The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is today (October 6th) renewing
calls on prospective dog buyers to source their dogs from
responsible breeders in order to protect animal and public
health.
Steps people should take include not only sourcing dogs from
reputable breeders or rescue organisations, but ensuring proper
health checks and documentation are in place, and understanding
the potential risks associated with importing or rehoming dogs
from abroad. Vets, breeders, and rehoming organisations should
remain alert to the signs of disease and follow best practice
when handling, testing, or managing dogs at risk.
There is a risk of imported dogs carrying diseases such
as Brucella canis, and even rabies, presenting a threat to the
health of canine and human populations in the Great Britain.
Since 2020, there has been a steady increase in the number of
Brucella canis cases in Great Britain, the majority of which have
been found in imported dogs with around 50% of all identified
infections since 2020 coming from Romanian dog imports.
Brucella canis is a serious disease affecting dogs that can lead
to reproductive issues such as abortion, as well as joint pain
and lameness. Many infected dogs show no obvious symptoms but
remain infectious, meaning they can unknowingly spread the
disease. Currently, there is no vaccine and no effective
treatment to eliminate the infection or prevent its
transmission.
To protect our biosecurity, the government has introduced a
safeguard measure which comes into force from tomorrow (October
7th) requiring all commercial dog imports from Romania into Great
Britain to undergo mandatory pre-import testing for Brucella
canis (B. canis).The measure applies to commercial imports only
(which includes rescue dogs that are to be rehomed) and is in
addition to existing requirements under the Approved Importer
Scheme. It does not apply to non-commercial pet movements from
Romania.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss
said:
Anyone considering getting a dog should make sure they are fully
prepared for the responsibility. Importing dogs without the
proper health checks or testing can increase the risk of
introducing serious diseases like Brucella canis into Great
Britain.
The new rules on dogs imported from Romania are a necessary step
to safeguard both animal and human health. I strongly urge
prospective dog owners to do their research, choose reputable
breeders or rescue organisations, and ensure all required health
checks and tests are completed before bringing a dog into their
home.
This safeguard will remain in place until the disease risk is
judged to have reduced sufficiently. We continue to monitor the
situation closely and will review the measure regularly to ensure
it remains proportionate, evidence-based, and targeted at the
areas of highest risk.
The commercial import of dogs from other countries continues to
be unaffected by this change.
While the overall risk to the public is low, the disease is also
zoonotic, meaning it can be passed from dogs to humans. Those
with weakened immune systems, pregnant individuals, and children
under five may be more vulnerable. Further public health
information can be found here: Brucella canis:
information for the public and dog owners - GOV.UK
