Ash Croft Vets
Hardwick
169 St Neots Road
Hardwick
Cambridge, CB23 7QJ
Tel: 01954 210250
Papworth
Pendrill Court
Papworth
Cambridgeshire, CB23 3UY
Tel: 01480 831615
Emergency Out of Hours
Tel: 08455 004247
Europe Health Advice
Pet Passports - Europe
Health Advice
From 1 January 2021 onwards, the UK will have Part 2 listed status under the EU Pet Travel Scheme, meaning that people travelling from GB with their pets and assistance dogs will need to follow new requirements in order to travel to the EU and Northern Ireland.
We have now updated our pet travel guidance and pet owners are being encouraged to check the latest government advice about travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland or the European Union with their pets at the end of the transition period.
Animal Health Certificates (AHC)
Under Part 2 listed status, EU pet passports issued by GB Official Veterinarians (OVs) will no longer be valid to travel to Europe or Northern Ireland. Instead, a pet travelling from GB to the EU or to Northern Ireland will need an AHC from 1 January 2021. Please note, this would affect any travellers with pets arriving in an EU Member State after 23:00 GMT on the 31 December 2020. This will also apply to travel Northern Ireland.
These AHCs can be issued by OVs from 22 December 2020 (10 days prior to travel to the EU after the end of the Transition Period).
Kind regards,
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
Telephone: 03000 200 301 | Email: petpassports.carlisle@apha.gov.uk
Website: www.gov.uk/apha | Twitter: @APHAgovuk | Facebook: aphagov
Address: Enquiries Team, Eden Bridge House, Lowther Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8DX
The majority of vets now agree that the scheme should provide excellent protection against rabies. However, there are other serious infectious diseases of dogs and cats in Europe not currently present in the UK which can represent a significant hazard to your pets’ health. The aim of this information sheet is to tell you about the most serious of these diseases and what you can do to minimise the risks to your pet.
There are five significant diseases you should be aware of:
(1) HEARTWORM
Caused by a microscopic nematode worm Dirofilaria Immitis. It is present throughout Europe. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. The worms then migrate to the chest where they can cause serious heart disease.
Protecting against heartworm
There are several drugs licensed in the UK against heartworm. Some are of the "spot-on" variety such as STRONGHOLD or ADVOCATE. The other is a worming preparation called MILBEMAX. Either should be administered at least one month before travelling to Europe, administered every 4 weeks whilst abroad and continued for at least one month after return to UK.. MILBEMAX has the added advantage of controlling the tapeworm Echinococcus (see below).
(2) EHRLICHOSIS
Caused by a blood parasite Ehrlichia canis. Its European distribution is similar to that for heartworm i.e. throughout Europe. The disease is transmitted by ticks and gets into the bloodstream where it can cause fever and a variety of blood disorders. Many animals recover spontaneously but others (particularly German Shepherd dogs and young animals) can become persistently infected and chronically ill.
Protection against Ehrlichia
Prevention is aimed at controlling the ticks that transmit the disease. Several products are available in the UK against ticks including spot-ons such as VECTRA 3D.These should be administered every 4 weeks. Also available is BRAVECTO a tablet which offers 12 weeks protection and appears very effective. If you are travelling to an area where infection with this parasite is known to be a particular problem then prophylactic antibiotic medication can be used.
(3) BABESIOSIS
Caused by the blood parasite Babesia canis. This is similar to Ehrlichosis; it is also a blood parasite and is transmitted by ticks. It is more widespread throughout Europe. Treatment is difficult and often unsuccessful.
Protection against Babesia
Prevention is best achieved by tick control - see under Ehrlichosis. A vaccine and prophylactic antibiotics for this disease are available in France but not in the UK. If you are travelling to an area with a particular problem with this disease you should seek local veterinary advice.
(4) LEISHMANIASIS
Caused by a parasite: Leishmania. This disease occurs in southern Europe especially round the Mediterranean coast and islands. This tends to be a slow chronic disease which may not manifest until months or even years after infection. It can cause a variety of problems including skin problems, eye infections, kidney disease and joint pains.
Disease is usually chronic, treatment is expensive and rarely successful. It is zoonotic i.e. it can be transmitted from animals to humans and children are particularly vulnerable.
Prevention of Leishmania
There are currently 3 products available for control of sandflies: Vectra 3D, Advantix and Scalibor insecticidal collars containing deltamethrin.
Sandflies are nocturnal and usually found outdoors so keeping dogs animals indoors at night should help reduce the risk of disease. Sandflies also dislike moving air so that a fan kept in the room in which your pet sleeps would offer some additional protection.
Canileish, a vaccine against Leishmania is now available. Although initially quite expensive if you are spending any length of time in endemic areas it would be worth considering this. Please ask at Reception for details. As we are rarely asked for this we do not keep it in stock so it will have to be ordered in advance.
(5) ECHINOCOCCUS MULTILOCULARIS
Echinococcus is a tapeworm, which inhabits the intestines. The parasite causes minimal harm to dogs but the parasite can be passed on to man in whom it can cause devastating and frequently fatal disease. It is for this reason that it is sensible to treat dogs regularly to keep them free of this parasite and why it is compulsory for treatment to be given before return to the UK. The timing of the compulsory worming on return to the UK is not perfect and we would strongly recommend repeating the worming 1 month later (see Milbemax dosing below)
Control of Echinococcus
Monthly treatment with the drug praziquantel is highly effective. Preparations containing praziquantel include Droncit, Drontal and Milbemax.
SUMMARY
As these diseases are transmitted by insects control measures will usually be needed from March to November:
(1) Administer Milbemax every month starting 1 month before travelling and continuing for at least 1 month after return
(2) Administer Vectra 3D or another product licensed for ticks every month whilst abroad or use Bravecto
every 12 weeks.
(3) If visiting Southern Europe use Vectra 3D or a Scalibor collar (DOGS ONLY) and keep animals indoors at night with a fan in these areas. Consider vaccination with Canileish.
(4) Take a tick remover (ask at reception) with you; inspect your pet daily for ticks and remove any you find. No
tick preventatives are 100% effective.
(5) Seek local veterinary advice to find out if any other regular treatment is recommended in the area in which you are staying.
The simplest and most comprehensive combination is probably monthly use of Milbemax tablets and Vectra 3D spot-on or Milbemax tablets (monthly) with Bravecto (12 weekly).
Inform your vet that your pet has been abroad and that this has been noted on your records. Veterinary surgeons and veterinary laboratories do not routinely check for these diseases and they can easily be missed if your vet is not aware that your pet has been to Europe.
An excellent source of further information including up to date distribution maps of these disease and parasites can be found at www.esccap.org.uk.
