Ferry to France with dog

Faze11

Long way off but given I haven't been able to go anywhere for 2 years we are planning a trip to France via euro camps bringing out dog in July 22

Worried about putting him in kennels on the boat and wondering if anyone has experience with this.

Is there any safe calming tablets they can take to make them less stressed or other tips or tricks.

Marcusm

Brittany Ferries have pet friendly cabins. Dog can be with you all the time and a special walking area. Our plan is for Bilbao which is nearly twice the journey. Definitely won’t be kennelled or left in the car.

twiddleypop

How did you both get on? Thinking of trying France next year with my dog in a pet friendly cabin.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058181618/ferry-to-france-with-dog

Give them chew toys/blankets/baskets to help them destress, but don't give them anything that would sedate them. It can be cold in the kennels and a sedative might affect their ability to shiver and remain warm.

A pet-friendly cabin is the best option I think. The next best was the Stena from Roslare where you can book one of 8 outside kennels. (What we did last summer) You can visit those as often as you like and walk the dog on the open deck. Last option would be an inside Kennel on IF where your visiting times and duration are severely limited.

Lots of vids on Youtube eg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bZdqnCMNNw

Stena kennels were done up a couple of years ago so beware older vids.

phelixoflaherty

Irish Ferry's is not the best.

When getting the passport be sure the vet fills it out properly and all the dates are correct.

Our vet messed up dates, and of course we only found this out on the return leg.

Luckily we were traveling on a day when the vet could be contacted and faxed over proper info.

Murt10

Buried in the middle of the official Govt blurb regarding bringing your dog back to Ireland is the following.

"If your dog is entering Ireland from any country apart from Finland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway a vet must treat your dog for tapeworm (specifically Echinococcus multilocularis) and record the treatment in the pet passport or EU health certificate before each time you intend to travel to Ireland.

The treatment must contain praziquantel and must be administered by a veterinarian no less than 24 hours (1 day) and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before the scheduled arrival time of the dog in Ireland. Your dog may be refused entry into Ireland or quarantined under official control if it has not been correctly treated against Echinococcus multlocularis before entry into Ireland."

http://www.pettravel.gov.ie/pets/dogscatsferrets/europe/

The civil servants who drafted and proof read that leaflet circular have done an absolutely terrible job. They have failed miserably if their objective was to help people easily transport their dogs home from abroad.

Not knowing about this particular requirement, for a tapeworm tablet to be administered and signed off by a vet 1-5 days before returning home, nearly made me miss my ferry from Spain 2 years ago, as the staff there wouldn't let me board the ship without it. I paid €50 for my tablet and sign off to a Spanish vet located near the port, but the same treatment is available far cheaper if you go to a local vet in the area you're staying in, rather than relying on a vet near the port who knows he has you by the short and curlies and charges you accordingly.

I've also heard of people having to pay €100 to have the tablet administered by a vet in the port city they are departing from in France.

As I said the information on this requirement is buried way way down, near the end of pages with the same typeface throughout. No headings on the paragraphs, and it's also not bolded or highlighted in any way whatsoever.

Well done Department of Agriculture!