Our Story: Why I Learned
„Durchfall“ the Hard Way
"Stress can make your brain go blank. This is the cheat sheet I keep on my own fridge."
In our Origin Story, I mentioned standing in a clinic trying to translate “lethargy” on a cracked phone screen while my pet stared at me like, “Please help me.”
That day, I realized something important: I didn’t need to be fluent in German — I just needed a survival kit of words.
Knowing how to say “He won’t eat” or “She’s limping” is the difference between a panicked 10-minute struggle and getting your pet the help they need right now.
🩺 The Expat’s Vet Survival Kit: Essential German Phrases
Even if you’ve found a great practice through our Directory of English-Speaking Vets, stress can make your brain go completely blank in a medical situation.
1. The Basics: Making the Appointment
Most German vet practices prefer you to call ahead — even for urgent visits.
- Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren.
(I would like to make an appointment.) - Es ist ein Notfall!
(It’s an emergency!) - Mein Hund / Meine Katze ist krank.
(My dog / my cat is sick.) - Wann können wir vorbeikommen?
(When can we come by?)
💡 Optional but helpful: Sprechen Sie Englisch? (Do you speak English?) Even if the answer is “a little,” vets will usually try.
2. Describing the Symptoms (The “What’s Wrong?” List)
When the vet asks „Was fehlt dem Kleinen?“ (What’s wrong with the little one?) use these simple building blocks:
Fieber (fever)
→ „Er hat Fieber.“
Durchfall (diarrhea)
→ Pronounced: DOORKH-fall
Erbrechen (vomiting)
→ „Er hat erbrochen.“
Appetitlosigkeit (loss of appetite)
→ „Sie frisst nicht.“ (She isn’t eating.)
Humpeln / Hinken (limping)
→ „Er hinkt seit gestern.“
Juckreiz (itching)
→ „Sie kratzt sich viel.“
Lethargisch / Schlapp
→ „Er ist sehr schlapp.“
3. Anatomy: Where Does It Hurt?
Pointing helps. These words help more.
- 🦴 Der Bauch (belly)
- 🐾 Die Pfote (paw)
- 👂 Das Ohr (ear)
- 👁️ Das Auge (eye)
- 🐕 Der Rücken (back)
💡 Example: „Hier, am Bauch.“ (Here, on the belly.)
4. Essential Questions to Ask the Vet
These are the questions that matter after the panic settles.
Ist es ansteckend?
(Is it contagious?)
Braucht er eine Impfung?
(Does he need a vaccination?)
Muss sie nüchtern bleiben?
(Does she need to stay fasted / no food?)
Nehmen Sie Kartenzahlung an?
(Do you accept card payment?)
⚠️ Important: Many German vets accept only Girocard (EC-Karte) — not credit cards. Asking this early avoids an extra wave of stress.
💡 Pro Tip: The “Emergency Note”
If your hands are shaking, write down just three things before you leave the house:
- Seit wann? (Since when?)
→ „Seit zwei Tagen.“ - Was ist passiert? (What happened?)
→ „Er hat Schokolade gefressen.“ (He ate chocolate.) - Medikamente? (Current meds?)
→ List anything your pet is already taking.
🌉 A Note from the Sofa
You don’t need to be a linguist to be a great pet parent in Germany. German vets are usually incredibly patient with expats — they see how much we care. Just having a few of these words ready shows you’re trying, and that goes a long way.
Found a word we missed? Send us a message, and we’ll add it to the kit.