We are thinking of taking our dogs to France on holiday next year and just been looking into how to get a pet passport.  The DEFRA website is really helpful but it advises that only the rabies vaccination has to be up to date.  I called into my vets earlier and they said ALL vaccinations have to be up to date.  Does anyone know if it is rabies or rabies plus parvo, distemper etc ?  I give my dogs homeopathic nosodes which I know are not acceptable for the passports.

Thanks in advance for your help :)

tangle had her rabie vacc in march and i up dated  her booster vacc as well last week,just in case,better be safe and shore then ending up in quartine

Not offered as 'advice' as such, as have only imported dogs which have had all vaccinations in place - just my own viewpoint ...

If you get one person that tells you they ARE needed and 10 that tell you they ARE NOT, I still would not take the chance on having my own dogs blocked from returning to the UK. I would not travel without all vaccinations up to date.

That may not be helpful, but just something to think about.

M.

There is nowhere on the pet passport that mentions anything other than rabies, flea and tick treatment and the vet health check. So I don't think the boosters have to be up to date. Mine weren't when I came back from France in September.

As with LM I cannot offer direct advice on the exact requirements BUT I would personally suggest you exercise caution, for two reasons. 

Firstly, in direct response to you taking your dog away then I think you should ensure that every possibility of what may be required is covered as LM has mentioned. 

Secondly, and IMO more importantly, is it worth taking a risk with your dog at all for the sake of a holiday?  I would not subject my dogs to otherwise unnecessary vacs and parasite treatments for the sake of a foreign holiday.   Over and above these risks, there are a number of diseases carried by insects, infections, parasites, algaes etc overseas that are not known and/or common to the UK which our animals are neither vaccinated against nor our vets familiar with the symptoms so the treatments (if any) required.  I've known of dogs die as a result of these - so not something I would consider for the sake of a holiday or a dog show.

regards, teri

Thanks for all the advice everyone, Teri, I understand your reasoning on whether we should put them at risk of over vaccination etc just for a holiday.  At the moment we do leave the dogs with our neighbours who are brilliant with them, and the dogs enjoy it, but that doesn't stop me worrying about them from the moment we leave them until we get back home, probably like most people on here I tend to think nobody can look after them the way I can :) I would prefer not to go away but that would not be fair to my OH.

So I am only considering at the moment, and your replies have given me something to think about.

Thank you all :)

to dont need to health check or tick/worm to go to france only when you coming back into the country uk with in 48 hours then your own vet can do that,
but going to france for a holiday you need to get the dog/tick/worm check before returning to the uk to  reenter the uk, 24 hour after the treatment but not long than 48 hours after treatment ,this is tme window of entery.
then you have to do it all over again with the tick/worm treatment

> Secondly, and IMO more importantly, is it worth taking a risk with your dog at all for the sake of a holiday?  I would not subject my dogs to otherwise unnecessary vacs and parasite treatments for the sake of a foreign holiday.   Over and above these risks, there are a number of diseases carried by insects, infections, parasites, algaes etc overseas that are not known and/or common to the UK which our animals are neither vaccinated against nor our vets familiar with the symptoms so the treatments (if any) required.  I've known of dogs die as a result of these - so not something I would consider for the sake of a holiday or a dog show.
>

I would second that reply. :-)

I am not 100% but it would appear you will only need the pet passport / rabies -- see below taken from French Embassy web site http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Importation-of-animals-into-France.html#sommaire_2
If you plan to go to any shows however you will need full vaccination for pravo, distemper hepititis etc as this is a requirement of entry to FCI shows.
Karen

Pets cats, dogs and ferrets - Going to France on a temporary basis

Since 1st October 2004, the conditions for the movement of pet animals within the EU have been harmonised . Cats dogs and ferrets have to be accompanied by a passport to move between EU member states.
Please note : you are allowed to travel with your pet within the EU with the new passport. If you have a Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) certificate this can be used for dogs and cats to enter the United Kingdom (UK) until its "Valid until" date.
If you want to travel from the United Kingdom to France with your pet and then return with it to the UK, you have to meet the following requirements. Please note that the microchipping, vaccination and blood test must be carried out in this order.
1/ the identification of your animal: microchip under the skin only as the British authorities do not accept identification by tattoo..
2/ a valid vaccination against rabies (first vaccination and boosters). Animals must be at least 3 months old before being vaccinated.
3/ for dogs and cats a successful blood test(to make sure that the vaccine has given sufficient protection against rabies) done by an EU-approved laboratory. There has to be at least 6 months between the date the blood sample was taken that gave a satisfactory test result and the arrival of the pet in the United Kingdom. The blood test and 6 months wait do not apply to ferrets.
4/ an EU pet passport issued by a Government-approved vet (in France, a vet who has the "mandat sanitaire"). Identification, a valid rabies vaccination and passport will be the sole requirement for entry into Member States other than the United Kingdom, Malta, Ireland and Sweden which also require a satisfactory blood test. It is possible for this to be done after travelling to France but the 6 months wait explained at point 3 will still apply.
5/ treatment against parasites (ticks and tapeworms) between 24 and 48 hours before your pet is checked-in to travel on its journey into the UK. The details of the treatment must be recorded on an official certificate of treatment or in the pet passport if you have one..
6/ Your pet must also enter the UK using an approved transport company and route. You can find the information regarding routes and transport companies that may be used on the Defra website. All these requirements are also compulsory for guide and hearing dogs.
Check whether your dog is considered to be dangerous in France as some breeds allowed in the UK are not in France.
Please read the information below on dangerous dogs.
Please check that you have the necessary documents you need before boarding. Pets that come from qualifying non-EU countries can also enter the UK without quarantine. Please contact the Defra Pets Helpline on 0870 241 1710 for further information.
A.If your dog belongs to a breed recognized as dangerous dog, you cannot import this kind of dog in France (cat. 1). These breeds are:
  any dog of the type known as the Staffordshire terrier without a pedigree.
  any dog of the type known as the American Staffordshire terrier without a pedigree. (These types of dogs can be named « Pitbulls »
  any dog of the type known as the Mastiff. (These types of dogs can be named « boerbulls »)
  any dog of the type known as the Tosa without a pedigree.
B.Other breeds classified as guard dogs (cat. 2) with a pedigree can be imported into France:
  Staffordshire terrier
  American Staffordshire terrier
  Rottweiler
  Rottweiler and any dog of the type known as the Rottweiler without a pedigree.
  Tosa
It is advisable to have a certificate that your dog has a pedigree.
I.You have to meet the following requirements to import a guard dog to France :
  The dog has to be identified (tattooing or microchipping, etc).
  You have to register the dog in the town council where you will stay.
  The vaccination against rabies is compulsory.
  Owners have to maintain insurance against their dogs injuring third parties.
  The dog has to be on a lead and muzzled when in public place
II.There are some conditions attached to possessing this type of dog, the owners must:
  Be over 18 years of age
  Not be under guardianship
  Not be convicted of an offence or in custody.
Otherwise, you need a document explaining your police/criminal record and how this relates to the French legislation. If you have any enquiries about legislation, please contact the Home Office.
  Not already have been forbidden to possess a dog.
If a person arriving in this country produces paperwork that purports to prove that the dog is not a prohibited type it is necessary for the authorities to be cautious.
Paperwork accompanying the dog should be detailed and comprehensive.
Owners should be aware that the dog displays the defining characteristics that are represented in the prohibited types the dog could be seized. It is therefore necessary to be very cautious when you want to bring your dog from overseas.
If there is any doubt as to whether the dog in question could be considered to be of the prohibited type, tne advise is NOT to bring it into this country.