Vaccinations & Health Tests | Rocky Road Rescue

Monday 6th October 2025 - Brucella Canis Testing

DEFRA issued an email today stating that all dogs imported from Romania, from this date going forward, must have proof of a negative brucellosis test conducted by APHA's certified lab.

We want to reassure you that, as stated earlier this year, this is already a practice we follow for all of our dogs. Every dog is tested for brucellosis by APHA’s certified lab, and we will continue this practice to ensure our dogs receive the highest standard of care.

The test must be done within a 30 day window, we are now conducting tests closer to the dogs’ travel dates. This process can take time and may delay travel slightly, so we kindly ask for your patience as we await each dog’s results.

A certificate with the individual test results for each dog tested from March 2025 onwards can be purchased directly from APHA (at a cost of £15). To request this, you will need the reference number for your dog, which should be written on the back of the passport. If it is not listed there, we can supply it for you.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your contact admin.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

The Director's Team 🐾

What Do We Vaccinate Against?

Vaccinations for Dogs Prior to Travel

All dogs are vaccinated against the following prior to travel.

Rabies Booster – Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the dog’s brain and central nervous system.

Note: Dogs must wait for a 21-day legal period after receiving the rabies vaccination before travelling to the UK.

DHPPI (and Booster) – This combination vaccine protects against:
Distemper – A viral disease that attacks the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, as well as the spinal cord and brain.
Hepatitis – An acute liver infection that affects both the liver and kidneys, causing symptoms such as fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, and abdominal tenderness.
Parvovirus – A virus that attacks the intestines, causing severe diarrhoea and vomiting. It is fatal if left untreated.
Para-influenza Virus – A respiratory virus that contributes to kennel cough and other respiratory illnesses in dogs.

Leptospirosis (and Booster) – This bacterial infection is transmitted through contact with contaminated water or soil, particularly in marshy or stagnant water areas.

Additional Testing

We also conduct the following tests to ensure the health and safety of our dogs:

Leishmaniasis
Babesiosis

4DX (Heartworm and 5 Tick-Borne Diseases)
The 4Dx Canine Test is a blood test that screens dogs for heartworm and five tick-borne diseases. This test is widely used in veterinary care to detect infections that are transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes.

Here’s what the 4Dx test specifically checks for:
Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) – A parasitic infection transmitted through mosquito bites that can lead to severe heart and lung damage.
Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) – A bacterial infection transmitted by ticks, causing symptoms like fever, lameness, and fatigue.
Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys) – A tick-borne bacterial infection that affects white blood cells, potentially causing fever, lameness, and other symptoms.
Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) – A tick-borne disease caused by bacteria that affects the dog's immune system, leading to symptoms such as fever, weight loss, and lethargy.
Babesiosis (Babesia canis) – A parasitic infection transmitted by ticks, affecting the red blood cells and leading to anemia, fever, and in severe cases, organ failure

The 4Dx test helps identify these diseases early, allowing for timely treatment and reducing the risk of complications.

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a rare disease found in dogs worldwide. It is mainly spread through bodily fluids during mating or giving birth, which is why neutering helps reduce the risk of transmission.

As Brucellosis is zoonotic (meaning it can be passed to humans), and because it's still unclear whether neutered dogs can transmit it, we choose to test all of our dogs before they travel to the UK.

We follow the same testing process used by UK vets: blood is taken, processed into serum, and sent by courier to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in Weybridge, Surrey.

Only dogs that test negative are made available for adoption or fostering.

Should any of the tests (except Brucellosis) return positive, the dog will receive treatment and be fully cured prior to travelling to the UK. Unfortunately, Brucellosis is an incurable disease, and if active infection is detected, the dog would need to be euthanized in Romania. However, we are pleased to report that we have not encountered a case of Brucellosis to date.

Vaccinations for Cats Prior to Travel

All cats are vaccinated against the following diseases before travel:

Rabies – Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the brain and central nervous system of cats. Please note: Cats must wait for a 21-day legal period after receiving the rabies vaccination before they are eligible to travel to the UK.
Cat Flu – A respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to a human cold or flu, including coughing and a runny nose. It is highly contagious among cats.
Feline Leukaemia – Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is an incurable viral infection that can lead to fatal illness in infected cats. It is estimated that 1–2% of cats in the UK are permanently infected, with the majority passing away within four years of diagnosis. There is no risk to humans.
Enteritis (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) – Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an aggressive and highly infectious disease caused by the feline parvovirus.

Additional Testing

In addition to vaccinations, we also conduct tests for the following:

Feline Leukaemia (FeLV)
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Cats with FIV are rehomed as indoor-only pets to ensure their well-being. Prior to travel, all animals receive treatment for any injuries or illnesses they may have.

Each animal is required to be certified as "fit to travel" by both our own veterinarian and the DSV vet at the Romanian border, ensuring they are in the best possible health before making their journey.

Health Records

All test results and vaccination records are included in your pet’s passport. In addition to the passport, a Healthbook accompanies the document, though all information is primarily recorded in the passport.
Test results are documented on the final page of the passport, and each dog and cat also has an additional medical letter that includes photos of the test results conducted in Romania.

All of our dogs undergo brucellosis testing at APHA’s lab prior to travel. If requested, adopters can receive a specific certificate for their dog, available at an additional cost.

When registering your dog or cat with your vet, please bring these documents along so they can maintain an accurate record of your pet's vaccinations and their future due dates.

Dental Examinations

All of our dogs and cats undergo a thorough dental examination prior to travel. If required, they receive professional dental cleaning, including scaling and brushing. Any necessary extractions are also performed to ensure optimal oral health.

Legal Requirements

Legally, dogs and cats entering the UK are only required to have a rabies vaccination and worming treatment. There are no additional tests mandated by law.

At Rocky Road Rescue Ltd., we take great pride in exceeding these basic requirements to ensure that each animal arrives and remains in optimal health. The additional testing we conduct is aimed at ensuring your pet’s well-being, so they can enjoy a long, healthy, and happy life with their new family.