To date, we've only taken a dog to mainland Europe with us once, actually Ali. We had intended to do so way more often, but... When we went, we took the Eurotunnel as it's just so easy. We stopped over at the Travelodge in Ashford and then just did the 8-9 drive straight off the other side. Beecham was pretty good in hotels though and quiet; now both he & Bosco can bark if there is noise as it's fairly quiet here. That reminds me, we must do some hotel practice with Bosco without Beecham...
Many hotels in mainland Europe, of all qualities, seem to allow dogs as do lots of restaurants. I will remember about Ibis, Ali; that's really useful to know.
Karen, you should talk to Fiona with Otter. She took the dogs to Northern Spain last year. They took the ferry to Santander, booking kennels on the boat. One of the dogs was fine, the other hated it, but I think it was better when the dogs were put in the kennel together. But there was a dog deck and I think they spent much of the 24 hours up there with the dogs. I remember her asking about bear, as there was bear where they were going, and I said that we had bear bells (like giant cat bells). We got ours in the States and I was going to lend them to her if she couldn't find them over here, but she did. I think she put them on the dog collars.
Wherever you go, it's wise to check the prevalent diseases. There are lots of nasty diseases from mosquitoes (particularly little ones that are often called sandflies by mistake) & ticks etc and the UK is not well set up to diagnose them (because they were not seen so much before, but by the time the animal gets back to the UK, it may be too late anyway. You could try asking the Embassy as UK vets don't always seem to know unless they've come across something or they have clients who go regularly.
If your dogs are not passported, make sure that you start the process in plenty of time. Beecham was a doddle in all respects. Bosco was a pain to blood test - he took objection to the electric razor - and had to be sedated. He failed. As he was young, we think he probably had immunity from his Mum - I had forgotten she was done more than once for her travelling. We could have had him vaccinated again sooner than we did but as, by then, we were not taking them to mainland Europe that autumn, we waited a few months and he was re-jabbed and then blood tested when he had his BVA tests, though the vet did not use a razor :)
The dog must be microchipped, then vaccinated. After approx 28 days, the vet will take a blood test, which will be sent away. If the blood test is successful, the animal is allowed back into the UK 6 months from the date of the blood test. I believe around 5% of dogs fail the blood test.
There is a Company, I forget the name, that can arrange a vet to do the worming & flea treatment for the return trip. We rang them, but didn't use them. I can't remember if the vet has to be approved, I think they do, but it is best that they have done it before, I think, personally. The French vet we had was horrid and frightened Beecham. He would not use the Milbemax I had taken and insisted on using injectable Drontal. Beecham came up in an egg sized lump at the injection site and my vet gave me a serious lecture about allowing it to happen - ie not forcing the French vet to use the Milbemax. We were slightly indebted to the French vet and my French, these days, is only up to arguing so much. My vet's colleague had already told me that if, for some reason, the French vet refused to give Milbemax, I should give it myself 24 hours after whatever worming treatment the French vet gave. Milbemax deals with some heart worms, but not all. Beecham also wore a Scalibor collar for about 10-14 days before he went away (for ticks etc) and we kept him away from the cats just in case it poisoned them. He also wore the collar on holiday. We were only away a week. I'm not sure how long the collars last. A lot of people recommend Advantix (I think that's the one), but it's lethal to cats, so we are not able to use it.
I do know of someone whose dog is now scared of vets, because the French vet was so rough. I also know of people who are prepared to drive another 5 hours to a nice vet, who also will use the treatments the handler wants - eg Milbemax (I know a dog who throws up if given Drontal). It might be worth finding out to whom Brodie goes before he returns to the UK and how they travel.
Not sure I've been much help really.
Welcome to all the new members. Sorry if I've forgotten anything.
Lindsey, it's good to hear positive news of Ghillie. I hope that the tests bring a solution. I think it was Metranizodol that sorted out my cat, actually. I wondered if the adder bite had affected Ghillie's system or the antidote had. Good luck with it and sniffs from Ghillie's Uncle Beecham to young Ghillie.
Here's a photo of Beecham on the beach in France in November 2005 aged approx 11.5 months
