taking my dog to the UK

Hi everyone,

This is a question about the PETS scheme that enables my dog to avoid quarantine. I was wondering if anyone had immigrated from the US to the UK with their pets? If so, did you have to go to a laboratory to get your pet's blood sample taken several weeks after their vaccination?

I was under the impression that my dog's blood sample had already been taken at the vet's and the 6 months had already passed. I told my vet what I needed, and they said that they could do it, they never told me I had to make further arragnements to take her somewhere else for the actual sample. So I assumed in one vet visit that she was vaccinated, microchipped, and had blood drawn. (I thought they sent it to the lab)

This was over 6 months ago. I am planning to move in a month, and now I've just read, before planning to go back to the vet to get her PETS certificate tomorrow, that she may have not even had her blood sample drawn, and I will now have to start over completely and wait an extra 6 months before leaving. Boy, am I feeling stupid right now and absolutely shattered if this is true.

I am calling the vet in the morning about this, but I am posting tonight, as I can't sleep at all. I'm hoping anyone can shed some light on this.

Thanks

I'm afraid the news is not good.

Your vet should have chipped and vaccinated your dog at one visit, then scheduled a follow-up visit for three weeks later during which the blood sample would have been drawn and sent to the lab in Kansas for testing.  The six-month waing period begins when this blood sample is taken.

Not the news you wanted to hear, I'm sure. 

Thanks Meg, I had a feeling this was really the case.  :\\\'(

It's good to hear something straight forward tonight, so hopefully I can at least get some sleep.

Thanks again. Will post again when I hear what the vet says. 

Yes, they took the blood sample on her vet visit and sent the sample to the lab, so she is good to go!!!!!!!!!! 

Sorry, I should have posted this in the moving section.

Anyway, just wanted to post my result so someone in a similar situation online can hopefully bump into this.

Apparently the usual course of action is to send the person and their dog to a lab a few weeks after vaccination to get the blood sample drawn, but I guess it's not mandatory and my vet did it differently. Still, it's good to be aware of the usual course of action, and make sure about that appointment with the lab.

I didn't have an appointment at the lab.  My vet sent the blood to the nuclear medicine lab at Kansas Uni.  Do you have the lab results from Kansas? Otherwise, the results aren't valid. 

Not meaning to snark, just wanted to make sure.  Lots of vets don't know how to do PETS.  I had to walk mine through the process and then ended up not bringing my boy.

Yes, also not meaning to rain on your parade, but you should have had to come back to the vet three weeks after the vaccination for the blood draw. And you (or your vet) should definitely have the documentation from Kansas.

Hope this is all working out for you!  Looks like you've had a scary night in doubt.

Apparently the usual course of action is to send the person and their dog to a lab a few weeks after vaccination to get the blood sample drawn, but I guess it's not mandatory and my vet did it differently. Still, it's good to be aware of the usual course of action, and make sure about that appointment with the lab.

Actually, it's normal for your pet to be vaccinated then come back in 3 weeks, have its blood drawn, then the doctor send the blood overnight to the lab in Kanasas.  The Kansas State Lab is the only lab in the US that is approved by Defra to perform the rabies titre test.  Obviously, it wouldn't be possible for all people to get appointments with a lab in Kansas.  They recommend waiting the three weeks to make sure the vaccine has enough time to take effect in your pet's body.  I assume if your pet has been vaccinated against rabies every year, it should have the proper antibodies.  After a few weeks the lab sends results back to the vet which goes in the packet that will accompany the pet overseas.

It sounds like you need to make sure the bloodwork was sent to the proper lab and that it has sent results back saying your dog has passed.

Thanks for the info everyone!

I am taking her Monday to get her certificate, and will make sure the lab results are ok (on the phone Friday she said that the blood was sent to the Kansas lab) and that I get all the documentation she needs to go. I do need to ask the vet about getting her microchip number on all her documents, vaccination record, lab results, etc. The vaccination record I have doesn't have her microchip number on it, so I hope they don't give me any problems about that.

I also need to look into buying a UK microchip reader, as it seems that their readers are different from the ones here. Anyone done this? 

Sheesh, has anyone ever felt that taking your pet is just as complicated as getting your own visa sorted out?!

 

Taking my cat was more complex than my visa!  I was so wrapped up in my own visa, moving, and the wedding that I missed one of the cat's appointments and did the very beginning of the process twice.  It actually worked out in the end because the cat was poorly behaved and I think between my suffering depression and the cat acting out that DH would have had my butt on the next plane back to the US.

I'm glad that everything appears to be working out for you.  Make sure to book the dog's flight as soon as you can.  I think when I did it the flights for cargo opened 13 days in advance and they didn't fly cargo on the weekend in some situations so I had to get a weekend flight especially for the cat. 

I also need to look into buying a UK microchip reader, as it seems that their readers are different from the ones here. Anyone done this?

As long as the microchip you got is one that is up to International Standards it should be fine.  I believe the 134 megahertz one is the one that's ISO approved.  The brand my vet used was HomeAgain I think.  From Defra's website:

Your pet must first be fitted with a microchip to identify it. We do not specify a particular type or brand of microchip to be used but, in Europe, ISO (International Standards Organisation) Standard microchips meeting specifications 11784 or Annex A of ISO Standard 11785 are generally used.

If the microchip does not meet either of these ISO Standards, you must provide your own microchip reader (at your expense) to enable the microchip number to be read successfully when your animal enters the UK or needs to be checked in a European PETS country.

So find out from your vet what sort of microchip was used.  I believe the ISO approved ones have 10 digits.  If it's not then it looks like you might have to buy your own scanner.

Sheesh, has anyone ever felt that taking your pet is just as complicated as getting your own visa sorted out?!

More complicated and more worrying!