In this video, we’re here to talk about our experience obtaining an EU Pet Passport for our furry best friend, Willow.
As pet owners, we know that traveling with our furry friends can be a bit tricky. So we scheduled a vet visit to prepare Willow for our travels in Portugal and beyond, including vaccinations, flea and tick treatments, and other necessary preparations for her health and well-being. It was a slight inconvenience, but it was worth it to ensure Willow’s safety.
We know that Europe is not immune to diseases our pets can catch, and we wanted to ensure Willow was protected. We were grateful to learn that it is a requirement upon entry into Portugal. One disease in particular that the country is concerned about is Leishmaniose.
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the Leishmania parasite that affects humans and dogs, transmitted by the bite of sand flies. It is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions and Mediterranean countries like Portugal. In Portugal, it is more prevalent in certain areas such as the Alto-Douro region, Lisbon, and Algarve. In humans, the disease can present in three forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral, with the latter being the most severe and fatal if left untreated. In dogs, the most common forms are cutaneous and visceral. Even if they don’t show symptoms, they can still act as a reservoir of infection and transmit the parasite to other mammals and humans.
Leishmaniose and Leishmaniasis are different ways of referring to the same thing. Leishmaniasis is the medical term for the disease caused by the Leishmania parasite, while Leishmaniose is the Portuguese word for the same disease. Both terms refer to the same illness, which is transmitted by the bite of sand flies and affects both humans and dogs.
But the good news is that a vaccine is available for dogs to protect them against the disease.
Another critical aspect to consider when traveling Europe with a pet is obtaining an EU Pet Passport. It is a document that verifies that your pet has been microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. It’s required for legal travel within the EU. Obtaining an EU Pet Passport can be straightforward, but it can take a few weeks to complete, so we made sure to start the process well before our planned travel date.
Preliminary Steps for getting an EU Pet Passport in the United States:
- Make sure your dog is microchipped.
- Make sure your dog is up-to-date on rabies vaccinations.
- Obtain an official health certificate from a licensed veterinarian.
It’s important to note that the EU pet passport is valid for the entire EU. Once you have it, your dog can travel within EU countries without needing additional documentation. It’s also important to check the specific requirements and regulations of the EU country you’re planning to visit, as they may have particular requirements.
In Belém (Lisbon), we visited our local veterinarian, Clinica Veterinária Restelo Vet, to get Willow her EU pet passport. We were impressed with the one-on-one attention our vet gave to Willow, and she explained every step of the process clearly. The veterinarian at Clinica Veterinária Restelo Vet was knowledgeable about getting an EU Pet Passport and the necessary vaccinations and treatments for Willow, but also had a lot of patience with both Willow and us as her owners.
They researched all the entry rules for our arrival in Portugal. They provided us with good advice and thoroughly checked that Willow was healthy and ready for future travel before providing her with the necessary medications. They gave us the EU Pet Passport at the end of the visit.
Willow gets a paw-dicure with the help of her loving owners and the skilled hands of the vet and her assistant.
All in all, our experience obtaining an EU Pet Passport for Willow was a success. It was a bit of a process, but it was worth it to ensure her safety and well-being during our time here in Portugal and on future travels into Europe.
We learned a lot about the specific requirements and regulations for traveling with pets in the EU and found a great vet who helped us every step of the way.
We hope our experience can help other pet owners who are planning to travel with their furry friends in the future.
Remember to start the process early and be informed about the specific requirements and regulations of the country you’re visiting. Work with a knowledgeable and patient veterinarian to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip for you and your pet.
Happy travels!
► Clinica Veterinária Restelo Vet
