In the previous post, we covered breed bans and quarantines. Important first things to consider when planning a move, or even a trip abroad with pets. Now let's get into the day-to-day of life. Some things you have to consider before and after moving are: vet care, food, pet stores, babysitting, recreation. While my posts focus on dogs, I hope some of this information carries over for cat lovers, too.
Veterinary Care
Obviously, we've found a vet at this point. I mainly want to mention there are some differences between the services here and back in the States.
Microchipping, Registration and the Law
Everything is very bureaucratic here, including pet registration and care. The first example was the certification we had to obtain in order to enter, which I detailed in my post dedicated to flights. It is law in Spain that companion animals (pets) must be given necessary health care, to guarantee health, and veterinary exams.
Since 1877, Spain has had provisions or laws in place to protect animals and criminalize mistreatment. While there are some traditions, like bullfighting, Spain is holding fast to, the passage of the Animal Welfare Law in 2023 advanced the wellbeing of pets nationwide. Many of the items I mention here, including required microchipping and registration, are part of that law. Now in Spain, it is illegal to euthanize a pet, other than to prevent suffering. All cats over six months are spayed or neutered. Dogs cannot be left alone over 24 hours and cats cannot be alone over 72 hours.
What we have found with vet care is reflective of the implementation of this law. In the US, microchipping your pet is voluntary (unless you plan to travel abroad). Registering your pet's rabies vaccine with the city or state is required but typically the burden of the owner, although some larger vets complete it as a courtesy or for a fee. In Spain, the vet is required to enter your pet's registration into the national database with their microchip number and the owner's details. Oh yeah, and all pets entering the European Union (EU) must be microchipped. The microchip number is the single identifier that links you to your pet. That also means when moving from municipality to municipality or region to region, making a visit to get this registration updated is a must. This mandatory registration in Andalucia is through the Registro Andaluz Animal Identification (Andalucia Animal Identification Registry), or RAIA.
We lived in a municipality that passed an ordinance requiring owners to register their dog's DNA. That way they can locate the culprit of abandoned poop! The vet also submitted this with blood samples that were taken for other testing. The alternative was to submit a sample of poop to the City Hall (Ayuntamiento). They also say they can fine you for not cleaning up pee. I don't see how but people do walk around with squirt bottles and douse the urine. Several European cities have adopted this pet DNA model, and I have to say, that town was one of the cleanest we've seen!
Passport
At the first vet visit when your pet registered, they are also issued their EU Pet Passport, a document linked to their microchip that is mandatory to travel around the EU, or return to the EU if you leave. Each time your pet gets an injection, the vet must scan their chip to ensure it is a match to the passport. They will have to be up to date on all shots before entering, but when you are due that first round of vaccines in Spain, the vet will document the passport with a stamp and a signature. Additionally, when a pet goes to a new home, the ownership transfer is documented in the passport and the database is updated. This passport stays with the pet throughout its life.
The vaccines themselves are different in Spain too.
Mandatory Vaccines
Rabies
Canine Distemper
Canine Parvovirus
In the United States we always got 3-year rabies vaccines. We found when we were preparing to move that the EU does not have a 3-year vaccine, so although our dogs were 2 years into a 3-year vaccine, we had to revaccinate with a 1-year shot. One shocker regarding rabies is that the first documented vaccination requires two shots. Also if rabies is past due, they need two shots. The first one, and a booster a month later. This was not clearly explained to us last year, so we missed our second shots. Honestly, I think our pups were more than covered with all the shots they got in the US plus the first one in Spain. Luckily, it was caught after 8 months, but even then they didn't automatically schedule a second appointment, I had to ask for it. This could be down to that specific vet, but it is worth mentioning.
Voluntary Vaccines
Leptospirosis
Parainfluenza (Kennel Cough)
Bordetella
Leishmaniasis
We live in the south, so here in Spain the only other vaccine we need is for Leishmania and that one is voluntary. It's a terrible disease so we elect to get it. Lots of people use a collar, similar to a flea collar in the US, instead. The Advantix drops here have an additional protection against leishmania, which we also use for flea and tick control.
I was quite surprised when the first vet asked me when was the last time the dogs were given a dewormer. I tried to explain that most dogs don't receive a dewormer in the United States after they are puppies unless they test positive. He was very confused, as was I. He just gave me a bunch of pills and told me how many to give each dog. Finally we realized that in Spain dogs are given a dewormer every three months. Due to the climate here, several types of parasites are prevalent and some can be spread to humans (zoonotic risk), so they are pretty diligent in preventing spread.
