You are looking to adopt a dog from Spain, which in itself is amazing and we love that this is something that you are considering. You may have lots of questions while you research rescue dogs from Spain, one of them may be about blood testing. You might see “SNAP” testing on different websites or social media posts about Spanish rescue dogs, but what is SNAP testing?

Before you adopt a dog, understanding their health needs is important. This includes navigating the differences between SNAP tests and blood tests. Let's explore both of these options so you understand what SNAP tests are and why Spanish Happy Tails Rescue UK have started requesting blood tests for the Spanish rescue dogs that we find homes for in the UK.

Initial screening, SNAP Tests

SNAP tests are quick and convenient in-clinic tests that provide results within minutes, making them ideal for initial screening. The SNAP tests performed for Animals Help check for the following diseases:

• Leishmania: A disease transmitted when a dog is bitten by an infected sandfly.

• Anaplasma spp (antibodies): Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease.

• Filaria Antigen: Heartworm

• Ehrlichia spp (antibodies): Ehrlichiosis is another tick-borne disease.

• Borrelia burgdorferi C6(antibodies) Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial infection.

Advantages of SNAP Tests:

• Fast and Convenient: Results are available within minutes, allowing for immediate initial screening.

• Cost-Effective: SNAP tests are typically less expensive than blood tests.

Disadvantages of SNAP Tests:

• Limited Scope: They only screen for a specific set of diseases and may not be as accurate as blood tests, especially in the early stages of infection.

• Potential for False Positives/Negatives: There's a chance of getting a positive result when the dog isn't infected (false positive) or a negative result when the dog is actually sick (false negative).

Blood tests for dogs in Spain

After adoption confirmation, we request blood tests covering the same diseases as in the SNAP testing above, we also ask for the dog to be tested for Brucella Canis.

This comprehensive approach helps identify potential health issues early on, ensuring your adopted dog thrives in their new life. The adoption fee from Spanish Happy Tails Rescue UK covers the cost of these blood tests, giving you an informed picture of your dog’s health. While no blood test can claim to be 100% accurate, they are more accurate than SNAP testing which is why we have chosen to include full blood tests in our adoption process.

Benefits of Blood Tests:

• Detailed Analysis: Blood tests provide a more in-depth picture of your dog's overall health, allowing for early detection and treatment of potential diseases.

• Increased Accuracy: Blood tests generally offer higher accuracy compared to SNAP tests, especially for detecting diseases in the early stages.

Considerations:

• Cost: Blood tests are typically more expensive than SNAP tests however both the SNAP test and blood tests are included in our adoption fee.

• Turnaround Time: Results may take a few days compared to the immediate results of SNAP tests.

By understanding both SNAP tests and blood tests, you can take proactive steps towards your adopted Spanish rescue dog's health. Early detection and treatment of potential illnesses can significantly improve your dog's well-being. With proper care and love, your adopted pup can enjoy a long and happy life as part of your family. Many rescues will provide SNAP test results but may not carry out blood tests due to the costs involved.

Blood testing is a recent addition to our process at Spanish Happy Tails Rescue UK and we have had to increase our adoption fee as a result, however, we are happy with our decision to include blood tests for the health and well-being of the dogs we support.

Ready to adopt a dog from Spain?

At Spanish Happy Tails Rescue UK we help rescue dogs from Spain find loving homes in the UK.

Adopting a dog from Spain is more straightforward than you might think, we deal with everything for you and with full Rescue Back Up, we are there for you from adoption and every day after that.