The Challenge of Finding a Vet in a New Country
Relocating to another European country is exciting, but for pet owners it brings a specific set of practicalities that can feel daunting. Your animal has an established medical history, a familiar vet who knows their quirks, and possibly ongoing treatment for a chronic condition. Starting again in a country where you may not speak the language, do not know the local veterinary landscape, and are unfamiliar with how the health system for animals operates is genuinely challenging.
The good news is that veterinary qualifications are well regulated across the EU. The European Veterinary Directive (2005/36/EC) ensures that veterinary degrees from EU member states are mutually recognised, meaning a vet who qualified in Spain, France, or Germany has met broadly equivalent training standards. You are not starting from scratch in terms of quality assurance — you are simply navigating a new local market.
Transferring Your Pet's Medical History
Before you leave your current country, ask your existing vet for a complete copy of your pet's medical records. Most practices will provide this on request, either in print or as a digital file. Key documents to obtain include:
- Full clinical history including diagnoses, treatments, and surgical records
- Vaccination history and current vaccination status
- Microchip certificate and registration details
- The EU Pet Passport (if your pet has one), which serves as the official travel document
- Results of any diagnostic tests, X-rays, or specialist reports
- Details of any ongoing prescriptions including drug names, doses, and duration
The EU Pet Passport records the microchip number, rabies vaccination history, and any official treatments such as tapeworm treatment. A new vet in your destination country can continue from this document without needing to repeat foundational steps. Keep the original passport — it cannot easily be replaced once issued.
If your pet has been under the care of a specialist, ask for a referral letter summarising the case. This can be invaluable when seeking specialist care in your new country.
Finding Qualified Vets Through National Registers
The most reliable way to verify that a vet is properly qualified and registered in their country is to check the relevant national veterinary association. These organisations maintain public registers of licensed practitioners and can also help you find practices in your area.
- Spain: The Consejo General de Colegios Veterinarios de España oversees regional colleges. For Madrid specifically, COLVEMA (Colegio Oficial de Veterinarios de Madrid) maintains a searchable register at colvema.org. Each Spanish region has its own colegio veterinario.
- France: The Ordre National des Vétérinaires (veterinaire.fr) is the statutory regulatory body. Its website allows you to search for registered vets and practices by postcode or town.
- Germany: The Bundestierärztekammer (BTK — bundestieraerztekammer.de) is the umbrella organisation for Germany's 17 regional chambers. Vets are required to be registered with their state chamber to practise.
- Netherlands: The Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Diergeneeskunde (KNMvD — knmvd.nl) is the professional association for Dutch vets. It maintains a public member directory.
- Italy: The Federazione Nazionale degli Ordini dei Veterinari Italiani (FNOVI — fnovi.it) oversees veterinary registration across Italy's regional orders.
In addition to official registers, local expat communities — found on forums, Facebook groups, and platforms such as Internations — are an excellent informal resource. Recommendations from people who have navigated the same transition are often more useful than any directory listing.
Dealing with Language Barriers
Language is often the biggest practical concern for pet owners moving abroad. Veterinary terminology is technical in any language, and the anxiety of a sick pet makes communication difficulties even more stressful.
In major cities across Europe, a significant proportion of younger vets speak conversational or fluent English. Urban practices in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, and similar cities often have at least one English-speaking staff member. It is worth telephoning ahead of a first appointment to ask.
Outside major cities, English-language capability among vets varies considerably. In this case, the following strategies help:
- Bring a written summary of your pet's history in the local language — Google Translate is imperfect but sufficient for a basic medical history document.
- Learn the key veterinary terms in the local language: vaccination (vacunación/vaccination/Impfung), microchip (microchip across most languages), neutered (castrado/castré/kastriert), and the names of any chronic conditions your pet has.
- Use your pet passport as a visual reference — its standardised EU format is recognisable to any EU vet regardless of language.
- Ask your new vet to provide written summaries of diagnoses and prescriptions — having text you can translate at home reduces misunderstanding.
Online and Telemedicine Vet Options in Europe
Veterinary telemedicine has expanded significantly across Europe since 2020. Several platforms now offer video consultations with qualified vets, which can be particularly useful in the early days after a move when you have not yet registered with a local practice.
Services such as VetOnline (Spain), Vetup (France), and various platform-based services available in Germany and the Netherlands allow you to speak to a vet by video within hours. These services are suitable for non-emergency questions, minor symptom assessment, prescription renewals for established conditions, and second opinions. They cannot replace in-person examination for anything requiring physical assessment, diagnostics, or treatment.
Some pet insurance policies in Europe now include telemedicine consultations as part of the standard benefit — check your policy documents if you have one.
Your First Visit Checklist
When attending your first appointment at a new practice in Europe, come prepared with the following:
- EU Pet Passport or equivalent vaccination booklet
- Full medical history printout from your previous vet
- Microchip certificate and registration number
- Current medications (bring the boxes so drug names and doses are clearly visible)
- Pet insurance policy details if applicable
- Any specialist reports or imaging results
- A brief written summary of any ongoing health concerns
Ask the new practice to register your pet on the local database if this has not already been done. Confirm that they can access your pet's chip number from the national register. Ask what their out-of-hours arrangement is — whether they have their own emergency service or refer to a nearby emergency clinic.
Finding Specialist and Referral Vets
If your pet has a complex condition requiring specialist input — cardiology, orthopaedic surgery, oncology, ophthalmology, neurology — the EU has a growing network of specialist referral centres. The European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM) and related specialist colleges certify vets who have undergone advanced training in their discipline. Specialists holding these European qualifications are referred to as Diplomates and offer a level of expertise comparable to specialist consultants in human medicine.
Major veterinary university hospitals in Europe — including those at Madrid, Paris, Lyon, Munich, Hannover, Berlin, and Utrecht — offer specialist referral services. Your general practice vet in your new country can arrange a referral if needed. Waiting times for non-urgent specialist appointments vary, but the standard of care at these centres is high.
Settling into a new country with a pet takes time, but the fundamental quality of veterinary care across the EU is consistent and high. Taking a systematic approach to finding your new practice, transferring records, and communicating clearly will make the transition straightforward for both you and your animal.