Pet owners considering taking a pet animal abroad are strongly advised to consult their veterinary surgeon before travelling. This is because their pets may have special welfare needs when travelling abroad and, depending on which countries are being visited, their pet can be at risk of contracting certain diseases which are not normally present in Ireland.
Examples of these diseases include heartworm, tapeworm, leishmaniasis, piroplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and dirofilariasis. Some of these are transferred by the bite of ticks. Your pet is unlikely to have natural immunity to such diseases and may therefore be more likely to succumb to them. All of these can have severe consequences in your animal; some can also cause disease in humans. If you wish to know more about these diseases and preventative treatment, where possible, please consult your vet.
Depending on where you are going, your vet may be able to advise you on preventative treatments, on any other precautions you need to take and how to look for signs of ill health in your pet.
If your animal should become ill after it returns from its holidays, please contact your veterinary surgeon and immediately inform him/her what countries you have visited.