Plenty of us can’t bear the thought of leaving our best friend behind when we go on holiday, especially if it’s for any longer than a week. Luckily, if you’re headed Lisbon-wards, Portuguese airlines let you to bring your dog, cat… or ferret with you. Ferret?! Yes, ferret. We have no idea why they’ve tacked ferrets on to the usual dogs and cats but there you go.
This is our common sense guide to taking your pet to Portugal.
Can I take my pet to Portugal? Yes, as long as you…
You can travel to Portugal on commercial flights without quarantining your pet as long as it’s a dog, cat or ferret. You’ll need a special Pet Passport, issued by your vet and containing a record of the pet’s vaccinations. But because the UK has left the EU you can’t apply for an EU pet passport. You just get a four month Animal Health Certificate. Remember, if your pet is younger than 15 weeks old they can’t travel with you at all.
You can’t travel with any pet unless they’ve had rabies jabs, which last anything from 1-3 years. You have to have them micro-chipped and the chip has to comply with the right ISO classification. And you can’t travel until 21 days after your pet has had their rabies jab, so you’ll need to have it done in good time. Finally you must complete a Health Certificate before you fly plus another within ten days of arrival, both properly signed by a vet.
Where on the plane will they be?
Would you like to travel in the luggage area deep inside a plane’s belly, on your own somewhere noisy and frightening? Probably not, and your beloved pet probably won’t like it much either.
It’s good to know that depending on the airline, dogs and cats weighing as much as 8 kilos can travel with you in the plane as long as they’re kept in a soft container. If they’re too heavy for the cabin they’ll need to go in a specially designed container or crate, not just any old box. If you have a guide dog or other assistance dog, they can stay with you in the cabin however big they are.
Some dog breeds might land you in trouble, not popular in Portugal because of their reputation. If you have a Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffy, Dogo Argentino, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, or Tosa Inu, check before you buy the dog’s ticket.
How to make your pet’s journey as pleasant as you can
You can’t really explain to an animal what’s happening, so the best you can do is be kind, thoughtful, calm, and responsive whenever they want reassurance.
First, get them used to their container or crate by letting them play and sleep in it at home, so they’re not scared or angry when the time comes to put them inside. If you can, also let them get used to being in the container inside a car, so they’re not terrified by being crated up in a car for the first time. Dogs will usually have to wear a muzzle on trains and buses in Portugal, another thing you’ll need to get your pet used to well before you travel.
Bring their favourite toys and bedding along so they can smell the familiar scents and feel at home on the journey. Get the right sized container for them so they’re not cramped. And talk to and stroke them as much as you can to help them understand everything’s OK and they’re safe.
Make sure you have all the paperwork, permissions, vaccinations and of course your pet’s plane ticket well in advance so there won’t be any delays or nasty surprises. And bear in mind it is best not to give them food on the big day in case they feel sick, throw up or worse, poop on the plane. Do provide fresh water so they can rehydrate in the dry atmosphere on board.
How about pet tranquillisers?
Tranquillisers are never a good idea! Please don’t give them a pet tranquilizer or any other type of tranquilliser, because the drugs can mess with their ability to control their body temperature at high altitudes.
What is it like when we get there?
Some countries aren’t really into pets but luckily the Portuguese love theirs, with more than half of all homes containing a pet. While cats and ferrets might not be up for exploring Portugal with you, happier left peacefully in your hotel room, villa or apartment, you can take your dog to the park and some eateries welcome animals – just ask first.
Like here in the UK, not all the beaches are pet friendly. It depends on the beach and the time of year, but always take poop bags whatever time of year wherever you’re going in Portugal, inland or coastal, village or city. Plus, a lead is essential for everyone’s sake.
It’s hot in summer, so make sure your pet is OK in the heat. If they’re OK on a hot UK summer day they should be OK in Portugal – but make sure they have a shady place indoors to shelter from the sun. Every good pet deserves a nice, comfy bed so do everything you can to ensure they can sleep comfortably too.
Bring a small amount of food with you so you’re not left short when you arrive. And make a big fuss of them so they know how clever they are for being so good and brave on the journey. Last of all, don’t leave them alone to pine if they get anxious when away from you – keep them close by, particularly if you have a sociable dog, and everyone will have a lovely time.
How much does it cost to take a pet to Portugal by air?
The cost of taking a pet to Portugal depends on the airline, anything from £60 upwards. Then there’s the cost of the container, microchip, vaccine, EU pet passport and anything else you need to buy to keep them happy. You might want to check to see if your pet insurance covers you abroad – your insurer might say no, add some conditions to the policy, or charge you extra for your time away. If you can’t get cover, do you have enough money to pay vet bills if something goes wrong?
What about other animals?
Cats, dogs and ferrets are standard fare. But what about other animals? You might want to take your parrot with you, for example. For a bird you need to get a bird health certificate from a licensed vet and the bird has to be isolated at home for 30 days before you travel. Once you get there the bird must stay in quarantine for 30 days after you arrive unless it was vaccinated against avian flu with an H5 jab at least 60 days before you travel and a maximum of six months beforehand. Alternatively you can isolate your feathery friend for ten days before travelling and take a test for H5N1 bird flu.
As you can imagine unless you’re actually moving to live in Portugal, it probably isn’t worth taking your pet bird to Portugal! But once you get used to the procedure and the paperwork, bringing your beloved cat, dog or ferret along for the fun might prove a great idea.