Here we’re going to give an overview of when our dog’s must have a Tapeworm treatment administered during their travels.
You might be wondering why there’s a picture of a fox above, well the reason is that they carry a type of tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, that isn’t present in the U.K. fox population. The tapeworm treatment for dogs is a critical part of preventing the ‘fox tapeworm’ from entering the UK. Ensuring your dog gets this treatment can help protect your pet, the UK’s wildlife, including foxes, and yourselves from this serious parasitic infection.
Returning to the UK with your dog will most likely require you to visit a Vet in the E.U. to have your dog receive a Tapeworm Treatment.
Returning to the UK with your cat or ferret doesn’t require Tapeworm treatment.
Section 2: When is Tapeworm Treatment Required?
- Travel to Great Britain (i.e. coming home from your trip): If you’re bringing your dog into Great Britain, a vet must administer/witness you administer a tapeworm treatment no less than 24 hours (1 day) and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before the dog’s scheduled arrival into the U.K. This ensures that your dog is free from tapeworms during the journey and helps prevent the parasite from entering the UK.
- Additional Countries Requiring Treatment: If you’re travelling to Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Norway, Finland, or Malta, your dog will also need to have a tapeworm treatment administered by a vet no less than 24 hours (1 day) and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before the dog’s scheduled arrival into these 5 countries. and recorded within their travel document by the vet.
- Good news for travellers from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, and Norway — dogs traveling directly from these countries into Great Britain do not need to be treated for tapeworm. These countries are free from this tapeworm so the requirement doesn’t apply.
Section 3: What Are the Treatment Details?
- Approved Medication: The treatment your vet administers must be approved for use in the country where it is being given. The medication should contain the drug praziquantel – proven effective against Echinococcus multilocularis.
- Can owners take their regular worming tablets with them on holiday to use?: Owners often ask if they can take their regular worming treatment with them and ask the vet to administer it for tapeworm prevention. We would always advise speaking with the vet who will be administering the treatment to ensure that it meets the necessary requirements and is licensed for use in the country you are in. This ensures that the treatment is carried out correctly and helps avoid any issues with travel.
- Documentation: The treatment must be recorded in your dog’s Animal Health Certificate, EU Pet Passport, or Great Britain Pet Health Certificate. A vet must complete the relevant section within these documents to confirm that the treatment was administered within the official timeline — no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before your scheduled arrival into the U.K.
- If this section is not completed properly, your dog may be refused entry into the UK. Be sure to keep these documents with you when traveling to ensure that the treatment is properly recorded.
- Animal Health Certificate: it is usually the section at the bottom of Page 4 where the Vet will complete the Tapeworm Treatment having been administered.
Section 4: Tips for a Smooth Travel Experience
- Plan Ahead: To avoid last-minute complications, some owners plan their dog’s tapeworm treatment before they travel. Many wait until during their trip to organise the Tapeworm treatment appointment, choosing to contact a local vet close to where they will be staying. Keep track of the timing — it must be done within the 24 to 120-hour window before you arrive in Great Britain (or into the other 5 countries mentioned above).
- It is often more expensive to have the Tapeworm treatment administered by a vet situated close to an ‘exit point’ from the E.U. back to the U.K. i.e. close to Calais, the other ports etc.
- Check Your Pet’s Documentation: Always ensure that the tapeworm treatment is properly recorded in the relevant documentation – i.e. AHC, EU Pet Passport or Great Britain Pet Health Certificate, and carry these documents with you when travelling.
Further information regarding Dog’s & Tapeworm treatment can be found HERE
