Life for your pets in Italy

If you've brought your furry friend to Italy, you must register them at your installation's vet clinic within the first 10 days of arriving. 

Required vaccinations and medicine

• Leptospirosis: If you haven’t already, you need to get your pet a leptospirosis vaccination as soon as possible. Leptospirosis has a heavy presence in Italy and without proper vaccination, it can kidney failures in pets.  
• Rabies: Both dogs and cats must get an annual rabies vaccination. Pets are required to wear their rabies tags at all times to serve as a visual marker of vaccination status.
• Heartworm, flea and tick: Ensure your pets are on heartworm preventative medicine as well as flea and tick control medicine year-round.

Italian Veterinary Clinics

Taking your pet to an Italian veterinarian clinic is recommended for emergency and special needs for your pet. Italian veterinary clinics are called Ambulatoria Veterinario, and are important to be registered with. Contact your installation’s clinic for a list of local Italian vet clinics in your area.

Italian Pet Regulations

• Animals must never be left tied up and unattended to.
• Your pet must be leashed every time you walk them.
• Shelter must always be provided for your pet.
• Cats specifically must be kept indoors at all times.
• Food and water must always be easily accessible for your pet.
• Every pet must have an international microchip. This is also a form of identification if they are ever lost and brought into a vet clinic.
• “Chokechain” or pinch collars are illegal in Italy and use of these types of collars is subject to a fine.

Traveling with your pet

Requirements:

• All pets must have their 15-digit international microchip.
• Rabies vaccination must be up to date and given after the international microchip was implanted.
• EU Pet Passport must be with you and your pet at all times when traveling.
• Muzzles must be carried (not worn) for all dogs when in public.
• Animals must be contained while riding in vehicles (carrier or harness).

Traveling without your pet

If you plan on getting traveling done while in Italy, there may be some trips where sometimes your furry friend can’t tag along. Once you register your pet at your duty station’s vet clinic, they will provide a list of local boarding facilities.