Blood-feeding external parasites such as ticks, fleas, sand flies and mosquitoes (=vectors) can transmit many dangerous pathogens to dogs and cats. The distribution of vectors around continental Europe can vary geographically, seasonally and with altitude.
Many of the diseases transmitted by vectors to dogs and cats while travelling abroad are very serious, potentially life threatening and often not curable. They can be transmitted within hours of tick attachment, or by singular mosquito and sandfly bites.
Antiparasitic treatments with repellent (preventing tick attachment and mosquito and sandfly bites) and rapid tick killing action are required to reduce the risk of transmission of diseases in pets travelling to Europe and other continents. Unfortunately, no treatment claims to be 100% effective. For this reason, the transmission of diseases by parasites cannot be completely excluded if conditions are unfavourable.
The following recommendations should be followed:
Check animals twice daily for ticks and remove any ticks which have attached. Do not kill ticks attached to the pet (alcohol, glue, etc), as this may encourage transmission of diseases. Instead use Tick Twister or similar devices sold at the surgery. Avoid tick infested areas such as scrub land.
To reduce the risk of sandfly and mosquito bites avoid keeping the animal outside at dusk and dawn and in the evenings.
Different geographical regions in Europe have their own risks of infection.
Babesiosis: Transmitted by ticks. Common in Europe.
Ehrlichiosis: Transmitted by ticks. Europe (Mediterranean region). Transmisson of disease starts within hours of tick attachment.
Heart Worm (Dirofilariosis): Transmitted by mosquitos. Europe, prevalent in Portugal, Spain, Southern France, Italy, Greece and other peri-Mediterranean countries.
Leishmaniosis: Transmitted by sandflies. Extremely common in the Mediterranean area.
Lyme Disease (borreliosis): Transmitted by ticks. Europe, in Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Scandinavia, and many regions in Eastern Europe.
Subcutaneous Dirofilariosis: Transmitted by mosquitos. Europe, prevalent in Italy, Southern France, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Eastern Europe.
Anaplasmosis: Transmitted by tcks. Europe, in northern and central countries like Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Scandinavia, Scotland and many regions in Eastern Europe.
For more information
Prevention of tick attachment and flea, sand fly or mosquito bites repellent is very important in pets travelling to continental Europe with their owners. Anti-parasitics used for routine treatments while in the Uk are generally not sufficient.
We recommend the following additional treatments while travelling abroad:
Advantix Spot on for dogs: Apply 3 days before travelling. Repeat every 3 weeks for sandflies and mosquito repellent, every 4 weeks for ticks (kills and repels). Toxic to cats.
Scalibor Collar for dogs: Apply 1 week before travelling. Repels and kills ticks, repellent sandflies and mosquitos, lasts for 5-6 months. Toxic for cats.
Serestro Collar for Dogs and Cats: Apply 48 hours before travelling, repellent and killing for ticks last 7-8 months. Seresto is not licenced as a sandfly repellent, but a study shows it reduces the risk of disease transmission.
Repeat Heart Worm prevention monthly while abroad and for at least for 1 month after arriving back in the UK (Milbevet, Milbemax, NexGard, Cani-Trio or Simparica Trio monthly).
Tape Worm treatment must be given by a veterinary surgeon abroad within 24-120 hours (1-5 days) before landing in the UK and entered in the AHC or European Pet Passport to comply with travel regulations. https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad. Tape worm free countries (Malta, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Norway) are excluded from this rule.
Tape worm treatment should then be repeated 2-4 weeks after returning to the UK (Droncit, Milbevet, Milbemax).
Some treatment may not be included in the Pet Health Plan and may need to be pre-ordered before your trip. These treatments may be given additionally to your general anti-parasitic treatments, however, wait 1-2 weeks before or after giving these.
The efficacy of all the recommended treatments reduces with regular or prolonged contact with water and there may be special instructions about contact with children etc.