Bringing Pets into Guernsey

Bringing pets in to Guernsey

In order that your pet may return to Guernsey, Jersey or the UK or from a qualifying country under PETS - the Pet Travel Scheme, you must ensure that your pet has been:

Fitted with a microchip.
Vaccinated against rabies.
Blood tested.
Issued with an official PETS certificate.
Treated against ticks and tapeworms.

These requirements must also be carried out in the order that they are listed above.

Three documents are be required before a pet is allowed to leave a qualifying country to return to Guernsey or enter the UK or Jersey. These documents are:

An official PETS Certificate, showing that an animal has been identified, rabies vaccinated and had a successful blood test.
A veterinary certificate showing that an animal has been treated for ticks and tapeworms.
A declaration, signed by the owner, stating that their pet has not been taken out of one of the qualifying countries.

For full information on the Pet Travel Scheme see the DEFRA website

Limiting the risk of importing diseases

The pet Travel Scheme requires that cats and dogs brought back into the Channel Islands or the UK must be treated for tapeworms and ticks between 24 and 48 hours prior to embarkation. DEFRA require that the following products are used:-

Praziquantel. Trade name DRONCIT for cats and dogs, DRONTAL PLUS for dogs and DRONTAL CAT for cats. The dose is according to the weight of the animal.
Fipronil 0.25% w/v spray. Trade name FRONTLINE.

As most animals will be returning to Guernsey via France we would advise that you take a copy of the French Ministry form as some vets situated some distance from the ports may not have these forms. We would also recommend that you take the above products with you as some French vets may not stock them.

Other European diseases

Your pet may be at risk from the following diseases whilst on your travels:-

Heart Worm

This is transmitted to both dogs and to a lesser degree, cats by mosquito bites. The disease is widespread throughout southern Europe but also extends all the way up to the Atlantic coast and the northern and southern Brittany coasts in France. Heartworm is a parasite of the major blood vessels around the heart and can be life-threatening and difficult to treat once and animal is infected. Prevention is possible by using a product called STRONGHOLD every month. You should start using this product one week prior to travelling and one week after your return.

Babesiosis

This is a blood borne parasite transmitted by ticks. The disease is principally in the dog but a cat variant exists as well. This disease is also life-threatening and has several forms. The most common finding is of acute anaemia. Prevention is difficult but can be limited by good tick control using FRONTLINE starting the last treatment at least 3 days prior to leaving Guernsey.

Leishmaniasis

This is mainly a dog disease but has been reported in the cat and is transmitted by biting sand flies. It can affect the skin and internal organs and joints and can be fatal. Sand flies tend to bite around dusk and dawn and so keeping dogs in at these times is advisable.

Echinococcus tapeworm

Two species Echinococcus granulosa and multilocularis. These tapeworms are passed to dogs and cats by them eating infected tissue. Prevention of free roaming in rural area and feeding cooked meats will reduce the risk. E. multilocularis can be passed on to humans and can produce very nasty symptoms or even be fatal. Worm with DRONTAL every 4 weeks whilst on the continent and again after your arrival back in Guernsey.

Ehrlichiosis

This is caused by a micro-organism transmitted by ticks commonly found in southern Europe. The organism parasitises the white blood cells and produces a range of symptoms including fever, gland enlargement, anorexia, and anaemia. Control of ticks is important using FRONTLINE.