In this guide
In Concepción, the right vet depends on what you need: for a household dog or cat, look for a practice or clinic that can see you quickly and records everything in the health booklet; for cattle or horses, an agro-veterinary store with a licensed vet who knows the SENACSA vaccination calendar. Either way, check that the vet is registered with SENACSA (Paraguay's animal health service) and message ahead on WhatsApp to confirm someone is in.
Practice, clinic or agro-vet store?
A search for "vet in Concepción" mixes very different places:
- Agro-veterinary store (agroveterinaria): sells feed, dewormers, vaccines and farm supplies, sometimes with a consulting room. Good for vaccines, deworming and buying what your vet prescribed.
- Practice or pet shop with a vet: vaccines, check-ups and grooming for dogs and cats.
- Clinic: lab tests, ultrasound, surgery such as spaying and, in some cases, overnight care.
If you live in a rural area or an outlying neighbourhood (Concepción has 48 rural barrios besides its 24 urban ones, per Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), save two numbers, one near home and one in the centre, and call before you make the trip.
How to check that a vet is licensed
Under Law 6810/2021 and SENACSA Resolution 1434/21 (opens in a new tab), vets must register their degree with SENACSA and renew every year; renewal without surcharge closes on 31 March. A clinic also needs a registered veterinary technical adviser, a legally constituted business and a commercial licence, all filed with SENACSA (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). Malpractice or cruelty complaints go to SENACSA's Animal Health and Welfare directorate or to the public prosecutor.
In practice: ask the name of the vet treating your animal and make sure every vaccine goes in the booklet with stamp, signature and date.
If you keep cattle: the foot-and-mouth calendar
Concepción is ranching country, with a regional branch of the Asociación Rural del Paraguay and the Expo Concepción at the Campo de Exposiciones Nanawa, held 31 August to 6 September in 2026 (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). For producers, the date not to miss is foot-and-mouth (aftosa) vaccination:
- In 2026 the first national period was extended to 1 April by SENACSA Resolution 373, with registration until 8 April (La Nación (opens in a new tab)).
- In 2025 the second period, for calves and weaners, ran 19 May to 20 June and was extended to 4 July because of the weather (La Nación (opens in a new tab)).
Dates change every year and are sometimes extended because of rain, so confirm the current period with SENACSA and book your vet or agro-vet before it starts, not in the final week.
Concepción's heat and your pet
Summer highs can reach 42 °C (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). A vet interviewed by InfoNegocios in 2026 recommends (InfoNegocios (opens in a new tab)):
- Walk early in the morning or at dusk. If you cannot keep your palm on the ground for five seconds, it will burn your dog's paws.
- Never leave an animal shut in a car, not even for a minute.
- Take extra care with flat-faced breeds (bulldogs, boxers), cats that drink little, and rabbits and guinea pigs.
- Heatstroke signs: heavy panting, drooling, weakness, very red or bluish gums, vomiting or staggering. Move the animal to shade, wet it with cool (not cold) water and go straight to a vet.
Leishmaniasis: the yearly test
Leishmaniasis is spread by the sandfly known locally as karachã. In dogs it has no cure, no specific symptoms and can only be diagnosed by lab test (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). The advice: test at least once a year, use animal repellents, clear the yard of weeds and fallen fruit, and ask about the vaccine, available privately from three months of age.
What to ask before you go
- Is a vet on site now, or do they need to call one in?
- Do they treat your species? Birds, exotics and large animals are not seen everywhere.
- Can they come out to the farm, or do you need to bring the animal?
- How do they take payment? QR codes now handle 68.1% of Paraguay's electronic payments (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)), but a farm visit may still be cash.
If you plan to take your dog or cat to Brazil via Pedro Juan Caballero, book early: the international veterinary certificate requires a current rabies vaccine (at least 21 days after a first dose) and deworming within the previous 15 days (SENASA Mercosur summary (opens in a new tab)).
FAQ
How do I find a vet in Concepción, Paraguay?
Decide whether it is for a pet or for livestock. For dogs and cats, look for a practice or clinic; for farm animals, an agro-vet store with a SENACSA-registered vet. Call ahead to confirm someone is in.
How can I tell if a vet is licensed?
Vets must be registered with SENACSA and renew yearly (Law 6810/2021). A clinic also needs a registered technical adviser, a constituted business and a commercial licence.
When is foot-and-mouth vaccination?
SENACSA sets two periods a year whose dates change; in 2026 the first was extended to 1 April. Confirm the current period with SENACSA and your vet.
What should I do if my dog has heatstroke?
Move it to shade, wet it with cool (not cold) water and go to a vet urgently. Warning signs include heavy panting, drooling, weakness, very red or bluish gums, vomiting or staggering.
