Taking Dog to France & Spain (1 Viewer)

Tweedie

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Newbie question. Planning our very first trip to France / Spain spring next year. Getting pet passport organised but was wondering about id disc. Are there any mandatory requirements that are needed in France & Spain or is it the same as UK. Thanks (y)
 

GWG

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Dog I.d recommended but not compulsory, but vaccination discs should also be worn on collar. (Source:Spanish vet)
Dogs need to be restrained, when travelling in a vehicle.
Get Sandfly collers and fit them on your dogs a few days before leaving U.K. Dogs get Leashmaiasis from sand flies, which can be fatal. BEWARE Processionary Caterpillers. Nest are commonly seen in bushes and trees, looks like candy floss, contact with the hairs of these will have a severe or fatal effect on dogs.
 
Nov 3, 2013
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Hi.
Re "Processionary Caterpillers" . The daughter informed me this afternoon,they are out and about now,here in N.Portugal.this is early for them to be about,so take care.
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Billy23

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Perhaps should mention that whilst dog ID is not compulsory, the park rangers in and around Huelva have been known to shoot loose dogs without ID. That is not to say that it happens all over Spain but they do have a problem with packs of dogs and very few rescue centres so shooting is one way of dealing with the problem.

It is the law that all Spanish dogs must be chipped.
 
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& they are meant to be on a lead at all times.
You are also meant to be carrying the dogs paperwork when out as well. I don-t bother carrying dogs vet book&passport as he also has a credit card sized Id so I just use that except when travelling.
Some dogs that are classed in Spain as on the "dangerous dogs" list are required to be muzzled when out .
BEWARE Processionary Caterpillers. Nest are commonly seen in bushes and trees, looks like candy floss, contact with the hairs of these will have a severe or fatal effect on dogs.

You only have to get within 10cm of them & they can "fire " the hairs some 5 or 6cm at you.
 

KeithChesterfield

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The Identity Disc would be better to have both your home and mobile telephone numbers.

Also I find a GB sticker on the dog is a good idea. :clap2::clap2::clap2:

DOG GB 2.jpg


Vets who have been recommended by Motorhome owners are on this Map -
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zTPBDq9Df4L4.kSm3eLuvVb2g&usp=sharing

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GWG

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Please make sure your dog has an Id with a mobile number that corresponds to the contact detail on the Microchip register.
Be very careful about letting your dogs run loose, e.g scrubland or old Orange groves in Spain. As the danger from Caterpillars cannot be overestimated. (Yes I am paranoid about them, with good reason)
 

Allanm

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We get processionary caterpillars in Kent. Don't walk past them on a windy day if you have any breathing disorders
 

irnbru

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Oh geeze. This thread is educating me. I guess I was lucky. Never knew anything about the sand flies or diseases and my vet didn't warn me.

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Don Quixote

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Not long enough, but a little common sense helps..........
Processionary caterpillars in Spain

A warning to dog owners
procesionaria%20del%20pino.jpg


If you live in Spain or visit during the spring time, you might have heard people talking about the processionary caterpillar. This creature is often mentioned in forums by dog owners who have seen them out on their walks and are warning others of the danger.

Itā€™s a real threat too. We donā€™t usually associate caterpillars with the potential to kill, but these creatures have caused the death of many dogs and other animals and have made their presence felt amongst their adult owners too.

What are they?
The pine processionary moth flies around May to July and only lives for about one day during which time it must mate and lay its eggs in the foliage of a pine tree. A single female can lay up to 300 tiny eggs and it takes around a month for them to hatch.

Once they have hatched, the minute caterpillars have five growth stages called ā€˜instarsā€™. During their third moult or instar they build the white cotton-wool like nest and continue to feed on the pine leaves until the fifth instar. This usually happens any time from February to April.

At this point, the caterpillars (procesionaria del pino) make their way to the ground in a long chain searching for the next place in their life cycle. This behaviour gives them the name of the ā€˜processionary caterpillarā€™. You can recognise them by their distinctive orange-brown colour and blue bands.

Eventually they will disperse to burrow just below the ground where they will pupate. Before this happens they can be a danger to humans and other mammals. It is the hairs of the caterpillars that can cause problems. If they are touched or poked they cause a nasty rash and give off dust that can cause respiratory problems. They are particularly toxic for children and animals.

If the caterpillar is stressed or threatened it can eject its hairs which act a little like harpoons and can penetrate or irritate any exposed skin. Dogs are particularly susceptible as they will pick up the hairs on their paws and then lick them as they start to itch. This then leads to the hairs being transferred on to the animalā€™s tongue and can result in itching, swelling, vomiting and even death.

What you should do if you find them
If you become aware that you have these caterpillars on an urbanisation / camp site then you should inform the community of owners or owners of the camp site and they should be removed. In some areas the council will remove them but where this isnā€™t the case you should engage a specialist. You should not attempt to move them yourself as it is a job for an expert.

If you do touch one and become itchy you should consult a doctor. The rashes can be very painful and irritating and can last for a few weeks.

If your pet is infected you can usually tell because there will be small white spots in the mouth and on the tongue and the animal will become distressed and possibly drool. If they remain untreated, animals can die as the tongue will swell and in some cases has to be cut or amputated. If you know your pet has been affected then you should go to the vets immediately, where they will probably be given a cortisone injection.

You should also be careful of any nests the caterpillars have left in the trees. These will also contain some of the hairs that the larvae have left behind. You should not try to cut down the nests or burn them yourself as the hairs can become airborn.

They are considered to be a real pest, a threat to the pine trees themselves and, of course, a danger to animals and humans. If you know of someone new to the area who may not be aware, it is worth warning them of the danger.
 
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Tweedie

Tweedie

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Thanks all, yes had read about processionary caterpillars and collars for sand fly, but hadn't heard about the need to take dogs vet book etc out & about with you. Something else for me to investigate then. The the link to the map is very useful & have also just updated details on the micro chip register, good reminder as had forgotten to do that when we recently moved..

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Hollyberry

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processionary caterpillars widespread in France too. Look in fir trees ( mostly, though vary I think from area to area) and if you see white/cream fluffy looking balls, they are the caterpillars waiting to hatch.
 

GWG

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There is also a British Version, known as the Oak Processionary. With similar dangers to the Pine version in Mainland Europe.
Fortunately there is a major programme of eradication run by The Forestry Commission ( and others) so it is confined to the South East mainly London Area. Any sightings should be reported immediately to the Parks Dept of the Local Authority.
Happily no sign of them in the Paignton Area. :)
 

Antonio

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Cassie has just had her first of 3 injections against Leishmaniasis, works out around Ā£150 total for the initial course, 3 weeks between injections, then one booster a year. I lost one of my cockers to this when I lived in Spain, not very nice.

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Dec 4, 2014
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Thanks for all the above posts (y)

We're hoping to travel through to Fuerteventura next year so although apprehensive we appreciate all the advice given.
 

Duck Truck

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CHANGE OF PHONE NUMBER
The vet at Forges Les Eaux ( Mr Patrick)
Will be changing his telephone number from the end of April 16
the new number will be 0235900505
His address is the same.

We have two labs and he has always been excellent
he speaks very good English
 

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