What do you vaccinate against?
Dog vaccinations and tests
We vaccinate all dogs prior to travel to ensure they are protected from the following diseases:
All dogs are vaccinated against the following prior to travel.
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Rabies & Lepto (& rabies booster) – Usually vaccinated together with the code ‘RL’ Lepto. Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the dogs’ brain and central nervous system. Note: Dogs need to wait for a 21-day legal period after rabies vaccination before travelling to the UK.
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DHPPI (& booster) – This covers: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Para-influenza virus
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Canine Distemper – a viral disease which attacks the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, the spinal cord and brain.
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Hepatitis – this is an acute liver infection which can affect both the liver and kidneys. It can cause fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, and a tender abdomen.
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Parvovirus – a virus that attacks the intestines. It causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting and is fatal if left untreated.
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Leptospirosis – This is a bacterial infection that enters through a dogs’ skin. It mainly occurs in subtropical, tropical, and wet environments. It is most common in marshy/muddy areas which have stagnant surface water.
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We also test for the following:
- Leishmaniasis
- Babeosis
- 4DX (heartworm and 5 tick bourne diseases)
- Brucellosis
Should any of the above tests (with the exception of Brucellosis) prove positive, the dog is treated and cured prior to travelling to the U.K. Brucellosis is an incurable disease and the dog would sadly need to be euthanised in Romania. We have not had a case of Brucellosis yet.
Cat vaccinations and tests
All cats are vaccinated against the following prior to travel.
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Rabies – Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the cats’ brain and central nervous system. Note: Cats need to wait for a 21-day legal period after rabies vaccination before travelling to the UK.
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Cat Flu – A respiratory virus and one of the many viruses that can cause coughs and runny noses in cats. It is highly contagious and causes similar symptoms to a human cold/flu.
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Leukaemia - Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is an incurable viral infection that eventually produces fatal illness in infected cats. It is estimated that one to two per cent of cats in Britain are permanently infected, and the majority die within four years of FeLV detection. There is no risk to humans.
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Enteritis - Feline infectious peritonitis is an aggressive and highly infectious disease caused by the feline parvo virus.
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We also test for the following:
- Feline Leukaemia
- FIV
Cats with FIV are rehomed as indoor only cats. All animals are treated for any other injuries/illnesses they may have prior to travelling.
All animals are required to be signed off by our own vet and the DSV vet at the Romanian border as ‘fit to travel’
Health Records
All test results and vaccination records will either be in your dog’s passport or sometimes in a health book, which accompanies the passport. If you don’t receive a health book, don’t worry, it just means the records are in the passport. When you register your dog with your vet, please take these documents with you so they can keep a record of the vaccinations your dog has had and when they are next due.
Legal Requirements
Legally, dogs only require the rabies vaccination and worming treatment in order to enter the UK. There are no tests legally required.
Rocky Road Rescue Ltd. pride ourselves in going over and above on these requirements to ensure your animal arrives, and stays, fit and healthy. All extra testing we do is to ensure that your animal is at its healthiest so that they can live a long and happy life with their new family.