Passport, Identification, and a Valid Vaccination - The Key Requirements for Traveling with Your Pet

People and their pets often share a special bond. But how can you travel with your pet, and what should you know to ensure your companion feels just as comfortable on the journey as you do? These questions were discussed on the radio program Kā labāk dzīvot (How to Live Better).

The discussion features veterinarian Paulis Nartišs, Gunita Zabita, Senior Expert at the International Trade Division of the Food and Veterinary Service, and Laura Stabulniece, who frequently travels with her dogs.

Laura arrived at the program with her two Jack Russell Terriers, Kali and Perry. Together, they have traveled throughout Latvia, visited Estonia, and this year even made a longer road trip to Croatia.

If you plan to travel with your pet to countries such as Germany or France, there are several important requirements for the non-commercial movement of dogs, cats, and ferrets.

“The first thing I always remind people who purchase a pet is to obtain an EU pet passport immediately. This helps avoid future problems. If the animal has an EU pet passport, is identified with a microchip, and has received the mandatory rabies vaccination within the required timeframe-which for puppies and kittens is no earlier than 12 weeks of age, and for adult animals after they have been acquired-there are essentially no obstacles to travel, provided the owner keeps the rabies vaccination up to date with regular boosters,” explains Gunita Zabita.

“On any given day, you can take your pet, bring its passport, and travel, as long as your destination country does not require additional antiparasitic treatment. Only a few EU countries have such a requirement. In practice, there are almost no barriers to traveling if your pet has a passport, is microchipped, and has a valid rabies vaccination.”

Preparing Your Pet for Travel
How should you prepare your pet for travel, especially if it involves a long flight? Should you use calming medication?

“If, for example, you have a cat that has never left your apartment, any type of transport-even a short trip to the veterinary clinic-will be stressful for the animal. I would recommend first placing the cat in its carrier, putting it in the car, and taking a short drive, perhaps just to the grocery store. Of course, in warm weather you cannot leave a cat unattended in a parked car without air conditioning, but this kind of practice will help you understand your pet’s level of anxiety,” says Paulis Nartišs. “Sometimes it’s enough to switch on the vacuum cleaner at home and the pet hides under the sofa for three days. That should give the owner an objective indication of how well the animal may cope with the stress of traveling.

If it’s a cat that is terrified of a hairdryer, flying may simply not be the best option.

There are both over-the-counter and prescription calming medications available, but they should always be tested beforehand to see how they affect your individual pet and whether they effectively reduce anxiety. In some cases, previously undiagnosed congenital heart conditions can be triggered by severe stress, and unfortunately the animal may not survive the experience.”