Europe
Travelling to the European Union is a much more involved
process that requires good communication with your
veterinarian to ensure all paperwork and requirements are
met for travel. The first step is to have your veterinarian fill
out a veterinary health certificate in English and the
language of the country that is the first port of entry into
the European Union.
The pen used and stamp colour instructions need to be
followed, so be sure to point that out to your veterinarian,
especially if they are not familiar with filling out the form.
Rabies vaccination, if needing to be updated, needs to be
performed 21 days before entry into Europe, so be sure to
put this detail into your reminders to avoid delays. Once the
form is filled out, a scheduled appointment with the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinarian must
be made to have the certificate endorsed and ready for
travel.
As with travel to the United States, Europe also requires an
internationally recognized microchip. I recommend your vet
confirm the placement of the chip with their microchip
reader before travelling in case it has been damaged and is
no longer readable, requiring a new one to be placed.
Treatment for Echinococcus, a type of tapeworm, must be
administered by your veterinarian. The treatment must
contain praziquantel and be given no more than 120 hours
and no less than 24 hours before travel. In Canada, the most
common medications used would be Interceptor Plus or
Dolpac, as they also treat intestinal parasites and
tapeworms. The administration must be part of the
documentation provided by your veterinarian to present to
the CFIA veterinarian.
Lastly, check with the specific country of intended travel for
any additional paperwork, as some countries require pre-
travel forms to be submitted. These documents are in
addition to your international health certificate and the
requirements mentioned above.
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