The vet: check-ups, vaccinations and what to do in an emergency

Choose a vet before an emergency

• Close to home, with opening hours that suit you.
• Ask what they do out of hours: whether they have an on-call service or which 24-hour animal hospital they refer to.
• If you have an exotic animal, such as a reptile, a bird or a rabbit, look for someone with experience of that species.
• Save your clinic's number and that of the nearest 24-hour emergency vet on your phone.

Check-ups and vaccinations

The law requires you to give your animal the veterinary care it needs and the treatments that are compulsory in your region (Ley 7/2023, the Animal Welfare Act, art. 24.2.e). Which vaccinations are compulsory depends on the autonomous community: rabies is compulsory in many, but not all. Your vet will tell you the schedule for your animal and its age.

Go to the emergency vet if…

• It is struggling to breathe or its gums are pale or bluish.
• Its belly is swollen and hard, especially in large dogs, or it is trying to vomit without success.
• It has eaten something toxic, such as chocolate, grapes, human medicines or rat poison.
• It has had a hard knock, a wound that is bleeding a lot or seizures.
• A male cat is trying to wee and cannot.
• It is not eating or drinking and is very listless.

If in doubt, call your vet and tell them what you see. This list is a guide, but it does not replace their judgement.