Do this before you travel abroad with your dog
Before a trip abroad with your dog or cat, there are some things you need to keep an eye on. There may be some differences between countries and it is your duty as a pet owner to keep track of what applies and that your pet meets the requirements.
For travel with dog and cat within the EU, the following applies:
Your pet must be ID-marked. According to German rules a tattoo is usually sufficient for dogs born before July 2011.
Your pet must have a valid vaccination against rabies
Dogs traveling to the Ireland, Finland and Malta must be dewormed against echinococcus tapeworm (fox tapeworm)
Your pet must have an EU passport for pets
Contact your veterinarian to get help with ID marking, vaccination and to get a passport. It is important to keep in mind when it comes to deworming against echinococcus that this must be certified by a veterinarian! Also find out what applies to vaccination and deworming for the specific country you are traveling to.
For travel with a dog or cat to a country outside the EU, the following applies:
You usually need to bring both a passport and an animal health certificate issued by a veterinarian. You must also have a valid rabies vaccination, microchip identification and a pet passport. It is important that you check what applies to the specific country you are visiting.
To get information about what exactly applies to the country you are going to visit, you can turn to the veterinary authorities or the embassy in the country you are going to travel to get the right information.
If you are going to travel from Sweden to Norway, no extra animal health certificate is required, which states that Sweden is free from various animal diseases. However, deworming against echinococcus tapeworm is required.
Think about this:
When you travel to another country, whether it is by car, train or plane, you may pass other countries. Do not forget that your dog or cat must also meet the requirements that exist in the countries you may pass. When it's time to return home to Germany or Sweden from a country that is outside the EU, there are also German or Swedish requirements that your dog or cat must meet. These requirements may differ from the rules that existed at the time of departure and may be different depending on which third country you and your pet are traveling from.
To keep track of all these rules that apply to entry into Sweden, the Swedish Board of Agriculture has compiled a travel guide that will help you find out what is required. To keep track of al the rules that apply to entry into Germany the important information can be for example found on the website of German Customs. We also recommend that before departure you find out if the country you intend to go to has any known diseases that your dog or cat can be infected with during the stay. There are recommendations from some countries to protect your dog or cat against e.g. Leptospirosis, Leishmania, French heartworm and more.
As a pet owner, you are responsible for knowing the rules that apply when traveling abroad with a dog or cat. These rules can be quickly updated and changed, so get in the habit of always keeping up to date. Information about this is available for Sweden on jordbruksverket.se and for Germany on www.bmleh.de and the authorities for the country you are traveling to.
When you arrive in the country, you must not forget to report the dog or cat to the customs. This is also the animal owner's obligation!
Also, don't forget to download the Lassie app so you have all the insurance documents, paperwork and conditions with you on your journey and can access our chat if you have any questions.
Special requirements and precautions:
To be well-prepared, you should find out whether there are any requirements for wearing a muzzle. This is the case in some cities in Austria, for example. In addition, in Italy and Belgium, among other countries, you may be required to wear a muzzle by the local authorities. You should be prepared for these cases.
And also bear in mind that the risk of parasites is often higher in southern countries than in Sweden or Germany. Talk to your vet about which spot-on preparations or other measures they recommend in this regard.
