by a DEFRA approved route.
8. Parasite treatment 24-48 hours before re entry to the UK. You will need to make sure you locate a vet in your destination country who can administer the necessary drugs and complete official certification of this. The relevant section of the passport must be completed and stamped.
9. Annual Rabies booster vaccinations are required every THREE (3) years now. The vaccine must be given BEFORE the date on your passport , otherwise the PETS passport is invalid, and repeat vaccination and blood sampling at cost to the owner is required.

Maintaining PETS status and further journeys abroad will then only incur costs from steps 5 to 9.

The PETS Passport is ‘valid from a date SIX MONTHS after the date the (positive Rabies serology) blood sample was taken’

Exotic Disease Prevention:

The PETS requirements do not cover preventative treatments for exotic diseases that you and your pet may be exposed to. These conditions are preventable, whereas treatment is difficult or impossible. They are often fatal, and these diseases pose a risk to your pet, in-contact pets & humans.

1. Hydatid disease (Echinococcus multilocularis) – zoonotic tapeworm found through-out Europe.
   Preventative: Dogs - Drontal plus® or Droncit® 1tab per 10kg monthly. Cats - Drontal cat® 1tab per 4kg or Droncit 1\2 tab per cat or Droncit spot-on® monthly whilst abroad; Dogs & Cats – Milbemax® tablets.
2. Tick borne diseases: Babesiosis (Babesia canis etc) & Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) – tick-borne rickettsial diseases, found throughout Europe, causing fatal anaemia (etc) in dogs Preventative: Advantix® spot on monthly, Scalibor® collar, or Frontline® spray monthly; Tick removal is important immediately ticks are found attached.
3. Heart worm (Dirofilaria immitis) – mosquito-borne (zoonotic) roundworm disease, found throughout Southern Europe, causing fatal heart disease. Preventative: Dogs & Cats - Milbemax® tablets monthly, Stronghold® spot-on monthly or Program plus® monthly before, during & after returning from endemic areas.
4. Leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum) – zoonotic sandfly-borne protozoal disease, found in Mediterranean islands & coastal countries, causing chronic debilitating skin & internal disease.
   Preventative: repellent spot on Advantix®, or repellent collar Scalibor®, plus avoidance of outdoor exercise at dawn & dusk.
   
   In summary, we recommend:
   • Dogs: Advantix® spot on plus Scalibor® collar (vs ticks, mosquitoes and sandflies) with either Drontal plus® tablets (vs Echinococcus tapeworms) or Milbemax® tablets (vs Echinococcus tapeworms and Dirofilaria heartworm) depending on the country visited.
   • Cats: Frontline® spray plus immediate tick removal, Drontal Cat tablets (vs Echinococcus) or Milbemax® tablets (vs Echinococcus and Dirofilaria) depending on your country of destination.