VETERINARY CARE

THE 1^st THING TO DO IS TO BRING YOUR DOG TO A VET

Unfortunately, vets charge tourists an excessive amount, 120€ or even more. It's advisable you contact us first, bring the pet to us and we'll go to the vet with it. She asks 60€. What you could do in the meantime is checking the pet for ticks and flees and spray it with a Frontline spray (buy it at a pharmacy or pet shop) which will have immediate effect. 

At the vet's practice, the vet will scan the dog to see if it has or not a microchip. 

• It has microchip: the vet will check the database or call the Greek Veterinary Association in Athens to search to whom the dog belongs. Two eventualities:

1. the owner's name is found. He'll call the police; you cannot have the dog.
2. the microchip hasn't been introduced into the database. He'll write the microchip's code into your pet's passport and proceed with vaccinations, etc.

• It has no microchip: 

PUPPY: 

Microchipping must be done before rabies vaccination! 

The microchip has to be inscribed in the Greek database and the vet will deliver a Registration Certificate. These are the details he needs: the owner's name, full address, telephone number, date of birth and passport number.

The vet will examine the pet to exclude obvious malformations or diseases and to see if it has external parasites.  

• Puppy is less than 12 weeks old: it may have a microchip and basic vaccinations, but NOT rabies! Rabies vaccination must be done when the puppy is 12 weeks or older. It has also to receive a treatment against external and internal parasites.
• Puppy is at least 12 weeks old: microchip + basic vaccinations + rabies + treatment against internal and external parasites.
• The vet has to give you a rabies-badge which has to hang on the dog's collar when outdoors.  
• Basic vaccinations are: DHPPi + L(eptospirosis). L is not obligatory, but advisable.   

ADULT DOG: 

microchip + basic vaccinations + rabies + rabies-badge + treatment against internal and external parasites.
In some cases it's advisable to have it checked against leishmaniosis with a simple blood sample.

LEISHMANIA TEST 

is not needed when finding a very young puppy, but is nearly mandatory when the puppy is a few months old or if the dog is an adult. It's an easy blood test which takes 20 minutes and costs 15€.

PET PASSPORT

After having received its microchip and vaccinations, the vet will fill in and deliver a European Pet Passport. Refuse categorically a health book, which is only valid inside Greece. To travel, you must have a European Pet Passport.

VET FEES

Our vet asks 60€ for a pet passport, a microchip and full vaccination (DHPPi + L + Rabies) + deworming tablet + treatment against external parasites (top-on ampoule). Leishmania blood test costs 15€.

EXPENSES

Before you make your decision to rescue and adopt a puppy or an adult dog, be aware of the expenses you will face: 
- first time visit to the vet (60 - 75€);
- second visit to the vet IF the dog stays more than 30 days in Greece before leaving: booster vaccines DHPPi + Lepto;
- in any case: 2nd or 3d visit to the vet between at least 24h and maximum 5 days before leaving: scanning pet, clinical examination and deworming (vet's stamps and signatures into the passport): 15€;
- boarding, at least 22 days! Yes! After having received its rabies vaccination, the dog cannot be brought home; it has to wait a minimum of 22 days before being allowed to travel (21 days + the day of vaccination = 22 days);
- transport crate depending on the size of the dog (80 - 135€) (see page pet transport);
- flight fees (see page travel arrangements) or other travel arrangements.