Call your regular vet first, even after hours. Many Warsaw clinics share emergency partners and their voicemail lists who is on duty. The city has several 24-hour veterinary hospitals, so search for całodobowa klinika weterynaryjna Warszawa, check recent reviews, and pick the closest with a surgeon on site. Go right away for breathing problems, repeated vomiting, seizures, poisoning, road trauma, or inability to urinate. Take your pet’s medical records and any medications. Use a taxi or ride-hailing app and tell the driver you have an animal. If it is a toxin, bring the packaging. Ask about estimated costs on the phone since after-hours fees vary. Keep the pet warm and quiet, do not give human medicines. Save two nearby options for your district, for example Mokotów or Wola.

In Poland rabies vaccination is mandatory for all dogs over 12 weeks and must be kept current every year. Cats are not legally required to have rabies shots in Warsaw, but many vets recommend them, especially for outdoor cats and travel. Microchipping is not a nationwide obligation yet it is strongly advised, and the city often supports free or low-cost events, which you can confirm on the official City of Warsaw channels. Dogs must be under control in public places. Leashes are expected in most parks and a muzzle is wise for strong or reactive dogs. Always pick up waste. Some communes charge a dog fee, so check your district office for current rules. Register the microchip in Polish and EU databases and add an ID tag with your phone number.

There is no national pet license, and Warsaw does not require a general pet license. The city strongly encourages microchipping and registration in the municipal database so a lost animal can be returned quickly. Each year Warsaw sometimes funds free microchipping or spay and neuter programs for residents. Check the City of Warsaw website or your district office to confirm current rules and participating clinics. A rabies vaccination for dogs is required by Polish law. Vets in Warsaw usually give a booster every year, but follow your veterinarian and the vaccine manufacturer's schedule. Keep the certificate with your pet passport. Cats are not legally required to get rabies, yet it is widely recommended along with core vaccines. Ask your vet about an EU pet passport if you plan to travel.

From spring to late autumn, ticks are the big issue around Warsaw forests and parks like Kabaty, Bielany and along the Vistula. Use a vet-recommended prevention plan and check your pet daily, then remove ticks with a tool, not fingers. Babesiosis and Lyme disease can show fever, lethargy or lameness, so see your vet quickly if you notice those signs. Leptospirosis can be picked up from puddles and riverbanks, so consider vaccination if your dog swims or drinks from outdoor water. Keep core vaccines up to date since parvovirus still circulates in urban areas. In winter, road salt irritates paws, so rinse after walks and use paw balm or boots. Smog can worsen coughing, so walk away from heavy traffic on bad-air days and keep exercise shorter.

Ticks are very common in Mazovia from early spring to late autumn, including parks, riverbanks and Kabaty Forest. Protect your dog or cat with a vet recommended tick preventive, check the coat after walks, and watch for fever, weakness or dark urine that can suggest babesiosis or other tick borne disease. Leptospirosis can be picked up from standing water or rat urine, so ask about vaccination if your pet swims or drinks outdoors. In winter, road salt burns paws and antifreeze is toxic, so rinse paws and keep chemicals out of reach. Summer heat builds on asphalt and in trams, so walk early and carry water. On heavy smog days, sensitive or flat faced pets may need shorter outings. Your Warsaw vet can tailor deworming and vaccines to your neighbourhood.

Dogs are welcome in many parks and along the Vistula boulevards in Warsaw, but keep your dog on a leash unless you are inside a fenced dog run. Districts maintain many dog runs with lights and agility features. You can find a current map on the City of Warsaw or district websites. Always read the signs at park entrances, since some lawns and playgrounds are off limits. On ZTM buses, trams, the metro and SKM trains, dogs can travel if they are on a leash, wear a muzzle and you maintain control. Small pets in carriers are usually simpler. Always clean up after your pet to avoid a fine from Straz Miejska. Near the river, watch the current and consider a life vest for keen swimmers.

Warsaw has many groomers and boarding hotels, but standards vary. Visit before booking to see hygiene, ventilation and how staff handle animals. Ask about supervision at night, walk frequency, group sizes and whether dogs are separated by size and temperament. Most reputable places require current vaccinations for rabies, distemper and parvovirus, plus kennel cough for dogs. For cats, ask for separate rooms, hiding spots and their litter brand. Book early for long weekends, the summer holiday period and Christmas, because spots fill fast in the city. Get a written agreement that lists services, feeding, meds, and their emergency protocol, including which 24-hour clinic they use. Do a short trial daycare first and monitor your pet’s stress after pickup before committing to a longer stay.

The municipal shelter Schronisko na Paluchu and many registered rescues in Warsaw have dogs and cats waiting for homes. Start by browsing their official pages, then visit to meet animals with staff guidance. Bring an ID and proof of address, and plan time for an interview. Some NGOs do a home check before adoption. Confirm what is included, such as microchip, vaccinations and spay or neuter, and ask about any fees. Prepare your home with secure windows and a balcony net, a comfy bed, bowls, a litter box for cats, and a well fitting harness and ID tag. Book a vet visit within a few days to set up vaccines, parasite prevention and a microchip update. If you rent, get written landlord approval.