PETS:
What vets need to do - dogs and cats
Vaccination against rabies
Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies in accordance with the recommendation on the vaccine manufacturer's data sheet.
An approved inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine must be used. There are currently 4 authorised rabies vaccines in the UK: Canigen, Nobivac Rabies, Quantum Rabies and Rabisin. The vaccine must be approved in the country of use.
Before vaccinating the animal, you must read its microchip. You can vaccinate any time after the microchip has been fitted.
If an animal has been vaccinated before it was microchipped, it will have to be vaccinated again.
21 day wait
For EU countries where more stringent entry requirements do not apply, the EU has introduced a wait of 21 days from the date of the first rabies vaccination before a pet can enter those EU countries. However, if the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet requires more than one vaccination to complete the primary vaccination protocol, the 21 day wait applies from the date of the final vaccination of that protocol.
Record of vaccination
Enter the following details in section IV of the animal’s passport or official third country veterinary certificate if the animal is being prepared in a non-EU listed country, and vaccination record:
- its date of birth/age
- the microchip number, date of insertion and its location in the animal
- date of vaccination
- the vaccine manufacturer, product name and batch number
- the date by which the booster vaccination must be given (the “Valid until” date) (calculated by reference to the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet).
Booster vaccinations
After an animal has been vaccinated, it must be given booster vaccinations to remain qualified for PETS. This must be done by the “Valid until” date on the animal’s EU pet passport, third country veterinary certificate or PETS certificate and recorded in section IV of the passport or third country official veterinary certificate and on the animal’s vaccination record. The revaccination interval for cats may be different to that for dogs (refer to the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet). Read the microchip before revaccination. Booster vaccinations are valid for entry to the UK and other EU countries from the date given provided they are given on time (according to the instructions in the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet where the previous vaccination was given).
Records of initial rabies vaccinations and their subsequent booster(s) must be signed by an Official Veterinarian OV (panel 2) / LVI (panel 2) in a colour other than black, and stamped with that OV/LVI stamp in a colour other than black.
Since it may take time for some EU Member States to adopt this change into their import legislation, pet owners are advised to contact the authorities of the relevant EU country to confirm the appropriate timing of the rabies vaccination under their current import regulations.
Missed boosters
If the revaccination date is missed, the animal will have to be vaccinated and, for entry to the UK, blood tested again. The details in section V of the passport headed “In case of a further test” must then be completed – in Great Britain by an LVI. The animal will have to wait 6 calendar months from the date a blood sample was taken that gave satisfactory result following revaccination before it may enter the UK under PETS. To travel to an EU country following a missed booster, the 21 day wait will apply.
Animals that always have their booster on time will not need a further blood test, nor be subject to a further 21 day or 6 month wait.
Next steps
The next step is either a blood test or, for a pet not returning to the UK, or whose owner wants the blood sample to be taken in another listed country, issue a passport. Note that a blood test is required for pets to enter Malta and, from countries other than the UK, the Republic of Ireland.
Page last modified: November 2, 2009