Pet care

Owning a pet is a big and long-term commitment. Your pet is your responsibility.

So, you should understand how to care for them properly and make sure you follow any rules about licencing and ID (identification) you need to have.

Below we present a table overview of the rules around pet ID and vaccines to follow for dogs and cats. You can find more detail on the page.

Pet passport

The EU system of passports for pets allows cats, dogs and ferrets to travel between EU member states and some other countries that are part of the scheme.

You can get your pet passport from your vet. There are requirements for this depending on where you are going.

If you are travelling in the EU, your pet also needs to:

• Have a microchip
• Be vaccinated against rabies
• Be treated for tapeworm, if they are a dog

If you are travelling outside the EU, your pet will need to meet more requirements.

For more information, see our page for details about bringing your pet to Ireland.

Horse identification

If you own a horse, it must have the following ID:

• An equine (horse) passport
• A microchip implant, which links the animal to the passport
• A Unique Equine Life Number (UELN)

Visit our page for further information on horse identification and control.

Microchips for pets

A microchip is a very small electronic device that a vet injects under the skin of your pet. The microchip has a unique number for each animal. It can be scanned by a vet to find out who owns the pet.

If you own a dog, you must have them microchipped by a vet and registered under your name before they are 12 weeks old.

Cats do not have to be microchipped. But it makes it easier to find them when they get lost if they have one. However, if you want to travel abroad in Europe with your cat, they need to be microchipped to get their EU pet passport.

Animal licence

If your dog is over 4 months old, you must have a dog licence. However, you do not need a licence to own a cat.

To learn more about dog licences, visit our page on dog licences and control.

Finding a trusted vet to take care of your pet is important for their health. When you are choosing a vet for your pet, you should consider:

Location - Choose a clinic that is close to you

Services - Make sure they offer any services your pet might need

Reputation - Ask other pet owners and pet professionals, like groomers, their opinion about the clinic you want to choose. Check out the reviews online for their services.

The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) has a search option that can tell you if the vet you want to use is registered.

All vets must register with the VCI to treat patients in Ireland.

The Irish Blue Cross charity also offers mobile clinics in Dublin that you can book by appointment.

Make sure to keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date to protect them from life threatening diseases.

Young pets generally get their first vaccinations at 6-8 weeks old and then another round of vaccines 2 weeks later. After this, they will need booster vaccinations every year to protect them.

Pet neutering is a surgery, performed by a vet, that removes part or all of an animal’s reproductive organs. This will stop them from having kittens and puppies.

Neutering can prevent:

• Types of cancers like breast cancer and testicular cancer
• Tumours and prostate disease
• Aggressive behaviour and animals roaming
• Unwanted pregnancies or womb infections

When should I neuter my pet?

*Female dogs can be neutered pre-season (before a dog starts her heat cycle). If a female dog is not neutered before her first season, you should wait 3 months after the season to neuter her.

(A heat cycle is when an animal naturally wants to have sex to reproduce.)

The DSPCA mobile veterinary clinic has subsidised veterinary services if you are getting a social welfare payment. This reduces the cost and includes neutering services.

You are not required by law to insure your pet. But there may be times when you will need to pay for unexpected medical bills for your pet. To avoid financial pressure, you could take out pet insurance.

Pet insurance can cover:

• Vet fees, if your pet is sick or injured
• Charges for looking after your pet if you are in hospital, for example, boarding kennels or cattery fees
• Cancelling your holiday, if your pet is sick or goes missing
• Advertising if your pet goes missing
• Rewards for a lost or stolen pet
• Third party liability and legal fees if your pet damages property or injures another person

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has detailed information about pet insurance.

It is important to take care of your pet as best as you can. Caring for your pet can involve:

• Giving them food and exercise
• Getting them care from professionals, like a vet
• Meeting legal requirements, like getting them a microchip and licence

Your pet’s needs can change during different times of the year.

Caring for your pet in the summer

Water

Make sure your pet always has cool water available. If you bring them out for a walk, you can carry a portable water bottle and bowl.

Exercise

Time your walks at the coolest times of the day, such as early morning or evening when the sun is lower in the sky. Avoid walking your pet on the hot pavement; try to walk them on grassy or shady areas instead.

If you are walking your pet in long grass, you should check them for ticks. It is best to take breaks during your walks in the heat and to go slow.

Clothing

Most pets do not need any clothing during hot weather. Although some pets may benefit from a cooling vest.

Overheating

If your pet shows signs of heatstroke, you should find shade, cool them down by pouring cool water on them and call the vet immediately.

Your pet may have heatstroke if they:

• Pant and drool too much
• Have low energy or are weak
• Are vomiting or have diarrhoea
• Are disorientated (lost) or stumbling
• Have bright red gums and tongue
• Are having seizures or are unconscious

Caring for your pet in the winter

Shelter

Make sure your pet has a warm, dry place to sleep indoors. Give them a bed and blankets to keep them warm. If your pet is in a cage, consider putting a light blanket over the cage for extra warmth.

