Pet owners must act now if they want to take their furry friends to an EU country next year.

Rachael McGregor, clinical director at Calder Vets, is urging pet owners to be organised with their preparations for foreign travel, should the UK leave the EU without a deal.

Currently, dogs, cats and ferrets can travel anywhere in the EU as long as they have a pet passport, which sees owners take their pets to an Official Veterinarian (OV) three weeks before a trip to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.

However, the Government has issued a paper preparing for a possible No Deal Brexit, in which it advised pet owners wanting to go abroad after March 30 that they have to take their animals to an OV at least four months before travelling – meaning the end of November deadline is fast approaching.

Rachael, who is based at Calder’s animal hospital in Dewsbury, said: “The turnaround for organising microchipping, vaccinations and a pet passport has always been relatively short but the Government has now warned that, with no EU deal, pet owners may have to visit their OV as early as the end of next month for an April trip abroad.

“The pet could have to have a rabies vaccination, followed by a blood test at least 30 days after the date of vaccination to show the pet has become immune. Once that is completed, the pet would then have to wait at least three months from the date of the blood test before they can travel.

Budget 2018: The key points

“This process takes at least four months in total. Owners would then have to visit a vet to obtain a health certificate, which can’t be done more than 10 days before travel.

“It’s certainly worth being organised ahead of any planned trips abroad with your pets early next year and with time ticking until the November deadline, I’d recommend getting your animals booked in to see an OV as soon as possible to avoid any undue or unforeseen delays."