Dog eating ice cream in a waffle cone. (heyalice (123RF))
Bldg. 1863 | 727-3149, 956-82-3149
The VTF offers routine care and vaccinations for the pets of personnel stationed at Rota. This includes annual visits, sick-call appointments, health certificates, scheduled surgeries, dental cleanings and more.
Note: The feral cats on base are under veterinary care and fulfill a rodent-control role. They are not to be fed or domesticated as it leads to nuisance behavior.
Register at the VTF within 15 days of arrival. You will need the following.
Your passport
DOD ID
Pets’ health certificate from previous duty station
Pets’ vaccination records
It is important to be forthcoming about dogs on the aggressive breeds list. Their registration requires additional paperwork. The VTF will not list them as a different breed.
• The VTF will assist you in getting an EU pet passport if your pet does not already have one.
• The VTF can help you register your pet in the Spanish “Registro Andaluz de Identificacion Animal” (RAIA). You can also register at an off-base vet.
Vaccines are only valid for one year, even if they are used elsewhere to cover multiple years.
• Rabies (mandatory)
• Yearly De-worming (mandatory)
• Heartworm
• Parvo / distemper
• Leptospirosis
• Bordetella
• Flea and tick medicine
It is important to know that leishmania is prevalent in the Rota area. This zoonotic disease is transmitted by biting insects like mosquitoes and can be passed on to humans. It can lead to a variety of skin and digestive problems in dogs and the first signs are typically ulcers in the mouth and ears. It is not fatal when controlled.
• A dog who has lieshmania cannot return to the U.S.
• A lieshmania vaccination is available at off-base Spanish vets only and has a 75 percent efficacy rate.
• Rota VTF recommends keeping your pet on heartworm and topical flea and tick medicine year round as a preventative measure.
These caterpillars have spiked barbs that can cause severe allergic reactions in pets, especially in dogs who try to bite them. The caterpillars typically come out between December and February when they migrate from below ground up into the pine trees. You will see them in lines of hundreds. Prevent your dogs from approaching them.
The Rota VTF cannot provide emergency veterinary treatment, but they have a detailed list of local Spanish vets.
• Anubis Centro Veterinario | Rota | 24-hour emergencies: +34 669-479-972
• Clinica Veterinaria Santa Maria | El Puerto | 24-hour emergencies: +34 629-770-770
• Hospital Veterinario La Arboleda (also has specialist care)| El Puerto | 24-hour emergencies: +34 609-577-107
• Veterinary Clinic Avila El Puerto (adjacent specialty hospital) | El Puerto | 24-hour emergencies: +34 662-305-968
Across from the drive-in
727-4000, 956-82-4000
RAWL is an on-base animal shelter run by volunteers. They help Americans who can no longer care for their pets and facilitate cat and dog adoptions.
