10) ROMANIAN / OVERSEAS RESCUE DOGS: Guidance for Rescues & Individuals Re: Brucella Canis (B.C.) Testing.
- alexpatchworkpaws
- Aug 7, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 22, 2024
Today we post a special blog which presents a guidance document for rescues & individuals seeking to test dogs for Brucella Canis (B.C.) before import from Romania to the UK. Whilst this information is specific to Romanian rescue dogs, it does also apply to all overseas rescue dogs.
Before reading any further, we recommend that you read our previous blog posts on this subject, if you haven’t already done so. I will pop the links at the bottom of this page. 👇
The document shown below has been written by Shellyanne Bonser of Sadies Dog Rescue detailing her rescue's experiences in getting their dogs tested before importation from Romania, using the APHA approved testing methods.
Just as a reminder, the APHA (Animal & Plant Health Agency) is an executive agency of DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) working on behalf of the UK Government. The APHA works to safeguard the health of animal & plant life in the UK for the benefit of the people, environment & the economy.
The APHA approved testing method is the one also preferred by UK vets. This testing requires two different lab test types: ELISA & SAT tests. (Please note: there are several types of tests on the market to include in-house rapid tests. The APHA are very specific about which tests they deem as acceptable).
At the time of writing this blog post, Sadies Dog Rescue have successfully achieved two such tests.
The guidance below has been written based on their experiences with this testing...
Thank you so much to Shellyanne Bonser for allowing us to reproduce her document here. 🧡
So, without further ado...
Please, please - I do ask that you verify everything yourself - this is what worked for us, but I am sure there will be differences in practice between vets...
Process for Submission of blood from Romania to APHA for testing of Brucella canis:
This document has been compiled in good faith to provide guidance to rescues and individuals seeking to test dogs for Brucella Canis. It is based on the APHA document ‘Frequently asked Brucella canis questions’ (requested from lab.services@apha.gov), our own research and our own experience and we encourage others to conduct their own verification of the procedure before submission.
Current Price List/Turnaround:
Please see:
The Samples:
* Blood samples must be taken at a registered veterinary practice and submitted by them, not the rescue/individual.
* Serology samples should be non heparinised blood samples and a minimum of 1ml.
* Samples to be packaged according to PI650 and labelled as UN3372.
Please see:
* Label to correspond with sample ID information on submission form.
* You can submit more than 1 sample per package.
Accompanying paperwork:
* APHA General submission form.
Please see:
* TIP - Fill in individual forms for each sample and wrap around sample bottles so you get individual results emailed. The submitting veterinary practice must ensure email is written clearly as this is where the results are sent.
* Client – rescue details and the location of the dogs.
* Reason for Submitting – tick export box (and date if known).
In Canine/Feline Column tick Brucella Canis ELISA and Brucella Canis SAT. Complete sample ID info with dog’s microchip number, name, sex, age and sample type.
* Signature from submitting vet required.
Import Licence:
* You will need to contact APHA at: lab.services@apha.gov
to obtain a copy of their import licence.
Posting:
* Post via Romanian Mail Service, not courier service.
* Send signed for/tracked.
* Complete customs declaration – mark as medical samples so no vat or duty in the UK.
Results:
* Sent to the submitting vet via email. [In our experience this has been about a week after they have arrived at APHA].
Invoicing:
* Sent direct to submitting vet.
Thanks again Shellyanne & well done for complying with APHA requirements for the adopter's & adopter's vet's peace of mind. 🧡
Should anyone here be interested to read more about Brucella Canis (B.C.) testing, we highly recommend that you pop over to the following Facebook page:
'Brucella Canis Former RVN Resigned Under Protest':
Similarly, if you are a Romanian or overseas dog owner or interested prospective owner, we cannot recommend this page enough to you. This page contains so much important information about the testing available, their reliability, the incidence of false positives & false negatives, the varied approaches taken by some UK vets & much more besides. This page is an invaluable resource for Rommie Pawrents - new & old! So please pop over!
We hope you will all find this special blog both useful & informative.
🐕 Please now move on to consider the section of blogs entitled, 'ALL RESCUE DOGS', as these blogs constitute a continuation from this section of blogs. 🐕
*** PLEASE NOTE: To our knowledge, all information provided here is current as of the publication date, which is the 7th August 2023, & is provided strictly as a GUIDELINE. Our primary focus here is on Romanian rescue dogs.
We cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies found here or via the website links provided, or indeed any accidentally missed information.
We always recommend that you conduct your own additional research.
This blog is purely provided for general guidance & we don't profess to be experts in this area. We apologise in advance for any errors or inaccuracies found here or any accidental missed information. *
Please feel free to post in the comments section below, should you feel we have missed off any important information that other new adopters might find useful. We welcome your comments & feedback, as always.
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📣 Please remember to always choose no harm, fear free, force free & non-aversive training methods based on mutual respect, trust & positive reinforcement. Please always consider that a behaviour that YOU might find undesirable might be quite normal behaviour to your dog, the behaviour might be motivated by a past trauma/fear, or it might be motivated by your dog's emotional response to something. Always treat your dog with love, patience, empathy, understanding & kindness - even if they do have toileting accidents or if they chew your favourite slippers. 📣🙏
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Pictured above is our Hot Rod 🔥 (aka Pocket Rocket Rodney) & Gracie - both rescued from public shelters in Romania. Rodney was on the kill list with just days left to live, & Gracie was sadly so skinny that she would have most certainly have died without rescue. 🙏
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