Parasite prevention in the travelling pet

Abstract

The number of pets travelling under PETS increases year on year, with the number almost doubling between 2015 and 2017. In addition to this, climate change is affecting parasite distributions worldwide, including in Europe. Most notably it is allowing the further expansion of some parasites northwards. The UK is at high risk of many exotic parasites becoming endemic if they are allowed to enter, and a consistent strategy is key in preventing this from happening. A bespoke parasite control plan should be created for each pet travelling abroad and care should be taken by veterinary professionals not to become complacent when dealing with common exotic parasites. This article will consider ‘the usual suspects’ and some lesser known threats that pets may face when travelling abroad in Europe and offer advice and information on their significance and prevention.