Important change for dogs imported from abroad. From 10 September 2026 we are no longer able to register imported dogs, and imported dogs already registered with us will need a negative APHA Brucella canis test. See our Brucella canis page for full details.

From 1 July 2026, we've changed the way we provide written prescriptions. Collecting medication directly from us is unchanged. See our repeat prescriptions page for details of what's changed and why.

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Brucella canis Testing

To keep pets, owners and our team safe, we follow strict rules on Brucella canis — a bacterial infection that can pass from dogs to people. It is most often found in dogs that have been brought into the UK from abroad.

Following a review of our risk assessment, and in line with guidance from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the RCVS, this policy changed on 10 September 2026.

New clients — we are not able to register imported dogs

We are unable to register new clients whose dog:

  • has been imported or relocated from outside the UK
  • has been rehomed or rescued from another country
  • has an unknown, incomplete or uncertain travel history

When you register, we will ask:

  • Has your dog ever lived outside the United Kingdom?
  • Was your dog imported, rehomed or rescued from another country?
  • Is your dog’s full travel and origin history known and documented?

If the answer to any of these is yes — or is uncertain — we will not be able to register your dog. Because of the risk to people and the infection control measures involved, there are no exceptions to this.

We are sorry that we cannot help in these cases. We would suggest contacting a veterinary practice that is able to provide care for imported dogs.

Existing clients — a negative APHA test is required

If you are already registered with us, your dog will need a documented negative APHA Brucella canis test result before we can provide further care if they:

  • were imported from outside the UK
  • were rehomed or rescued from an overseas rescue organisation
  • have an unknown or unverified travel or origin history
  • have previously been identified by us as higher risk

Without a negative APHA result, we are not able to provide:

  • routine consultations
  • elective procedures or surgery
  • hospitalisation
  • ongoing or non-urgent treatment

If this applies to your dog, please book their test within 28 days. We know this takes a little arranging, so there is a short window to get it booked in — but until we have a negative result we will not be able to go ahead with routine or non-urgent care.

Arranging the test

Your dog can have the APHA test done with us — it does not need to be carried out elsewhere. Please contact us to book an appointment.

How many tests are needed depends on how long your dog has been in the UK:

  • In the UK for more than 3 months → one blood test
  • In the UK for 3 months or less → two blood tests, taken 3 months apart

Samples are processed by the APHA-approved laboratory at Weybridge, and include the dual serological testing set out in the APHA protocol.

The charge for testing covers:

  • blood sampling fee
  • iELISA test
  • SAT test
  • postage and packaging

Additional PPE charges apply where a dog’s Brucella status is unknown or positive.

If you would prefer not to test

We will unfortunately be unable to continue providing veterinary care, and we would advise registering with a practice that is able to manage higher-risk imported dogs.

Adding another dog to your account

We are no longer able to register additional dogs to existing client accounts where those dogs come from outside the UK or have an overseas history.

Emergency care

Immediate, life-saving emergency treatment will always be assessed on welfare grounds, in line with the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct.

Where a dog’s Brucella canis status is unknown or unconfirmed:

  • we may carry out an in-house SNAP test as an initial screen
  • additional biosecurity measures and PPE charges will apply
  • treatment that is not life-threatening may be deferred until their status is confirmed
  • a negative APHA result will be needed before we can continue with ongoing care

Please note: a negative SNAP test does not clear your dog. We have seen dogs return a negative SNAP result and then test positive on the full APHA test, so we cannot rely on the SNAP test alone. Only a negative APHA result allows routine, elective or ongoing care to go ahead.

Why we have made this change

Brucella canis can be passed from dogs to people, and imported dogs are the highest-risk group. The main concerns are:

  • infected dogs often show no visible signs at all
  • test sensitivity varies with the timing and stage of infection
  • false negative results are possible, particularly early in infection — including on in-house SNAP tests
  • infection is lifelong in dogs that test positive
  • there is a real occupational risk to veterinary staff through contact with bodily fluids

A general practice like ours is not always equipped to isolate and manage these cases safely. After carrying out a risk assessment, we concluded that continuing to take on imported and higher-risk dogs presents an unacceptable risk to our staff, our clients, and the other animals in our care.

Safety measures

  • Any dog that tests positive, or is suspected to be positive, is handled under strict isolation.
  • Staff wear full PPE.
  • Confirmed cases are reported to APHA as legally required.

We review this policy every year, and sooner if APHA, BVA or RCVS guidance changes.

If you have any questions, please contact us — we are here to support you and your pet every step of the way.