Just to clarify? Some posters have spoken of sending blood work on their pets for the rabies innoculation to prove rabies immunity, and others just talk about the rabies vaccine certificate. When does one need to draw a blood sample to be tested?

Thanks,
Gabrielle

And to clarify further , are you concerned about vaccination in order to import a pet to Switzerland, or about vac regimes once here?


ETA:

Based on your profile, I'm going to guess that you are asking about bringing a pet from the US into Switzerland...so everything you need to know is on the BVet website:

http://www.bvet.admin.ch/themen/0161...x.html?lang=en

Click on the pdf file" Traveling with pets: dogs, cats and ferrets from third countries."

The US is considered a low risk country for rabies, therefore paragraph 1.3.1 applies.

"Dogs, cats and ferrets from these countries must have been vaccinated against rabies with an inacti-
vated vaccine (having an efficacy that corresponds at least to one international antigen unit according
to WHO standards) as recommended by the manufacturer and at least 21 days before being imported.
For animals given regular booster vaccinations within the period recommended by the manufacturer,
the waiting period of 21 days does not apply. "


If importing from a low risk country the titre test is not needed - that only applies to countries deemed higher risk. For the full list, see the pdf file: '"List of countries: Rabies - dogs, cats and ferrets."


---

If however, you were asking about vac regimes once here, there is no federal requirement to vaccinate against rabies in Switzerland. If, however you are going to cross borders with your pet, you will likely need to keep vacs up to date to do so.

Because we travel frequently, I vaccinate my healthy dogs according to the mfgr's protocol, which is now on a 3 year basis for rabies, combi yearly or every two years.

I do not vaccinate (i.e., booster) my elderly dogs, or dogs who are not in perfect health. If a question arises, I titre test and then decide what to do based on the results. If my vet and I determine that vaccinating is in the dog's best interest, then I do so using single vacs rather than combis. Opinions differ on vac regimes - talk to your vet as to what is best for you and your dog. (Bearing in mind you cannot enter another country with expired vacs.)

-----


But... if you are asking about vaccinating for a different reason, please clarify.

Heya

Blood is drawn to do a titre-test and this is mainly used to see the immunity levels in a dog in preparation for export.

The actual vaccination itself is a simple injection.

Hope this helps

have fun
kt

I'm going through this process with our cats to move them to the UK. Three weeks after a rabies vaccination they can be tested for their titre. The titre takes about two weeks to come back.

Are you importing or exporting a pet, and where from or to?

We will be returning cats to the UK in 9 months time. They had rabies jabs and blood tests before we came, arrived here Sept 2008. Does anyone know if these need to be carried out again, or does the jab and test give them coverage for a certain number of years? They will be seeing the vet next month to get their cat-flu boosters.

Does anyone know what the routine is for exporting by air back to London? Do they need to get seen by a vet as being 'fit for travel' as we did when they came here?

Grateful for any advice!

AnnieShine,

To bring a pet into the UK (including returning to the UK) you need to be compliant with the UK PETS scheme. Everything you need to know can be found on the DEFRA website:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm


When in doubt, call the DEFRA hotline - the folks there are generally pretty helpful.

Actually, everything but one. I wasn't aware of this and couldn't find it on the site when I looked a few months back but once your animal is vaccinated and tested as long as you keep up with the vaccinations, you don't need to do the blood test again to bring it into the UK.

Very frustrating for me, I could be getting ready to move now instead of waiting until January for the six months to pass from the blood test.

We've just imported our 2 dogs from the uk. They arrived yesterday. If your animals are to go over the borders, out of Switzerland, say if you go on holiday, then your animals will need the rabies vacc to be up to date. My uk vet told me that we musn't let this lapse even by one day, because then you'll have to go through the whole rigmorole of vaccine + blood test once again. However, if you remember to do the booster before the 3 years is up then no blood test is required.

I got varying advice regarding importing/exporting pets. The official line is that if they fly directly into Switzerland they do not need anything as Switzerland is Rabies free. However, I was then told that no customs vet would allow a dog out of the airport without full load of vaccinations.

The best advice I got was from B-vet on Melancollie's recommendations. They reply promptly to all your questions and in English. They are very very clear.

The English (Defra) however, is another matter; tardy replies and then the most I got out of them was "we don't know"!!!

Good luck. My boys are now happy to be here.

Sx