Frequently Asked Questions

• Puppies and kittens have to be at least 12 weeks of age at the time of their first Rabies vaccination.
• An animal may only travel 21 days after the Rabies vaccination.

• All the owners details
• All the pets details including the microchip number
• Ideally the date of insertion
  

Tapeworm treatment, using a product containing the ingredient Praziquantel ( common in most well known deworming brands ) is required only by DOGS so as to prevent the movement of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.

For return travel from most EU countries (** see exceptions below ) this treatment must be administered and documented by a vet within 1-5 days ( 24-120 hours ) BEFORE re-entering the UK.

As and example : For re-entering the UK on a Sunday at 12h00, the tapeworm treatment would have to be given between 12h01on the Tuesday (5 days before travel) and 11h59 on the Saturday (the day before travel).

** For travel to Finland Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta, the treatment must be administered and documented by a vet within 1-5 days ( 24-120 hours ) BEFORE entry to those countries.

With regards to deworming
– if you supply your own product it can be administered and documented FOR FREE.
– we can also by arrangement supply the product for the outward or inbound journey). Most EU vets are happy for you to supply your own tapeworm treatment before re-entry to the UK as long as it’s in the original packaging and within date)
Treatment cost varies according to the weight of the dog.

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An Animal Health Certificate can only be issued once the support documents (Rabies Vaccination card/ certificate and Microchip certificate) are correct.

Once issued it is valid for EU entry for up to 10 days.

It is generally assumed that the registered owner ( the person named on the rabies vaccine card / certificate and microchip certificate) will be travelling with the pet. This person must be present at time to sign the owner declaration.

However , should this not be the case and someone else is traveling with your pet (such as a family member, friend or pet travel company) please inform accordingly , as the paperwork will need to be completed in a different manner .
This will then further involve the signing of a declaration giving permission to the third party to travel with your pet, as well as a verification that you will be reunited with your pet within 5 days of travel ie to comply with the non-commercial nature of your trip.

If this is not the case, then an AHC is not the correct legal travel document, and travel would then require an Export Travel certificate or EHC.

Pet Travel Vet Service covers pet travel for owners in the greater Reading area .

In general , the service covers a thirty mile radius around Reading.

However, for owners further afield please contact us via email to further discuss

By human nature , it is invariable that circumstances and arrangements change

Changes to the date of travel with notice of 14 days or more – NO CHARGE

Changes to information on the AHC within 14 days of travel – £35 per change

Cancellation of the appointment (without rescheduling) will Incur charges as follows:

• more than 14 days of your home visit – 100% REFUND
• 7-14 days before your home visit – 50% REFUND
• less than 7 days before your home visit – NO REFUND

These charges reflect the amount of work done in collating/checking information and completing the very detalled paperwork well in advance of the home visit.

From the 4 June 2025, the government has announced changes to the travel arrangements for pets between  Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

If you are travelling from GB to NI you will 

– need a free pet travel document  ( which will have a lifetime  validity  and will be obtainable from the APHA )  and your pet will have to be microchipped.

– need to sign a declaration that your  pet  will not subsequently be moved into Ireland ( ie the EU ). 

If you travel from NI  to GB, you do not need any documentation but your dog has to be microchipped.