Now, some great news is no heartworms! That was one threat and treatment we were glad to say "adiós" to.
If you speak no Spanish at all, you will likely find a vet that speaks some English in larger towns. In small villages, it is less likely, especially if the vet is older. Both clinics we have been to had at least one vet that spoke some English, but very basic. We have some British friends who do not speak Spanish and found a vet that speaks English. It is possible, but you might have to drive quite a distance to find one and there could be a wait for an appointment.
The Real Shock: Cost
Finally, let's talk about cost. That was the real shocker. Back in Colorado, a general office visit/exam was $85.00. After the cost of the exam, rabies, leptospirosis, bordetella vaccines, and waste disposal, the price for a routine annual exam for one dog was about $215.00. In Florida in 2017, annual exams for two dogs plus heartworm medication was $489.60. In Spain, a vet visit with an appointment at our vet is €35 (about $40.00). An emergency visit is €75. We had to take Ginger in around 9 PM last year and she wound up getting x-rays done and sent home with medication. That €75 covered everything. Everything.
Recently Finn needed to be seen for an abscess on his foot. They examined him, took a sample, gave him a shot for pain and an antibiotic shot. Then they sent the sample to the lab to make sure there were no further concerns. We paid €35! That's it.
Here is another example of amazing care at a fraction of the cost. We recently adopted a new dog. It's a long story, but we basically saved him from a life running loose in the country-side. He's around two years old and needed to be neutered (for many reasons). We took him in for an exam and explained our situation to the vet. The vet agreed to do the surgery that day, along with a blood panel to make sure he was in good health. The total bill for the exam, surgery, blood panel and medications was €220. As part of the surgery, they administer a pain medication that lasts about five days. We did not have to worry about pills at all and he was never in pain. We had a little scare (our fault) after we brought him home and had to call the emergency line. The vet actually came to our house to examine him. For that house-call we paid only €35.
Dog Food
One of my first concerns was what food we could buy, and where. Back in the US, I was used to services like Chewy and PetCareRx, and our dogs were eating Gentle Giants.
I knew that brand wasn't available in Europe and that services like Chewy don't exist here, so I had to do some research before we left. My goal was to find a high-quality brand available in both countries to make the transition easier. This led us to Taste of the Wild, which we knew was reputable and widely available in Spain. At the same time, I identified the major Spanish pet retailers, like the physical supermarkets Kiwoko and Tiendanimal (similar to PetCo or PetSmart) and the online store Zooplus (which is a great Chewy alternative).
This prep work was crucial. We fully transitioned the dogs to Taste of the Wild a couple of weeks before leaving and packed two small bags in a suitcase. That lasted us almost two weeks, but after driving cross-country and then from Paris to Malaga, we were running low. Because we had done the research, we knew exactly where to go. We found a store in Marbella that carried it on our first day in Spain and were able to purchase some.
Since then, we've actually made another change to True Origins Wild, which is an excellent, high-quality line offered by one of the major Spanish chains and has an almost identical nutritional panel.
The European Quality Factor
One important consideration with food, is that Europe has much higher standards on the ingredients used in dog food. For example, EU regulations typically require that pet food meat meets a "Category 3" standard, meaning the animal was deemed fit for human consumption before processing, and the EU is generally stricter on the use of artificial additives and preservatives. So whichever product you decide to go with—whether a globally available brand like Taste of the Wild or a local quality line like True Origins Wild—you will likely be feeding your friend a much higher quality kibble than in the US.
Babysitting and Kenneling
While finding a sitter may not be first on your to-do list, it is likely to come up at some point. One thing we wanted to be able to enjoy while living in Spain is its proximity to amazing places both in the country, and across Europe. We started looking right away.
Back in the US, we utilized in-home sitters in several states. We found them from searching online, from business cards at the vet, word of mouth, and on Rover.com. We had some amazing sitters from the retiree, to the pros, to the college student.
For knowledge and insight on the area, I joined some local Facebook groups. The first sitter we spoke to was a referral from one such group. It wasn't me that asked the question, but rather someone else asking for sitter recommendations and several sitters in the area were tagged by others. I reached out and we really liked her. She is British so the english-speaking factor was a huge plus for me. She was willing to stay full-time with the dogs for €40 a night. The only issue was she is so booked out, we had to let her know several months in advance when we would travel. This is a common scenario with english-speaking sitters, in fact.
Meanwhile, we had a lady coming once a week to tidy up for us. She very quickly built a rapport, not just with us, but with the dogs as well. After several weeks, we asked if she would be interested in house-and-dog sitting. She thought it over and we agreed on a price of €50 per night. She has stayed with them several times at this point and is like a part of the family. She doesn't speak English (which is ok because I've had Spanish classes), but the dogs are getting pretty fluent in español!
