What to Expect at Your First Vet Visit in Germany
You've survived the Anmeldung. You've decoded the recycling bins. You carry cash everywhere now. And then your dog starts limping, your cat can't stop sneezing, or you've just arrived and need to get your pet into the system.
Welcome to your first German vet visit.
German veterinary care is genuinely excellent - well-equipped, properly regulated, high standards. But it works differently from the UK, the US, Australia, or wherever home used to be. Here's exactly what to expect.
🔍 Step 1: Finding the Right Practice
Before anything else, you need a vet who actually speaks English, not just one who "has some English" but freezes when you describe symptoms.
That's exactly what our directory is for. Every practice listed on EnglishSpeakingVets has been community-verified by other English-speaking expats who have successfully communicated in English there. Not Google-translated, not assumed. Verified.
📞 Step 2: Making the Appointment
Most German vets require an appointment (Termin). Walk-ins are generally only accepted for emergencies.
When you call:
- • Have your pet's name, species, breed, and age ready
- • Briefly describe the issue: "My dog has been limping on his front left leg for two days"
- • Ask directly: "Do you have English-speaking staff?" Even if the practice is listed here, confirm which vet will see you
- • Ask about approximate wait times. Some practices are very busy and a first appointment might be a week away
Can't face the phone? Many practices now accept appointment requests via email or an online form. If your German is limited, a brief email in English is almost always fine.
🎒 Step 3: What to Bring
Unlike in some countries, German vets don't automatically have access to your pet's previous records. Bring everything you have:
EU Pet Passport (EU-Heimtierausweis)
Or the equivalent from your home country. Contains vaccination records, microchip number, and rabies titre test results. If you don't have one yet, your new vet can issue a German one.
Previous vet records
Even if in English. German vets can read English medical records, and having a history of vaccinations, surgeries, or chronic conditions is genuinely useful.
Microchip documentation
If you have a separate certificate.
Your insurance policy number
If you have pet health insurance in Germany. Most practices expect you to pay upfront and claim back yourself; they don't bill insurers directly.
If this is your pet's very first vet visit in Germany and you've just arrived, don't panic if you have nothing. The vet will start fresh; they're used to new arrivals.
🩺 Step 4: The Consultation
The waiting room is usually shared between dogs and cats (unlike some countries that separate them). Keep your dog on a short leash and cats in their carrier until called.
The examination follows the same general pattern as anywhere: the vet will check weight, temperature, eyes, ears, teeth, coat, abdomen, and the specific area of concern. They'll ask questions. Answer as clearly as you can. If something is lost in translation, ask them to rephrase.
A few things that may surprise you:
No nurse/technician in the room
In many smaller German practices, the vet works alone or with one assistant. More intimate than the multi-person consultations common in UK or US clinics.
More conservative with medication
Germany has strict rules around antibiotic use in animals. Don't be alarmed if the vet opts for watchful waiting over immediately prescribing something.
Diagnostic costs quoted upfront
If the vet wants bloodwork or X-rays, they should tell you the cost first. You can always ask: "Wie viel kostet das?" (How much does that cost?)
No automatic yearly reminders
In Germany it's largely your responsibility to track when vaccinations and check-ups are due. Your EU Pet Passport is your record.
💉 Step 5: Vaccinations - What's Standard in Germany
German vaccination schedules may differ slightly from what your pet had at home. Here's the typical baseline:
🐕 Dogs
- SHPPi combo (Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis): core, annual or triennial
- Rabies: required for international travel; strongly recommended otherwise
- Leptospirosis (Lepto): strongly recommended in Germany; annual
- Kennel cough (Zwingerhusten): required by most boarding facilities
🐱 Cats
- Cat flu combo (Calicivirus, Herpesvirus, Panleukopaenie): core
- Rabies: recommended; required for travel
- FeLV (Feline Leukaemia): recommended for outdoor cats
If your pet is up to date from home, bring those records. The vet will advise whether any boosters are needed to align with the German schedule.
💶 Step 6: Payment
Germany is still very much a cash-friendly country, and many smaller vet practices prefer it, or charge a small surcharge for card payments. Ask when you book if you're unsure.
The GOT fee schedule
Vet fees in Germany are regulated by the Gebuhrenordnung fur Tierarzte (GOT), a national fee schedule that sets the minimum and standard rates.
Basic consultation
€15-25
Full visit
€40-80
Pet insurance: If you have a German health insurance policy for your pet, you'll almost always pay upfront and submit a claim afterwards. Keep all receipts and the itemised invoice (Rechnung) - you'll need the specific procedure codes for reimbursement.
✅ Step 7: After the Visit - What to Ask For
Ask for:
- A copy of the itemised invoice (essential for insurance claims)
- Any updated entries in your EU Pet Passport (especially if vaccinations were given)
- Written follow-up instructions if your pet was prescribed medication or a special diet
- The direct number or email for the practice in case of follow-up questions
Register Before You Need To
The best time to find a vet is before there's an emergency. Book a routine check-up within your first month in Germany. It establishes your pet as a patient, gets you into the system, and means you have a trusted practice to call when something goes wrong at short notice.
Practices are often reluctant to see animals they've never met before in urgent situations, especially if they're at capacity. Being an existing patient makes a real difference.
Have you already been to a German vet with your pet? Know a practice that speaks excellent English? Submit a listing