Pet travel scheme and pet passports

On January 1st, 2012, a new set of rules will come into force. The requirement for rabies blood testing is to be lifted, among other changes. Please contact one of the vets for more details, or log onto the DEFRA website link below.

As a substitute for the quarantining of pets on coming back into the country, a system has been devised enabling pets to be taken to countries participating in the PETS programme, and brought directly back into the UK (provided certain criteria are strictly adhered to).

Currently, your pet is eligible for a pet passport if it has been micro chipped for identification, has had full rabies vaccination, and (in order to return to the UK without quarantine) an official blood test to ensure that the rabies vaccine has been successful.

Your pet is eligible to return to the UK six months from the date of the rabies blood sampling, and must have had treatment from a vet in the country of origin for ticks and tapeworms BETWEEN 24 and 48 hours prior to embarkation. There are many complicating factors regarding boosting the rabies vaccine, and other entry requirements for some countries, and we have prepared information available at the surgery for clients to read. We can offer the Pet Passport service as we have several vets who are officially allowed to do this work on behalf of DEFRA. Full information is at www.defra.gov.uk.

Pet insurance

Veterinary medicine has, in recent years, become increasingly sophisticated. We are able to diagnose and treat many conditions that a few years ago would have remained undetected with often fatal consequences, especially in the older pet. The downside of these advances is cost. It is not unheard of for case treatment to cost over £1,000. One of the most distressing situations we find ourselves in is when a pet's problem is curable but the cost too high for the owner and the pet has to be put to sleep. A less serious situation is when the owner has to opt for the less than best treatment.

That's where pet insurance comes in. Veterinary fee cover can help you to avoid such situations but when choosing an insurance company, there are a few things you should look out for:- *Ensure the amount of fee cover is adequate. Over time a single illness can cost many hundreds of pounds *Check that there is no time limit on how long you can claim for each illness. Some conditions carry on for life *Check that your pet will still be covered in later years when the need is greatest and that the premium in those years is still good value.

Like other insurance you will have to pay an excess on your claims. Vaccination and routine treatments like worming won't be covered. Some insurers offer special discounts - pensioners and multiple pet owners can make some savings. Like the BSAVA, this practice endorses pet insurance and we recommend it to our clients. Our only interest is to ensure that we never have to compromise the quality of veterinary care on the basis of cost. We have product leaflets available in the waiting room so feel free to take some.