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BVC News 

New regulations for all dog imports INTO the USA from 1st August 2024

The USA is tightening up their importation regulations for DOGS from all countries including the UK and European Union which are currently graded as "rabies low-risk" with extra requirements for dogs that have been in "rabies high risk countries" within the previous 6 months. 

The regulations are neither exhaustive or complicated but there will be a new requirement for a US issued importation document , examination by a veterinary surgeon before export and  rabies certification.

We strongly recommend careful reading of the new requirements from the US government website.

Bringing a Dog into the United States | Bringing an Animal into U.S. | Importation | CDC

There is a "Launch DogBot" link on this site and this will take you to a DogBot that will step by step show you what you will need to do.

 

Law change : Microchipping cats becomes compulsory from 10th June 2024

Microchipping dogs has been compulsory for many years however please note that from the 10th of June 2024 all pet cats need to be microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks. Most of our cats will already be microchipped but if your cat has never been chipped you will need to come in and get one implanted. It is very straightforward and only takes a few minutes. Please call the clinic to arrange this if necessary or if you are unsure one of our nurses can easily check to see if a microchip is already present.

 

Registered Veterinary Nurse, RVN.

Catherine M, a fully qualified RVN, has joined Luke, Paris and Sara in our nursing team and that now means that all our nurses are RVNs. The RVN course and examination takes two years full time study and is extremely rigourous in the UK and we are extremely pleased that all our nursing staff are now Registered Veterinary Nurses. This brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our patients and our clinic.

 

University of Cambridge/KC BOAS Respiratory Function Grading Scheme : Certified Assessor

Kevin, after many years involvement in French and English Bulldog health , was invited into the University of Cambridge and Kennel Club Respiratory Function Grading Scheme as a Certified Assessor. This scheme for the grading of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS ) has become instrumental in the improvement respiratory health of Bulldogs ( French and English) and Pugs. If you need to have your dog BOAS graded please speak to our reception for a grading appointment with Kevin . Ps wear running shoes, some gentle exercise involved !!

Fox mange and Lungworm

 

Over the past few years we have been seeing an ever increasing amount of LUNGWORM in London. Lungworm is a nasty parasite that lives in the lungs and is transmitted by snails in the garden. Lungworm infection can be asymptomatic and can cause acute catastrophic disease, so please ensure that your dogs are having regular preventative treatment such as Nexgard or Advocate.

The prevelance of urban foxes in central London means that we also do need to continue parasite control in dogs to prevent them catching fox mange, a very itchy skin parasite. Foxes tend to come into the gardens and even wander the streets of Chelsea throughout the year and dogs love rubbing themselves on the ground where foxes have lain, which is how mange parasite is transmitted. Preventative treatment is easy with a regular prasitic treatment such as Nexgard or Advocate.

 

The Leaders Council

Kevin was invited by Lord Blunkett to be interviewed by Scott Challinor about how he managed the team at the Brompton Veterinary Clinic and how he was able to manage the difficulties of working through the Covid-19 lockdown.

The podcast interview can be heard on the following link:

https://youtu.be/V55R4Ozw65c

 

Travel into the EU and returning Post-Brexit.

Questions and confusion around Brexit and what it means for pet travel continue to abound. The government advice can be found on the following link:

www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-and-from-great-britain

Basically the old parasite treatment rules still apply and EU (ie not UK ) issued Pet Passports  are still valid for travel into the EU and the UK.

However UK issued EU Pet Passports issued before 31st December 2020 are valid for ENTRY ONLY TO THE UK along with the necessary parasite treatment as before but they ARE NOT valid for travel into the EU.

To travel into the EU you will need to apply for an ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE within 10 days of EVERY entry to the EU unless you have a valid EU pet passport.

However  you still need any more help please speak to one of the staff directly for current advice. Please try and come in the afternoon to chat about this as our phone lines are being jammed with Brexit questions!

 

Kevin's volunteering trip for a rabies vaccine and neutering program in Thailand.

Kevin visited the Bon Jardin dog rescue and rehabilitation centre outside Bangkok to see their temple dog neutering program and also travelled north to join the Worldwide Veterinary Service team at the BLES elephant sanctuary in Sukhothai. The team there spent a week travelling to isolated villages vaccinating dogs against rabies and neutering nearly 300 dogs and cats.

Kevin's volunteering trip for a rabies vaccine and neutering program in Thailand.Kevin's volunteering trip for a rabies vaccine and neutering program in Thailand.Kevin's volunteering trip for a rabies vaccine and neutering program in Thailand.Kevin's volunteering trip for a rabies vaccine and neutering program in Thailand.

If you are interested in helping the street dogs of Thailand please check out the Bon Jardin dog rescue website at :   www.bonjardin.com

Tick borne disease outbreak in Essex:

An outbreak of the extremely serious disease Babesia, in Essex, is of particular concern to all dog owners. Babesia Canis is a parasite carried by ticks and is prevalent in Europe. Babesia is not believed to have been contracted in the UK before.

Symptoms of Babesia include weakness, lethargy, fever, anaemia and red urine. We are advising that all dog are treated for ticks now that spring is here. Please call the clinic for advice.

 

Identity Microchips is now compulsory for all dogs over 8 weeks of age in the UK. Most of our dogs and all dogs with passports will already be microchipped but if your dog has never been chipped you wil need to come in and get one implanted. It is very straightforward and only takes a few minutes.

 

Holidaying in Spain and Southern France?

There is a  mosquito-borne disease  called Leishmaniasis not present here in the UK  which is present in the Southern Mediterranean, especially Spain but also the South of France, Italy and Greece. This is a particularly unpleasant canine disease which is difficult to treat and often fatal. We strongly advise the use of anti-mosquito collars such as Scalibor for dogs. This would be in addition to the regular parasite control such as Nexgard. Please remember that ticks are a bigger problem in Europe and there are also more tick-bourne diseses in Europe than we have here in the UK. Please contact the clinic to discuss further if required.