Blood tests for dogs entering New Zealand

New Zealand is a rabies-free country and many diseases and pests found in other parts of the world are not found here. The pet import process to New Zealand is one of the most challenging in the world because of New Zealand’s strict biosecurity regulations.

If your dog does not meet the veterinary requirements, he or she will have an extended quarantine, or have to undertake additional tests and treatments, or be returned to the country of origin.

New Zealand mandates a set of blood tests for all pet dogs entering the country. These tests vary depending on the country of origin. If you are planning to travel to New Zealand with your pet dog, here’s what you need to know about the blood tests to undergo.

Know your country classification

New Zealand has classified the nations of the world into three categories based on the rabies status. You can bring your pet dog only if the country of origin falls into one of these categories.

• Category 1: Australia and Norfolk Island
• Category 2: Countries which are rabies-free such as Bahrain, Barbados, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Singapore, Vanuatu, and the Pacific Islands of American Samoa, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Saipan, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, and Western Samoa.
• Category 3: Countries where rabies is absent or well-controlled such as Antigua and Barbuda, Antilles, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Chanel Islands, Chile, Croatia , Cyprus , Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah & Sarawak only), Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia , Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, and Virgin Islands (USA).

If your pet is flying from a country that is not on the list of approved countries, you cannot directly transport your dog to New Zealand. Your dog must spend six months in an approved country before flying into New Zealand.

Tests for dogs flying to New Zealand from Category 1 countries

Pet dogs travelling to New Zealand from Australia need to undergo the following tests:

• Canine heartworm – If your pet dog is six months or older, he or she will need a heartworm test 30 days before the date of travel. Your dog will need to be treated with a heartworm vaccine four days before travelling to New Zealand.
• Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni – Your dog must have a negative result for Babesia canis and gibsoni in the 16 days before flying to New Zealand. If your vet uses a PCR test for Babesia, then your dog must have negative results on two samples collected 30 days apart. The Babesia canis test is required only for dogs that have travelled to or lived in South Arica.

If your dog produces a positive result for Babesia gibsoni, he or she will not be allowed to enter New Zealand, regardless of treatment.

Tests for dogs flying to New Zealand from Category 2 countries

Pet dogs travelling from Category 2 countries which are rabies-free need the following tests:

• Canine heartworm – Pet dogs that are older than six months must have a heartworm test at least 30 days before travelling to New Zealand.
• Leptospirosis – Dogs travelling to New Zealand need to be treated with doxycycline for at least 14 consecutive days before the date of travel. Alternately, you can furnish a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) with a negative result 30 days before the date of travel.
• Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni – Your dog will need an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA) to test for Babesia about 16 days before travelling. Only dogs that show a negative result are allowed to enter New Zealand. The Babesia canis test is only for dogs that have visited or lived in South Africa. If your vet performs a PCR test for Babesia, two negative results on samples collected 3- to 37 days apart are required. The second sample must be collected 16 days before the date of travel. If your dog proves positive for Babesia gibsoni, he or she will not be eligible to enter New Zealand, regardless of the treatment.
• Brucella canis – Dogs travelling to New Zealand need to undergo a rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), tube agglutination test (TAT) or cytoplasmic agar gel immunodiffusion test (CPAg-AGID) for Brucella canis. The test must be conducted 16 before the travel date and a negative result is one of the veterinary requirements for New Zealand.
  
  If the test is positive or inconclusive, it may be repeated using a different method in the 16 days before flying. Dogs diagnosed with Brucella canis will not be permitted to enter New Zealand, regardless of the treatment.

Tests for dogs flying to New Zealand from Category 3 countries

Category 3 countries are countries where rabies is absent or well-controlled. If your pet dog is travelling from such a country, here are the tests to be done:

• Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT) – The rabies titre test is performed to examine if your dog is adequately immunised against rabies. It is usually performed three to four weeks after the pet receives his or her primary rabies vaccination. If your pet dog is travelling to New Zealand, blood for the RNATT has to be drawn less than three months and not more than 24 months before travel.
  
  The test result must reflect a level of 0.5 IU/ml or more. If your dog’s titre level is lower than this, re-vaccinate your pet and test again three to four weeks later.
• Canine heartworm – Your dog needs a canine heartworm test 30 days before the date of travel to New Zealand.
• Leptospirosis – All dogs flying to New Zealand need to be treated for Leptospirosis before travel. If your dog is travelling from a Category 3 country, he or she needs a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) with a negative result in the 30 days before the date of travel. If your dog has a positive result, you can retest your dog 14 days after the first test.
  
  The second test must show no increase in titre levels from the first test. Alternately, you can treat your dog with doxycycline for 14 consecutive days in the 30 days before shipment.
• Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni – A negative Babesia test result is one of the veterinary requirements to enter New Zealand. The blood test must be done 16 before travel. If the vet uses the PCR method to run the test, you will need to show negative results on two samples collected 30 days apart. The second sample must be collected 16 days before the date of travel. The Babesia canis test is required only for dogs that have lived in or visited South Africa. If your dog has a positive result for Babesia gibsoni, he or she will not be allowed to enter New Zealand, even after treatment.
• Brucella canis –Your pet dog must have a negative result for Brucella canis in the 16 days before travelling to New Zealand. Three methods of testing for Brucella canis are recommended – rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), tube agglutination test (TAT) or cytoplasmic agar gel immunodiffusion test (CPAg-AGID).
  
  If your dog returns a positive result, you may retest using a different method of testing. A negative result before 16 days of travel is necessary to be allowed to enter New Zealand. If your dog is diagnosed with Brucella canis, he or she will not be permitted to enter the country, even after treatment.

Travelling to New Zealand with your doggie?

New Zealand is known to be one of the most challenging countries to travel with a pet because of the stringent biosecurity regulations. It is recommended to enlist the assistance of an accredited pet transport agency to help with the move to New Zealand. If you are travelling to New Zealand with your pet dog, get in touch with Petraveller for more details on the pet import regulations in New Zealand.