There was a big shake-up in pet travel legislation this year. In January, the law relaxed to allow all pet dogs, cats and ferrets to enter the UK from any country in the world without quarantine, provided they meet the rules of the Pet Travel Scheme and depending on which country your pet is coming from.
We met up with vet Andrew Ash, owner of the Grove Lodge veterinary group to get expert advice on what you should do. 
Copyright Rex
Are you sure you should even take your pet on holiday?
Just because the rules have relaxed, says Andrew, doesn't mean that you have to take your pet with you when you go away.
"You need to think about whether it's fair to take them. Perhaps it would be fun for you to have your family pet with you on holiday for a week, but might they be happier staying with friends or in a kennel?
"Think about the journey. Will they be flying, spending a long time in a car? Are they used to travelling? Then take into account where they're going. Will there be changes in temperature? Will they cope with that?
[Related article: Golden rules for staying healthy on a foreign holiday]
"Finally think about the country that you're going to. What are their attitudes to pets there? Can you take the dog to the beach with you? Or will they have to spend most of the day away from you, in an unfamiliar environment?"
If you decide that your pet could cope with the stress and change of travel. What next?
Research is the key says Andrew. "Check with the DEFRA website what the rules are, because they do change. For instance, the recent change to UK rules means that Australia and New Zealand now view animals from the UK as more of a rabies risk.
"With non-EU countries that are not on the DEFRA list, you will need vaccinations, blood tests and a waiting period, which could be anything up to six months. So do your homework first."
Preparation
There are things that you can do to prepare your pet for the journey, says Andrew. "If it's a long drive and if it's a dog that's not used to car travel, any journey will feel stressful. So practice, take lots of short trips, ending in a fun walk, and train your dog into relaxing on the trip. This could take up to six months, it won't happen overnight."
[Related article: Dogs may help babies ward off infections]
If you're flying, start to get your dog comfortable with the crate that they'll be travelling in. Start by feeding them in the crate and then build up to leaving them in there overnight. Take it slow and never use the crate as a punishment.
Getting the passport
I took my skittish dog, Freddie, along to see Andrew. We were in and out in minutes as it was a very simple procedure and didn't upset my fussy pooch. Your pet needs to be microchipped, then given a rabies shot (not even a woof!). You'll then be given a passport, which is signed and dated. You'll need to keep up the rabies shots every two to three years.
While you're away
Before you come back to the UK you will need to book in to see a vet no less than one day but no more than five days before your scheduled return to have your pet treated for tapeworm.
[Related article: Cat cafs and doggy dining rooms]
"This is not a bureaucratic thing," says Andrew. "It's because there are a few countries that don't have the fox tapeworm which is a disease which affects people. Your dog may have it and be absolutely fine, but people get very sick with it and they will have to have chemotherapy or surgery to recover from it.
"So go to the vet when you're still away and make sure that they stamp and date your passport."
Care when you're away
Step up the grooming, advises Andrew, "Grass seeds can get stuck in paws, so avoid long grass. Also be aware of different parasites, so keep an eye on what they are scavenging."
If you're going to southern Europe, you can buy a Scalibor collar which should protect your pet from sand flies, mosquitos and ticks, which can pass on Leishmaniasis.
