Taking your dog to France? Here’s what you need to do

TRAVELLING with a dog in Europe is a far more straightforward process than you may think, but needs to be planned well in advance, possibly before you’ve booked your trip.

In many cases it costs less than the cost of kennel fees, and should not be stressful or traumatic for either of you, writes Sara Walker.

Before you go

The most important part of the process is the pre-journey preparation — which should be started seven months in advance.

Pets travelling between countries in the EU can use the PETS travel scheme, which does not involve quarantine.

Get your dog a passport, and a micro-chip. A Pet Passport is a document officially recording information about your pet, including a photo, and is included in the PETS procedure.

Your dog will require a rabies vaccination and a blood test to make sure that the vaccination has been successful.

You will then have to wait six months from the date of a clear blood test result before your dog can re-enter the UK.

The cost of the passport is around £150 – £200, not including the micro-chip. To keep the passport up to date, your pet will need a rabies injection every three years.

Things to buy:

Travel water bowl.

I like the Road Refresher bowl, which costs around £10 and is non-spill and sturdy.

Tick removal tool to keep in the car

You can get these online or from any French vet or pharmacist.

New pet tag

Include your mobile phone number and landline with ‘+44’ added.

Things to take:

Your pet’s normal food and bedding, for continuity, and any regular medicine that he’s on.

Before you come back:

The return journey needs some advance planning. Your dog must be treated for ticks and worms by a French vet more than 24 hours but less than 48 hours before the time of your crossing, and the vet will also give your dog a health check to make sure that he’s fit to travel.

Remember that French vets close on a Sunday, and often on a Monday too. For continuity, you can bring your usual tick and worm treatment with you from the UK although it must be administered by a vet.

Most French vets recommend Advantix as the most effective anti-tick treatment. Before you leave the surgery, make sure that the vet has remembered to stamp the passport – the only obligatory pages are the tick/worm ones.

The customs officials will not be flexible about this, and will turn you away for incorrect paperwork!

Tick disease (piroplasmose) is very common in France, particularly in certain regions. Ticks are most active in spring and autumn, so check your dog for ticks after every walk, particularly if he’s long coated.

The main symptoms are fatigue and loss of appetite, and the disease can be fatal. If you suspect your dog may be suffering, take him to a vet immediately. The disease is easily treatable if caught early, and French vets are very familiar with it.

Freelance writer Sara lives partly in France and partly in the UK, and says her lovely English Springer Spaniel, Monty, is a seasoned continental traveller, sporting a dozen stamps in his passport. Sara specialises in writing about countryside and equestrian matters and you can visit her website here:

Sara Walker, freelance journalist

This beautiful pictures show Monty in the French Pyrenees.