Rabies vaccine and blood test

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 15:00:43 GMT

I had a client who got stuck in France when we still had the 6 month rule because the vaccine had expired and complained that I had told them they would receive a reminder when it was due. When I pointed out the line in the disclaimer they'd signed which stated: 'we may be able to send you a reminder when the booster vaccine is due but it is your responsibility to make sure that it is kept up to date and we can accept no responsibility for its correct timing', we didn't hear from them again.

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

Thomas Johnson — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 14:57:19 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]I also make it very clear that the rules are not the same outside the PETS travel area and that owners should preferably use a commercial agent especially for Australia! We have someone in the forces who is doing it themselves and I have got them to sign disclaimer. At the same time I have the detailed requirements on my computer, emailed by DEFRA (or whoever)[/quote]

A client of ours has just exported his 2 dogs to Australia, he used a commercial exporter and they provided the dates they had to be seen, lists of what had to be done on each visit, pre-written forms for me to sign for the various declarations, and pre-filled out submission forms for the blood tests, all of which made it very straightforward!

I have done quite a few in the past as I used to work for a practice that did the work for 2 export companies, and the best way to manage them was to go through the paperwork at the beginning very carefully, working back from the proposed export date and coming up with a schedule for all the treatments and tests.

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

Bob Russell — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 11:03:57 GMT

Australia seems to be a nightmare. When clients get it wrong, it has to be someone else's fault!

This happened when someone tried to travel with out of date rabies vaccinations. They had changed 'passport does not expire as long a vaccinations are up to date' to 'I told them the passport was fine'!

Nowt as queer as folks!

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 10:32:28 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

We have someone in the forces who is doing it themselves and I have got them to sign disclaimer. At the same time I have the detailed requirements on my computer, emailed by DEFRA (or whoever).

Not seen them for some time so hopefully they have gone elsewhere so I don't have to deal with any fallout.

[/quote]Not sure what fallout you're expecting Bob. Provided you follow the requirements on the export/import documentation I don't see how any fallout can come your way even if they don't sign a disclaimer but I get them too regardless. Its not rocket science.

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

Bob Russell — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 10:22:24 GMT

I recommend the bloods are taken 31 days after vaccination. Should be the most likely stage for a pass under the 'new' PETS passport where the pet is going outside the standard PETS area.

I also make it very clear that the rules are not the same outside the PETS travel area and that owners should preferably use a commercial agent especially for Australia! We have someone in the forces who is doing it themselves and I have got them to sign disclaimer. At the same time I have the detailed requirements on my computer, emailed by DEFRA (or whoever).

Not seen them for some time so hopefully they have gone elsewhere so I don't have to deal with any fallout.

Edit: booked in to see me in October!!

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 10:05:46 GMT

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]

For exports I ALWAYS made sure to tell the client - it is THEIR responsibility to ensure that all treatments and testing are booked to be carried out at the correct times for their travel plans, not the vet's responsibility. I'd point them in the direction of appropriate websites for import info from the country of destination and export info sites from the UK and help them, but always make them understand it's not your job to get things booked at the correct times.

[/quote]That should go without saying but I get them to sign a form which states this.

Can't add much to the rest of the discussion except to say, be wary when you send the blood as to whether it is just a pass/fail test that is required or an absolute value for the titre, the requirement varies according to the destination and the latter test costs more.

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

James Laidlaw — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 00:46:34 GMT

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

James Laidlaw — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 00:44:30 GMT

The form has nothing to do with when you bleed the animal to test for the titre.

They have to pass the blood test no more than 2 years (24 months) prior to shipment and at least 3 months prior to shipment.

The vaccination has to be done at least six months before shipment if it's their first vaccine, and no more than a year before shipment. If it's a booster it can be done any time within the year prior to shipment.

So - you have to do the vaccine within a year of them traveling, and at least 6 months before traveling if it's their first rabies vaccine. The blood test has to be done at least 3 months before they travel, and it has to be a pass result. The company recommendations would likely come from their trail work to show when peak response is and the best chance of getting a pass result based on serology - so you can do the blood test at any time, BUT, it's most likely to show a pass result if taken at 30d, one month, 4 weeks - whichever is recommended by the manufacturer. If they don't pass, you can booster and sample again, provided that the test isn't done within 3 months of shipment and they have had a booster within the year prior to travel.

Clear as mud?

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

emerald — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 22:01:07 GMT

This is what says for NZ. Worried now it's going to set the client back

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

Stephen Courtney — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 21:43:04 GMT

[quote user="John Wessels"]

Which country requires a Rabies antibody test?

[/quote] Lots. Australia, China particularly come to mind. I always did my tests about 1 month after the last rabies vaccine. I would however expect a well vaccinated dog ie one that had had a proper course and regular boosters, to pass the tire level required with ease. a dog that had just had one jab - not surprised to fail after 10 weeks in that case. We had one dog that failed its blood tests repeatedly, and never managed to pass for a Pet Passport. Now we don't need the tests for EU travel, it's not a problem, but if they wanted to go to Australia it would be. Also Australia make you wait 6 months after the blood test before you can import the dog.

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

John Wessels — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 21:42:32 GMT

I remember from the time blood test was required for pet travel passport that the AB level does drop after 4 weeks, sometimes to below the 0,5.

Also it required 2 rabies jabs to be 99 % sure the AB level was ok.

If the level of AB's was too low, we used to give another rabies jab and retest 14 days later.

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

emerald — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 21:38:30 GMT

Many will eg Australia, New Zealand x

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

John Wessels — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 21:34:05 GMT

Which country requires a Rabies antibody test?

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

emerald — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 21:31:58 GMT

It's for a dog being exported, but in general the vaccine company said should do at day 30 and no later and otherwise expect a fail?!?

RE: Rabies vaccine and blood test

John Wessels — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 21:27:22 GMT

Is this relating to Pet Travel Scheme?