Taking your pets abroad

- www.defra.gov.uk. Low down from the Government.

- www.dogsaway.co.uk - travel agency specialising in holidays, advice and information, with regard to taking your pets abroad. Tel: 0208 441 9311. 433 Cockfosters Road. Barnet. London. EN4 0HJ.

- www.pettravel.com - International pet travel agency.

- www.petplan.co.uk. With over 28 years of experience in pet insurance, Petplan has long been committed to supporting the health and well-being of the nation's pets. Petplan provides insurance for over 1 million pets and horses each year and pays out more than £1 million in valid claims each week.

www.directline.com

- Direct Line Pets Insurance.

www.churchill.com

- Churchill Pets insurance.

How to go about it.

Seven months before - go to your vet and get a microchip implanted in the back of the pets neck. This is programmed with an ID number. At the same time a rabies shot will be given and entered on its "passport" (no photograph required).

30 days later - return to vet and have a blood sample taken . This is sent to a lab approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, to see if the vaccine has "taken". If it has a certificate will be issued which will allow the animal to travel 6 months after the inoculation.

6 Months after inoculation - travel with pet. Find a vet to visit for the return leg before you leave.

On returning your must visit a vet to get an injection against tapeworm and to be sprayed with anti tick powder. This must be done no less than 24 hours and no more than 48 hours before travelling back. This is the cause of most problems for returning pets - ensure your certificate is in order before you leave the vets (costs about £25).

Finally, you must sign a residency declaration form confirming the animal has not been outside the approved countries in the previous six months.

On your return (via Dover), follow the yellow paw signs for Customs.

Accommodation in France

A surprisingly large number of hotels and Logis accommodate pets - let us know of any recommended places. Visit these web sites for more information; www.inntravel.co.uk - www.eurotunnel.co.uk

BUT . . .

Some countries require an export health certificate issued by the vet to say that your pet is fit to travel on the specified dates. They are; France, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

In addition, an import certificate is needed for the following countries; Gibraltar, Iceland and Sweden.

A separate certificate from the vet stating that the animal has been vaccinated is required in the following countries; Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg.

The scheme only applies to motorists ( foot and coach passengers are NOT included). British Midland has a licence for Heathrow - Amsterdam.

Additional permitted routes for Guide dogs and hearing dogs

From Australia or New Zealand arriving at London Heathrow Airport

Travel to Eire (Southern Ireland) under the PETS scheme you can't enter direct from the continent. You can enter the U.K. and enter Eire from a U.K. entry point as long as your pet has valid documentation for the PETS scheme.

Information on PETS HELPLINE 0870 241 1710 ( 8.30am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday ) - leave your name and address for a information pack. Be prepared to wait - they take a month to answer the phone (we gave up after 35 minutes).

PETS HELPLINE 0870 241 1710. Fax: 020 7904 6834.

or write to;

Export of Cats and Dogs Section, DEFRA, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ.

Tel: 020 7904 6347, Fax: 020 7904 6428.

Factsheets - online or download a PDF sheet - www.defra.gov.uk/animalh

Useful official web site - www.defra.gov.uk, or information on www.petplanet.co.uk (click on resources, then Travel at the top) or www.dogsaway.co.uk

Full list and telephone numbers of vets in Nord-Pas de Calais, call 0033 327 96 84 38.

Clinique Vétérinaire du Parc Saint Pierre des Drs Fermé J. M. 73, rue Aristide Briand (near the Town hall) Tel: 0033 321 34 93 88. Fax: 0033 321 97 16 56. Open: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 7.00pm, Saturday 9.00am to 4.00pm. We notice that consultations are about 100 euro if booked in advance and 200 euro if not.

Centre Vétérinaire Curie - 139, Bd. Curie, 62100. Calais. Tel: 0033 321 82 15 11.

Clinique Vétérinaire du Docteur Nowosad - 138, Bd. La Fayette, 62100. Calais. Tel: 0033 321 36 67 96. Fax: 0033 321 36 05 63.

Clinique Vétérinaire des Salines (Dr. DELVAL Valérie) - 11, Place Crevecoeur, 62100. Calais. Tel: 0033 321 00 71 00. Fax: 0033 321 00 71 09.

Docteur Christiane Petry - Veterinaire. 1148 Bd du General De Gaulle. 62100 Calais. Tel: 0033 321 34 77 39.

Dog friendly camp site near St. Omer. "Wife works at vets as receptionist, they can book the vets through the campsite & get a discount, and they'll direct you to the vets surgery". www.campinglachaumiere.com

Brittany

Centre Veterinaire, 12 place Rioust des villes Audrains, 22550 Matignon. Brittany

Tel: 0033 2 96 41 22 05. Matignon is situated approximately 15kms west of Dinan which is about 35 minutes drive west of the port of St Malo.

