Pet vaccinations are an important step in the international pet transport process. Your pet can travel to a different country only if they have been fully vaccinated against rabies and other animal diseases.

Vaccinations protect pets from life-threatening illnesses, and it is a best practice to vaccinate pets even when they are not travelling. Dangerous diseases such as rabies, parvovirus, etc., can be prevented by vaccinating pets on time.

If you are travelling to the United Arab Emirates with your pet dog or cat, they must follow a vaccination schedule before flying. All vaccinations must be up to date and approved by the country. Here’s all you need to know about the vaccinations required for international pet travel to UAE:

What are pet vaccines?

Pet vaccines are administered to pet dogs and cats to safeguard them from common animal illnesses such as hepatitis, rabies, parvovirus, rhinotracheitis etc. Most pets are vaccinated when they are young, but it is equally important to keep the vaccinations current with a booster dose recommended by the vet.

Pet vaccinations are necessary before international pet travel because they help check the introduction and spread of animal diseases from one country to another. For instance, several countries in the world are rabies-free. If a pet inadvertently carries rabies to such a country, it could lead to disastrous circumstances. Since the country is rabies-free, most pets will not be immunised against rabies, and these pets will be vulnerable to the disease. Vaccinating a pet before international travel ensures such situations do not arise and help protect local animals from exotic diseases.

Vaccination schedule for the United Arab Emirates

All pets travelling to UAE must be fully vaccinated against rabies and other animal diseases. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated pets are not allowed in the country. Pet dogs and cats need the following vaccinations to travel:

Dogs:

• Rabies
• Canine Distemper
• Leptospirosis
• Canine Hepatitis
• Parvovirus

Cats:

• Rabies
• Feline Calicivirus
• Feline Panleukopenia
• Feline Rhinotracheitis

If your pet dog or cat is travelling to the United Arab Emirates from a low-risk country with a low incidence of rabies, they must receive the rabies vaccination at least 21 days before the date of travel.

However, if your pet is in a high-risk country where rabies is more prevalent, they will need a rabies titre test along with their vaccination. The rabies titre test (RNATT) is a blood test that checks the vaccine’s efficacy by measuring the pet’s immune response.

The sample for the test must be drawn not less than 21 days after the vaccination and sent to an authorised lab for analysis. Only pets with an antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml are eligible to fly into the country.

International pet transport to the United Arab Emirates

Transporting your pet dog or cat to Dubai can be complicated, especially for first-time flyers. The rules are numerous, and they must be followed accurately for your pet to have a pleasant pet travel experience. Failure to comply with the laws can result in your pet being denied entry and sent home.

An experienced pet travel agency can help simplify the process and ensure your pet has a stress-free flight. Petraveller is an Australian pet transport agency specialising in zero-harm pet transport. If you plan to travel to the United Arab Emirates with your dog or cat, reach out to Petraveller for more information on pet transport and a free quote.