Protecting Your Dog from Leishmaniasis When Travelling in Europe

If you're planning to travel through Southern Europe with your dog, you may have heard of a disease called Leishmaniasis. Transmitted by sandflies, it's a serious risk in countries like Spain, Portugal, and Italy. It's preventable with the right approach. In this blog, I'm sharing what I learned while preparing for my own trip, and how to choose the best Leishmaniasis prevention for your dog, based on your lifestyle and travel plans.

Please note: I am not a veterinary professional, so please consult a licensed vet if you have any concerns about your dog or treatment options.

What Is Leishmaniasis?

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the Leishmania parasite, transmitted by infected sandflies.

It’s endemic in many parts of Southern Europe, including popular tourist hotspots:

• Spain
• Portugal
• Italy
• Greece
• Cyprus
• Malta
• Southern France
• The Balkans
• Turkey

There’s also suggestion that it’s slowly spreading further north throughout these regions so taking precautions is well worth it, even outside of the "typical" risk zones.

The risk is highest between May and October, with sandflies being most active at dawn and dusk.
Once infected, the parasite usually stays with the dog for life.

Why Is It So Problematic?

Leishmaniasis can present in a variety of ways and at different levels of severity. Early detection is vital, without it, the condition can be fatal within a short period of time.

Symptoms may include:

• Skin issues
• Weight loss and muscle wastage
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Kidney failure (often the most dangerous and potentially fatal complication)

With the right treatment and ongoing monitoring, most dogs can live relatively normal lives, but it does usually require lifelong management.

What Can Be Done to Help Prevent It?

When I first started researching this, I knew Leishmaniasis was a risk in mainland Europe, but I hadn’t quite realised how close to home it could be or how easily it could be overlooked.

In the past, I hadn’t used preventatives when travelling. Going forward, I will.

I ended up going down a bit of a rabbit hole and discovered there are pros and cons to every option. Below is a quick overview of some of the most common preventatives I came across.

(Again, always speak to your vet to decide what’s best for your dog.

Seresto Collar

•  Worn for the duration of your trip
•  Recommended to be put on a few days before entering high-risk areas
•  Offers around 6 months of protection
•  Water resistant (though regular swimming may reduce its lifespan)
•  Covers a broader range of parasites, including fleas
•  Originally not licensed for sandflies, now approved since 2018
•  Safe for multi-pet households, including cats, a major plus if you live with multiple species

Scalibor Collar

• Protects against sandflies, ticks, and mosquitoes (but not fleas)
• Also lasts around 6 months for sandfly protection
• Toxic to cats, so not suitable if your dog interacts with them
• Needs to be worn a few days in advance for maximum protection

Advantix (Spot-On Treatment)

•  Monthly spot-on that covers sandflies, fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes
•  Offers broadest coverage of the three
•  May need more frequent application in high-risk areas (check with your vet)
•  Water-resistant, but less effective with frequent swimming
•  Toxic to cats, so not recommended if you have them, unless you're able to separate species for a few days

What Did I Choose?

I live in a multi-species household and my dogs and cats do interact.

For me, the risk of accidental contact and potential consequences for my cats ruled out Advantix and Scalibor.

So I’ve opted for Seresto.

It’s easy to get hold of, cost-effective, and safer for households with cats.

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning a trip to Southern Europe, it’s really worth speaking to your vet well in advance about what’s best for you, your dog, and your travel plans.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution but with the right advice and a bit of preparation, you can keep your dog safe while enjoying your travels together.

Follow along on our trip to Europe over on Instagram