Centre veterinaire Briocelande, 58 Miroir Aux faes, 35400 St. Malo. Tel: 0033 299 81 94 51.

St. Malo is one of the nominated ports for the Pet Travel Scheme and is situated only five minutes drive from the port.

Michel Garancher, 154 Bd. de Verdon. 35000 Rennes. Tel: 0033 299 54 46 48.

M Lamer of Le Goff Lamer vets, 4 rue Jacques Rodallac, 56110. Gourin. Tel: 0033 297 23 56 12. (Visitor comment - "I found a vet in central Brittany who knows about the scheme, has a scanner which read my dog (eventually) and had the right certificates. Very helpful and even speaks English. He charged 42 euro for the treatments and the certificate.")

Normandy

Clinique Veterinaire, 18 place Poulet-Malassis, 61000. Alencon. Tel: 00033 233 26 29 51.

Clinique Veterinaire, Le Haut Gelé, ZA 50310. Monebourg. Tel: 0033 233 21 11 14.

Dr Fabienne Ringot, Cabinet Veterianire St Marc. 7 Rue Alsace-Lorraine. 76000. Rouen. Tel: 0033 235 981 745.

Docteur Borel, Cherbourg. Tel: 0033 231 97 41 41

Drs Dalagoutte et Roger, Cherbourg. Tel: 0033 231 96 55 82

BELGIUM VETS

Any Vet will be able to treat your animal. Ask at a Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall or Police Station, and they will be able to direct you to an English-speaking Vet.

Banned Breeds

Several breeds are now banned from importation. This includes the Pitbull terrier but more notably for most travellers, all Staffordshire Bull terrier crosses or purebred dogs without papers. It does not apply to pedigree dogs i.e. dogs with Kennel club registration and documentation. This same ruling also applies to English mastiffs.

All these breeds as well as Rottweilers and any Rottweiler crosses must be muzzled and on a lead in all public places.

You and your dog's health

Vaccinations - Piroplasmosis - Leishamaniasis - Lymes disease - Heartworm - General advice - Vaccinations for your pet

Vaccinations

If you are travelling in Europe then your dog should have a current rabies vaccination (essential). Additional vaccines should be kept up to date and check that they are not going to run out on holiday. Your dog will be encountering different bugs and so may be at more risk than you would be at home. Vaccinations to do are a routine booster for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Leptospirosis. You may wish to consider vaccinating also against kennel cough. You can have an intranasal vaccine ( a few drops squirted up your dogs nose) against kennel cough - this can give more protection although none are a 100% guarantee.

Leishmanns disease (Leishmaniasis)

This is a disease transmitted by the Sand fly. It is not a problem in the U.K. but affects dogs in southern France, Spain, Portugal and other countries with a sub tropical climate. The disease once contracted is terminal but can be treated to delay its progression. Prevention is the best option and this is easily done by a regular treatment with a flea control product such as Frontline on a regular basis. Please note that this disease can be transmitted to Humans and so its wise to protect yourself in areas where the sand fly is prevalent.

Piroplasmosis (Babesiosis or Tick fever)

This is a disease that carries many forms and is not a big problem in the U.K. Travel in Europe could place your dog at risk from this disease. It is also fatal if not treated, but treatment is, if given early very often successful. It is carried by a tick and again prevention is by treating your dog with a good flea control product such as Frontline. Tablets such as Program are not effective against ticks. After trips into long grass it is wise to check your dog for ticks. Any that appear can be carefully removed using special tick remover tweezers or a spray with a flea product will finish them off.

It is possible to vaccinate against Piroplasmosis but I understand that it is still possible to get the disease.

Lymes Disease

This is a disease that can affect Humans and Dogs it is now appearing in certain areas of the U.K. but may not be encountered unless you are specifically in those areas. It is again carried by a tick and one that is found on deer. So the same advice is given as for Piroplasmosis. Treat preventatively using a flea control product and remove ticks found after a walk. It can be found in areas with mild winter climates and deer populations. A vaccine is available against Lymes disease it is still experimantal and not widely available.

Heart Worm (Dirofilaria)

Heart worm is a problem for dogs living in sub tropical environments. It is transmitted by the mosquito and although not endemic in the U.K. it can be found in the more southern parts of Europe. This parasite can cause severe damage to the heart as well as affecting the kidneys. Preventative tablets are the best option. They are not widely available in the U.K. but should you feel you may be travelling in an area that puts your pet at risk speak to your vet about the possibility of starting treatment before you leave.

AA 5 Star Pet Insurance - Tel: 0800 444 500.