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Animals to Italy from Turkey

25 10:07:13

Question
QUESTION: I will be relocating to Italy from Turkey at the end of March and am taking 4 dogs and 2 cats with me. The dogs are all fully immunised and have been since birth, and are due their boosters now, in Feb. So 30 days later, I will have their blood tests done. The cats have not had any immunisations up to now, so I will have them done also. 30 days later, their bloodtests will also be done. The results here take 10 days to come through from Ankara. Will I still be able to travel with them to Italy? Once I have the blood test results, what else do I need to do? Is there any other paperwork I need from Turkey before I can book them onto a flight?

ANSWER: Hi Gillian,

Thank you for your inquiry.  You are correct that your pets will need to get the blood test done 30 days after their rabies vaccination.  However, it is important to note that after you receive the tests results back, you will need to wait a minimum of 3 months before they can travel to the EU (Italy).  If you send them earlier than 3 months after their blood is drawn, they will have to go into quarantine.

Please let us know if you have any other questions!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again. I have now found another website that says taking animals into Italy from a non eu country that is not Usa or Canada requires a blood test after rabies jab, can be any time if booster, or 21 days after if first jab, then animal can travel into Italy any time up to a year. Again it says nothing about waiting 3 months, and this seems illogical too, as what would be the reason to wait 3 months AFTER the result of the blood test has already shown the animal to be immune..PLEASE HELP!!

Answer
Hi Gillian,

I'm sorry you're confused.  The reason you are seeing that the US doesn't have a quarantine or blood test is because the EU views the US as a rabies-controlled country, or "third country."  Italy is also considered a "third country."  However Turkey is seen as a "country with high incidence of rabies."  Any pets going from this type of country to a third country will need a blood test, and then must wait 3 months after the blood is drawn, even if it shows the animal has an adequate amount of rabies antibody.