Dog Passport costs

[Debbiedog1]

I have recently been quoted almost £600 for 2 dog passports as we are emigrating to Portugal. They already have the usual vaccines and are chipped. The price quoted is for the rabies vaccine (£54), the passport (£108) and the subsequent blood test(£139) to make sure the vaccine has worked. Total over £300 each! Can anyone tell me if this is reasonable please?

[HelpAFattieOutHere]

Fairly standard I'm afraid. Be aware that if they don't meet the immunity requirement, they'll need a repeat vaccine and blood test. Factor this into your costings and timeline as a worst case scenario

[fivedogstofeed]

Gosh. I passported a dog a couple of years ago for the price of the vaccines. I sent off the paperwork myself and collected the passport when it was returned to the vet ( maybe I have just have a very amenable vet? )

[babysharkah]

Sounds about right. Don't forget Brexit may change the requirements, DEFRA still don't know according to my vet.

[OverFedStanley]

That is madness £300 per dog - no way.

Mine cost about £150 per dog

Shop around!

[DogInATent]

Seems a little on the high side, but it could be that the Passport cost includes the vet's examination fee?

As the titre test is included within that it sounds like you're already pretty Brexit proof. The titre test isn't currently required, but would be if the UK became an unlisted third country as a result of Brexit. Make sure your vet is timing drawing the bloods for the titre to maximise the chances of passing. We left it a little too late and had to repeat the vaccine and titre, just waiting on the results from the second test.

[DogInATent]

Mine cost about £150 per dog
The titre test would be about £120 per dog on its own. I'm guessing you didn't have that done.

[mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork]

I got mine in Greece (Greek dog moving to UK) - it only cost 15 euros for the document plus cost of rabies shot/titre, but it was quite a few years ago now. I am amazed at the costs if you are getting passport here.

[HelpAFattieOutHere]

Brexit or no brexit, I don't think I'd want to take my dog to a country where rabies is a risk without actually knowing they're immune. I have no idea why they reduced the rules regarding titre testing and tick treatment in the first place.
Back in the days where titre testing was still compulsory, I'd say we probably had 1 in 10 fail and need to be revaccinated (we did a lot of exports though!)

[Lonecatwithkitten]

So we don't know whether the UK will be treated as a third party country after Brexit and if we are it will be a legal requirement to have the blood test at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 3 months before entering Europe. The titre is test is at least £108 per dog.
In the last few years the arrangements for passports have change with the APHA ( a division of defray that deals with animal disease). Previous passports were free to OV vets, now we are charged by APHA for them, plus by the 30th April this year all OV Vets who had grandfather rights(more than 5 years as an OV) to re validate our status this required us to do 10 hours of training, sit an exam, submit three cases studies/exercised and pay at least £118, though often more as the training is rarely free. My revalidation cost the practice £273 and I am one of four OVs in my practice. We have to include these costs in passports as this is 98% of our OV work.
Plus it takes me around 30minutes to fill in a check a passport thus cost has to be included. I need to be careful it is a legal document and I risk my right to practice if it is incorrect.

[OverFedStanley]

titre test is £30.00

[HelpAFattieOutHere]

titre test is £30.00

Vaccicheck for distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus is around £30-£40. Rabies titre testing is not.

[OverFedStanley]

I have the invoice in front of me but you can disagree if you like!

[OverFedStanley]

Biobest lab which is very expensive only charge £55.00 for the test so do shop around

[Lonecatwithkitten]

£55.00 ex-VAT so £66 incl, but then you have packaging that must meet the UN3373 standards. Postage. Someone to take that sample to the post office to get proof of posting, though we always sent ours registered mail until we moved to using a courier. The tubes to put the blood cost money, the centrifuge to spin it down and separate of the serum and the new tube to put that serum in. Oh don't forget that the registered professional has to read and confirm the microchip number, fill
In the paperwork correctly and then draw the blood sample.

[MrsCasares]

We paid 130 euros for a titre test. It’s an expensive business. His blood (serum) had to go to Switzerland. It has to be an approved laboratory.