For comparison, in Florida we typically paid $80 a night for three dogs, and that included walks. If we needed a mid-day visit, it was $105 for the day. In Colorado we had one sitter that was $167 total per day and overnight. We had a 45 minute visit during the day for potty breaks, plus an afternoon walk. Our last sitter was $75 per day/night for all three dogs but that did not include walks. So while the prices are across the board in the US, a typical fee here in Spain is normally under €50 for an overnight. I took a look at Rover.com (it is available although we haven't used it here), and that holds true.
I have not kenneled any of my dogs in over 15 years. Lots of people do, and their dogs love it. My Caucasian Mountain Dog Ava, who I wrote about in Cross Country with Three Dogs, was the last dog I kenneled. Everyone I knew recommended the kennel, but when I picked her up, they told me she was upset the entire time, would hardly eat, and didn't even want to go for walks. In the end I think I was more traumatized by the experience than she was! I started finding in-home sitters after that.
Also, we considered finding a kennel a few times in various cities, but with multiple dogs, the minimal price difference between kenneling and having them at home, where they are comfortable, outweighs the cost savings. However, if you go that route and your dogs don't mind, the pricing I found for Residencia Canina (dog kennel) in Malaga is an average of €18 per night for one, and €30 per night for two that share a kennel. For a cost comparison, I checked a kennel I was familiar with in Atlanta and one in Colorado Springs, and the cost per night per dog starts at $50. So you can see why, even at $167 per night in Colorado ($17 more for three dogs), the comfort of the dogs was the deciding factor.
Recreation
We've talked about vet care, dog food and boarding, but what about everyday living? In my observation, things have changed a little over the years. I recall years ago, that it was not very common to see a larger dog as a pet, especially in an apartment or in the city. Happily this seems to be an idea of the past. Because so many more people are making dogs a part of their family, there are plenty of dog-friendly places you can go.
Spain has a robust outdoor culture. In the South, we have beaches, skiing, mountains for hiking, camping and rock climbing. Most cities and even some small towns have nice wide promenades where locals like to get a run in in the morning, or take a stroll in the evenings. Lots of outdoor patios offer a nice place to relax and meet friends, while enjoying the nice climate here in the Costa del Sol. More and more people want to enjoy these activities with their dogs.
I can report that there are plenty of Playas Caninas (dog beaches), where you can go with your dog and let her run untethered. There is also an abundance of large parques caninos or parques de perros (dog parks). They range from smaller private parks dedicated to the residents of an urbanization (residential development), to nice parks big enough for you to get your daily walk in while your pup meets up with his buddies. For national parks, it is best to check each park or trail. Teide National Park in the Canary Islands prohibits dogs, other than therapy dogs, to protect the fragile ecosystem. Other parks have restrictions. For example, dogs are allowed in the Sierra Nevada National Park, but not allowed on ski slopes. Also, one should be aware that many areas in Spain still have free range livestock grazing with dogs guarding and herding them. Those dogs are not required to be restrained while on duty. So although it may feel like you and your pups are the only living things around, it's best to keep them on lead to avoid any confrontations.
In public areas, Spain has leash laws in place. Also, for certain breeds a muzzle is required in public which I covered in my last post, Relocation Abroad with Pets: Breed Bans & Entry Rules. The truth is, outside of big cities, most people are pretty lax when they have a well-behaved dog. However, that doesn't mean they won't get fined if the police have a desire to do so. This also serves as a heads-up that while you may always use a lead, like we do, don't be surprised if you are walking your dog and another dog approaches off leash.
My experience is that Spain, in general, is more dog-friendly in establishments. In Malaga and the surrounding area, it is more common for dogs to be allowed on the outside patio or terrace of a café than not. Everywhere we have gone with our dogs, we have been met with friendly staff and full water bowls. Legally, owners of businesses have the right to allow dogs inside as well. I have also seen dogs inside fruterÃas (small shops with fruit and produce), hair salons, local shops and I even saw one in a church!
When traveling, most rail companies allow pets to accompany you for a nominal fee. A few airlines in Europe have approved pets in cabin if you purchase them a seat! With all the places you can go and ways to get there, I am sure you and your four-legged babies will enjoy your new life abroad!
I hope this post has been informative and helped answer some questions regarding what life will be like after you land. If you are curious about our story, and how we got here, start at the beginning with my post, Cross Country and Beyond with Three Dogs - Colorado to Spain.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing!