Japanese at the Vet: Taking Your Pet to an Animal Hospital in Japan
To take a pet to the vet in Japan, look for an animal hospital (動物病院), book if you can, and be ready to explain what’s wrong: 食欲がありません (he/she has no appetite), 吐きました (vomited) and 足を引きずっています (is limping) cover a lot. Vet care in Japan is paid in full unless you have private pet insurance, so it’s worth asking about costs before treatment. Dog owners also need to register their dog with the city and keep up the yearly rabies vaccination.
If your pet has an emergency at night or on a holiday, many cities have a night emergency animal hospital (夜間救急動物病院). Find the nearest one before you need it.
Booking and arriving
- 診察の予約をしたいのですが。 I’d like to book an appointment.
- 初めてです。犬（猫）です。 It’s our first visit. It’s a dog (cat).
- 今日、診てもらえますか。 Could you see us today?
- 英語を話せる先生はいますか。 Is there a vet who speaks English?
On your first visit you’ll fill in a form with your pet’s name, breed (犬種/猫種), age, weight and whether it’s neutered (去勢/避妊). Bring any records you have, translated if possible.
Describing symptoms
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 昨日から食欲がありません。 | No appetite since yesterday. |
| 今朝、2回吐きました。 | Vomited twice this morning. |
| 下痢をしています。 | Has diarrhoea. |
| 元気がありません。 | Seems lethargic. |
| 足を引きずっています。 | Is limping. |
| 体をよくかいています。 | Is scratching a lot. |
| 何か食べてしまったかもしれません。 | Might have eaten something. |
Vaccines and prevention
- 狂犬病の予防接種: rabies vaccination, required every year for dogs in Japan.
- 混合ワクチン: combination vaccines for dogs and cats.
- フィラリア予防: heartworm prevention, usually given through the warmer months.
- ノミ・ダニ予防: flea and tick prevention.
- マイクロチップ: microchip.
Dogs must be registered with your city or ward office, which issues a tag. See Japanese at the ward office.
Costs and insurance
There’s no public insurance for pets, so you pay the full fee. Private pet insurance (ペット保険) is available and some clinics process claims at the counter. Ask before agreeing to tests or surgery:
- 費用はだいたいいくらぐらいですか。 Roughly how much will it cost?
- ペット保険は使えますか。 Can I use pet insurance?
- ほかの方法はありますか。 Are there other options?
Moving to Japan with a pet
Bringing a dog or cat into Japan means meeting the rules of the Animal Quarantine Service, which depend on the country you are coming from and can take many months of preparation. Start early and check the official requirements. Renting with a pet also needs a pet-friendly property (ペット可); see renting an apartment in Japan.
How Hanabuddies can help
A tutor can run a lesson on vet and pet Japanese, with role plays of booking, describing symptoms and asking about costs. For a complicated diagnosis or surgery, an interpreter can join you in person or online so you understand the options, and translate your pet’s records for your own reference. See also our moving to Japan checklist.