When travelling with your dog around Europe, it is important to be aware of the disease risks and to ensure your dog is appropriately protected. In this article, we run through the four main diseases of concern present in Europe that affect dogs: Leishmaniasis, Heartworm, Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis.
In general, the risk of your dog catching one of these diseases is low, but here are some important steps to follow to minimise this risk even further:
Use preventive measures: ensure your dog is treated against ticks, has a sand fly preventative collar or spot-on, and is on monthly worming treatment that covers heartworm. Discuss the best combination of products with your vet and it is worth checking if the treatment your pet has also prevents other types of parasites such as fleas, other worms or mites.
Keep your dog away from areas with high parasite risk: To reduce the risk of your dog coming into contact with parasites, although not always practical, try to avoid letting your dog walk or play in areas where there may be a high risk of parasites, such as tall grass or areas where other dogs may have defecated.
Keep your dog indoors at dawn and dusk: Sand flies are most active at dawn and dusk, so it is a good idea to keep your dog indoors during these times to reduce their risk of being bitten.
Check your dog regularly for Ticks and remove them swiftly!
It is important to discuss the treatment options with your vet – there are many different parasite products which can cover some but not all of the necessary parasites when travelling. Therefore your vet will be happy to consult on the safest combination of products to use for protection whilst travelling with your dog.
1. Leishmaniasis (spread by bites of sandflies)
Where is this found?
Leishmaniasis is mainly found around the Mediterranean including Spain, Portugal. Southern France, Italy and Greece. The dark green areas in the map below demonstrate the countries with the highest risk.
What happens when dogs are infected with Leishmaniasis?
This disease causes skin problems, hair loss, weight loss, lameness and can affect the internal organs. Many of the scruffy looking dogs you see on holiday in Southern Europe, especially those with hair loss around the eyes, will have leishmaniasis. The disease is difficult to cure completely but symptoms can often be improved with treatment. If left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure and death.
When do signs of Leishmaniasis appear?
The disease may not develop for several years after the initial infection.
How is Leishmaniasis spread?
Leishmaniasis is spread by sand flies, which are particularly active at dawn and dusk.
What should I do to prevent Leishmaniasis?
There is a choice of repellent products which may be purchased from your vet in the UK before you travel. These include collars and spot-on treatments.
Example collars include the Scalibor collar (which last for 6 months) and the Seresto collar (which last for 8 months). Example spot-on treatments include Advantix (to be given monthly).
Speak to your vet about the options for your dog and to carefully follow instructions on frequency of application of spot-on treatments! Plug-in insect repellents are also useful to repel insects inside.
There are also vaccinations available for dogs travelling abroad, which reduces the risk of them contracting Leishmaniasis. This vaccination may be given to dogs from 6 months of age and dogs that have been vaccinated are 4 times less likely to develop the disease. The vaccination course can include three injections and the onset of immunity is 4 weeks after completing the initial course, so the vaccination course should be started well before before you wish to travel (at least 13 weeks). Afterwards, a single booster should be given every year to maintain immunity.
The Leishmaniasis vaccination is not included in your dogs routine annual vaccinations so if you wish your dog to receive this vaccination, it is worth contacting your vets well in advance of travelling as they may need to order this in for you.
2. Heartworm (spread by bites of mosquitos)
Where is Heartworm found?
Heartworm (also known as Dirofilaria) is most commonly found in Southern Europe, however, with global warming this disease is starting to occur further north, with occasional cases reported as far north as Brittany.
What happens when dogs are infected with Heartworm?
The heartworms live in the heart and large blood vessels, causing heart failure and breathing difficulties. Symptoms of heartworm can include coughing, lethargy, weight loss and difficulty breathing.
When do signs of Heartworm infection appear?
Symptoms are not usually seen for 6-12 months after infection.
How is Heartworm spread?
Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes. Treatment is based around preventing mosquito bites, and also medication to prevent worms from developing if your dog is infected.
Because heartworm is common in the at-risk areas and is serious and difficult to treat once the worms are in the heart, we recommend that all animals travelling to risk areas are given monthly treatments to stop the parasite developing inside the dog.
What should I do to prevent Heartworm?
Preventative treatments include the following: Milbemax (monthly administration), Nexgard Spectra (monthly use), Simparica Trio (monthly administration), Advocate (monthly administration). Administration of these should start before you leave the UK and continue for a short period after your return and it is important that no doses are missed.
It is important to discuss the treatment options with your vet – there are many different parasite products which can cover some but not all of the necessary parasites when travelling. Therefore your vet will be happy to consult on the safest combination of products to use for protection whilst travelling with your dog.
3. Babesiosis (spread by bites of ticks)
Where is Babesiosis found:
Babesiosis is particularly common in France, but also occurs in most other European countries.
This map shows the prevalence of the two main species of ticks which spread Babesia in Europe.
What happens when dogs are infected with Babesiosis:
Babesiosis is a disease caused by a parasite that attacks the red blood cells and causes severe anaemia. Symtomns include abnormal dark urine, fever, weakness, pale mucous membranes and depression. If left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure and death.
When would symptoms of Babesiosis appear?
Babesiosis symptoms can appear quite quickly (2-3 weeks after exposure) and can have a dramatic onset with fatal consequences.
It is essential to get an immediate diagnosis and treatment, so if your dog suddenly becomes ill whilst abroad or soon after returning, seek veterinary attention immediately.
How is Babesiosis spread?
This parasite is spread by ticks.
What should I do to prevent Babesiosis?
Treatment is based on avoiding ticks, preventing them from biting the dog, and removing them within 24 hours if they do bite. In most cases the Babesia parasite is not transmitted to the dog until the tick has been feeding for 24-48 hours.
Consult your vet on the most effective tick treatment. In general the best products kill the tick soon after they have attached and have repellent activity.
Thoroughly groom your dog every day and check them carefully for ticks. Use a tick hook to remove any ticks found as soon as possible. Tick control should be carried out all year round not just spring/summer.
If possible, avoid rough ground, forests and grazing land.
4. Ehrlichiosis (spread by bites of ticks)
Where is Ehrlichiosis present?
Ehrlichiosis is seen in all Mediterranean countries, but particularly in southern Europe.
This map shows the prevalence of the tick (Rhipicephalus) that spreads Ehrlichiosis – south of the red line is where the tick is most commonly found.
How is Ehrlichiosis spread?
This parasite (a type of bacteria) is spread by ticks (particularly the species of tick called Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Dogs with Ehrlichia are often found to also have contracted Babesia as they are both transmitted by ticks.
What are the symptoms of Ehrlichiosis?
Ehrlichiosis initally causes a fever, following this, some dogs recover completely. Other dogs remain infected and develop problems with their immune system and blood clotting system.
What should I do to prevent Ehrlichiosis?
The best prevention is to stop ticks biting (as with Babesiosis). Discuss appropriate tick preventative with your vet, avoid areas with ticks where possible and check for ticks regularly and remove them swiftly!
When taking your dog abroad, there is a risk of your dog picking up diseases that are not normally found in the UK. It is essential to be aware of these risks and to take the neccessary precautions to protect your dog including ensuring they are up to date with their worming & tick treatment, as well as considering a collar or spot-on treatment to prevent bites from sandflies.