|
Even if they take every precaution, humans can still pick up nasty diseases whilst on holiday, and so can their pets. Recently one British dog owner discovered their West Highland Terrier had picked up Babesia canis abroad. After experiencing a heavy tick infestation shortly after arriving in France, the dog seemed to recover, but became ill on her return and was admitted to her local Vets. There she died from tick-borne Babesia canis infection (30 to 40 per cent of the red blood cells infected).
Perhaps you have already booked your pet’s travel abroad, and are now wondering if you should take them with you. Animals overseas are exposed to certain tick-carrying diseases and European owners don’t worry about these - but our animals are not used to ‘foreign’ ticks and could be at risk. So what should you do?
Firstly, let’s get this in proportion. There is a risk attached to any travel; walking down to the local shops your dog might escape and dash across the road, or pick up distemper when sniffing around the park. Of course you take sensible precautions; you make sure you have a firm grip on the lead, and you have your pet inoculated annually. Similarly with travelling abroad, ask the advice of your Vet. They know what your animal is like and how it behaves, will be able to advise on areas that might have tick infestations, and on precautions you can take both medically and when walking your pet.
So, after your pet has had its chip inserted, rabies jab and blood test, and the Vet has signed the appropriate paperwork, ask about what sensible precautions you should take when abroad. Most Vets will read the B.V.A’s ‘In Practice’ Magazine. October 1999’s issue carried an article on ‘Imported Diseases in Small Animals’ by Trees and Shaw, and Fred Landeg of MAFF says it is sensible that you consult your Vet about these when going abroad.
As humans can take anti-malaria treatment, yet still incubate the disease so it comes out when they are back home, so it is possible that animals may also pick up local diseases. Ask your Vet
- What ‘nasties’ might be present in the areas you travel through as well as where you are spending your holiday
- What can you do to avoid these
- Watch out for long grasses and bushes, particularly south of Paris
- In the area, ask locals where ticks might hide
- If your animal gets bitten or is infested, take it to a local Vet immediately.
(See Petplanet article with details of Vets abroad).
T. I. McConnell, writing in The Veterinary Record of April 15th about the dog that died, says, “It should be noted that the dog was not treated with a suitable acaricide before going to France”. One acaricide is Frontline; Landeg recommends if your dog is treated with this, or a similar product, having details of this and any other medicine your animal might be receiving (taking the box is a good system) to show Vets abroad.
Lady Fretwell of Passports for Pets says ‘there are worse ticks in Richmond Park, which can give Lyme disease which is fatal to humans. The dog that died of the tick disease: it (the disease) was totally harmless to humans. The British Veterinary profession now needs to get its act together in advising its clients about how to prepare the dogs for travel abroad”.
Thankfully, of the millions of people who go abroad each year, the number who pick up a nasty disease is only a minuscule proportion. The PET travel scheme has been in operation since February 28th, and the majority of problems have come with finding a Vet conveniently placed to carry out the ‘Ticks and Bugs’ examination, who also understands the paperwork required.
Most Vets in Britain seem well clued up, and have been able to give animals the right paperwork when they go off on holiday. The problem has come with Vets abroad not understanding what is required for animals to return into Britain. Many don’t have the right forms for your pet when you turn up for the ‘ticks and bugs’ examination, particularly in France.
Nothing against the French, but as France is the most popular holiday destination for the British, if there were going to be a problem it would almost certainly be here. Some French Vets have been issuing their own headed paper as verification for the ‘Ticks and Bugs’ examination, but this is not accepted. The certificate must be issued on an official French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries form. Ensure the form is headed ‘Ministere de l’Agriculture et de la Peche’, and has the official Vet’s stamp.
Or, if you want to do it the easy way and let someone else handle the paperwork, you can book into the Copthorne Hotel in Coquelles, Calais, for the last night of your holiday. When making your booking ask them to arrange for their local Vet to do the examination, having seen him in action we can confirm he uses the correct paperwork. He carried out Frodo’s examination (the first dog across) and many of the other dogs on the historic Eurotunnel crossing when 17 dogs (and one cat) trail-blazed their way across from France to England.
Smaller hiccups include people who travel regularly, who are finding the regulations difficult, especially people with assistance dogs. These dogs are sometimes having to go through the ticks and worms treatment on a weekly basis, and owners are concerned about the long term effects of this. Finally, in the worry about getting their pets back into the UK, some people are forgetting that they need to have an Export Health Certificate from MAFF before they leave, and may have extra paperwork to complete for the country in which they are spending their holiday.
Looking around at the joy on everyone’s face on that first crossing (even though most of the dogs had had so much media attention they were fast asleep), you could see how well worth it everyone thought the PETs travel scheme. Certainly Lady Fretwell and her team have been back and forwards several times since, and they are delighted their dogs can travel with the family.
Bon Voyage!
|