Clothing

Some pets can benefit from wearing jackets or jumpers for warmth, such as:

• Short haired breeds
• Newborn or young pets
• Older pets
• Small pets

Exercise

You should limit the time your pet spends outside during colder months, for example, take short and frequent walks instead of long ones.

Cold weather and ice can be tough on your pet’s paws. Before walks, try applying a balm or petroleum jelly to their paw pads. You could also buy your pet a pair of booties to protect their paws.

Mental stimulation

If you are limiting your pet’s time outside, offer them indoor exercise. For example, you could use:

• Interactive toys
• Puzzle feeders
• Indoor play sessions

This can help stimulate your pet and keep them busy.

Caring for your pet at Halloween

Halloween can be a stressful time for pets. They may find the unexpected visitors, spooky costumes or fireworks upsetting.

Here are some top tips for keeping your pet relaxed and safe during Halloween:

Change your routine - Try to miss the costumes and fireworks by going for a long walk before the celebrations start.

Feed your pet earlier - By feeding your dog before the trick or treaters arrive, they can eat in a more relaxed setting.

Trick or treaters - you should stay with your dog in the house, if you are expecting visitors. You can also leave a note on the door asking visitors to knock quietly so they don’t disturb your pet.

Close your curtains - You can close over your curtains to stop your pet from seeing fireworks and other bright flashes or scary trick or treaters.

Keep them busy - Playing games with your pet can help keep them distracted from the loud noises. For example, puzzle feeders and other activities to keep them entertained.

Hide sweets from your pet - Many human treats, like chocolate, are toxic to pets. If you are worried that your pet has eaten something toxic, you should take them to the vet.

If you lose your pet, you can post their details to the lost section of the NSPCA website. You can also look at the pets that are reported as found on their website.

If you have lost a dog, you should contact the local dog warden in your area and give them information such as:

• If your dog is microchipped
• If they’re male or female
• If they’re neutered
• Their age
• Their breed
• Any specific identifying marks
• A recent photo of your pet
• Your contact details

Here are some tips to help get a stray or lost pet back to their owner:

• Collar: Check their collar for the owner’s contact information, if it’s safe to do this. Contact the owner and arrange to meet to give back the pet.
• Vet: Take the pet to a local vet or animal welfare centre to check if they have a microchip. They will contact the owner from the information on the microchip.
• Social media: Post a picture of the pet on social media to see if you can find the owner. For example, you could post a picture of a dog in your local lost and found Facebook group. If someone contacts you claiming they are the owner, ask for proof of ownership before handing over the pet.

For tips on staying safe when handing a stray back to their owner, visit dogstrust.ie.

If you find a lost dog, you should report it to your local authority or your local dog warden service. If you need help with this, contact the NSPCA.

I found a litter of kittens what should I do?

If you find a litter of kittens, you should contact the NSPCA by:

• Email at: info@ispca.ie
• Phone on: 0818 515 515

The kittens may be too young to eat or drink. This means they may need to be hand-fed special milk with a syringe.

If there is a feral (wild) cat colony in your area, you can contact your local SPCA about a Trap Neuter Release (TNR) programme.

This is a process where cats are safely trapped and brought to a vet to be spayed, neutered and vaccinated.

I found a bird on the ground, what do I do?

It is common to find young birds on the ground between April and September. This period is known as ‘fledgling season’. Unless the bird is obviously injured, you should leave it alone.

You should also not feed the bird as its parents will sometimes stop feeding them to encourage them to fly and find its own food.

If you have a pet that you want to surrender, you should contact rescue organisations like:

• Your local SPCA
• Dog’s Trust Ireland

They may be able to find it a new home. Charities or pounds may also accept unwanted dogs, although you may be charged for this.

Local authorities can accept unwanted dogs and put them down if they cannot find a new home or be transferred to an animal welfare group.

If your pet becomes terminally ill or very injured, you have the right to be included in the decision making about your pet’s end of life care. It is important that you discuss all your options with your vet.

These options can include:

• Palliative care
• Animal hospice
• Euthanasia (putting them down)

We explain each below.

Palliative care

This is the care of animals with a terminal illness that is not curable. It helps to control physical symptoms and pain.

This kind of care can go on for months and even years and sometimes leads to hospice care.

Animal hospice

Some vets now offer a service called animal hospice. This service supports and cares for dying pets and their families in the later stages of a pet’s terminal illness.

Euthanasia

In severe cases, a vet may suggest that you euthanise your pet (put them down). When your pet is in a lot of pain that affects their quality of life and it cannot be managed medically or surgically, this option may be best for them.

This is a difficult decision to make, so you should discuss it in-depth with your vet. Some vets offer euthanasia at home but most offer euthanasia in the vet practice.

Pet loss support

Losing a pet can be a very emotional and upsetting time. You may want to speak to someone about your bereavement.

You can visit our page on bereavement counselling and support to find services that can help you.

If you suspect animal cruelty, you should report it to the:

You can also ring your local Garda station in emergencies.