Pet Passports and pets to France.

Pet Travel Regulations

Basically at the time we travelled with our two dogs and cat, the procedure went like this;

1 get pet micro-chipped

2 pet gets rabies jab details are recorded

3  pet has a blood test 28 days after vaccination if this is OK six months after the blood test the animal can enter the UK

Number three I think is the complicated bit your pet only needs the rabies jab and pet passport to travel out of the UK but it needs the blood test results to travel back into the UK. So you don't have to wait six months before you travel with your pet (last time we checked it was 21 days after the jab to travel to France) but you can't bring it back to the UK until six months after a positive blood test.

Remember though the DEFRA site has the definitive information regulations like these change

Vets in France

We have used the vets in Bellac. They are located behind Gamme Vert. They speak English which is a boon when you are panicking about  a beloved pet. We have found them professional and caring. The prices charged for treatment are on the whole less than in the UK . Their details are below

16 r Rochettes 87300 BELLAC
tel:  05 55 68 10 67
fax : 05 55 68 73 78

Fleas & Tics

I'm afraid it's a bit of a haven for them here with the warm humid climate we use Frontline every four weeks (on the pets) to keep them at bay. Frontline is available at the vets and also at stores like Gamme Vert and Bricomarche which do animal supplies. It is slightly cheaper than in the UK.    

A tic remover is an essential tool these are small plastic devices with a fork in the end, they remove tics cleanly and painlessly. We know we have both been on the receiving end! You can get those from pharmacies and also Bricomarche and no doubt other stores where they do Frontline they cost about four euros.

Dog and cat food

You'll see the usual brands like Whiskers in the supermarkets and the supermarket own brands.

There is also no difficulty in getting the brands like Hills and IAMS.  We've only found Mini Bonio's though not the full size ones we have debated on whether it's because it's the little lap dogs here who mainly get such treats. Our dogs love the pasta based dried dog food (as do the chickens!).

In conclusion then if you are taking pets to France, you don't have to take a trailer full of whiskers with you, as the French like to spoil pets with good food as much as the English do.

Here's 2 Useful sites for Pet Travel Regulations

.defra.gov.uk/

ambafrance-uk.