In this guide
If you need a vet in Caaguazú, save two contacts today: the clinic nearest your home and one that sees animals at night or at weekends. Before you go, call to confirm a vet is on site and say what species it is and what is wrong. If you keep livestock, also ask whether they treat cattle and make farm visits.
How to tell if a clinic is licensed
In Paraguay, Senacsa (the national animal health service) licenses veterinary clinics. A clinic needs a veterinary technical adviser with a professional registration (it can be the owner), must be set up as a registered business and must hold a commercial licence (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). In that report, Senacsa had about 300 registered clinics and estimated there could be twice as many operating irregularly; most complaints came from unlicensed premises.
Since Ley 6810/2021 ("Del Veterinario"), every vet must also register their degree with Senacsa and renew it each year, with 31 March as the deadline without surcharge (Ferrere (opens in a new tab)).
- Ask who the responsible vet is and ask to see the licence.
- If something goes wrong, complaints of malpractice or cruelty go to Senacsa's Animal Health and Welfare Directorate or to the public prosecutor (Fiscalía) (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
Pets or farm animals?
Caaguazú lives on farming, trade and services, and sits on Ruta PY02, 180 km from Asunción and 144 km from Ciudad del Este (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). So not every vet does the same work:
- Small animals: consultations, vaccines, deworming, surgery, overnight care. Ask whether they have lab tests or ultrasound on site or refer out.
- Large animals: if you keep cattle, pigs or horses, ask whether they make farm visits, what the call-out costs and whether they help with a herd health plan.
- Agro-vet shops (agroveterinarias): they sell feed and medicines; for a diagnosis, make sure a vet is actually seeing patients.
Watch out for bovine rabies: in April 2026 two cases were confirmed in cows in Paraguarí, and Senacsa had previously recorded outbreaks in Cordillera, Guairá, Concepción, Canindeyú, San Pedro, Central and Alto Paraguay. Senacsa was distributing free doses to all departments and asked farmers to report cases in their herds (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). If you suspect rabies in an animal, do not handle it without protection and alert Senacsa.
Which vaccines does your dog or cat need?
The Ministry of Health schedules rabies vaccination for dogs and cats from 3 months of age, with boosters at 30 days and 6 months, then once a year for life (MSPBS (opens in a new tab)). Take the vaccination booklet to every visit so the vet knows what is due.
If you travel to Asunción with your pet, two free services are available on the UNA campus in San Lorenzo:
- Free rabies vaccination at the Centro Antirrábico Nacional, Ruta Mcal. Estigarribia km 10.5, Monday to Friday 07:00–22:00 and weekends and holidays 07:00–19:00 (MSPBS, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Free leishmaniasis testing for dogs from 6 months, first come first served. Warning signs include weight loss, skin lesions, overgrown nails, swollen lymph nodes and nosebleeds (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
Heat: preventing heatstroke
Summer in Caaguazú reaches about 42 °C (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). A vet quoted by Infonegocios (2026) (opens in a new tab) advises walking dogs early or at dusk, testing the ground with your palm (if it burns within five seconds, it burns their paws) and never leaving them in a car, not even for a minute. Flat-faced breeds such as French bulldogs, English bulldogs and boxers are at higher risk.
Warning signs: heavy panting, drooling, weakness, very red or bluish gums, vomiting, diarrhoea, staggering or collapse. Move the animal somewhere cool, wet it with cool (not cold) water and get to a vet urgently.
Is it an emergency? What to do first
Go straight in if your pet is struggling to breathe, having seizures, has eaten something toxic, is bleeding heavily, has been hit by a vehicle on the highway or cannot urinate. While one person drives, another calls the clinic with the species, rough weight and what happened. For poisoning (rat poison or a farm chemical), bring the container or a photo of the label.
For complex cases, ask your vet where they refer. The veterinary hospital of UNA's Faculty of Veterinary Sciences is at Ruta Mcal. Estigarribia km 11.5, San Lorenzo (FCV-UNA (opens in a new tab)).
Costs and what to ask for
Before surgery or an overnight stay, ask for a quote. Paraguay's consumer law, Ley 1334/98 (opens in a new tab), requires the price including taxes, the payment method and how long the quote is valid (art. 15), and any extra cost must be communicated beforehand (art. 16). Ask whether they take QR, cards or transfers, and ask for an invoice (factura).
FAQ
Is there an emergency vet in Caaguazú?
Hours vary by clinic. Save the number of one that works nights or weekends and call ahead to confirm a vet is on site.
How do I know a vet clinic is licensed?
Senacsa licenses clinics, which need a veterinary technical adviser with a professional registration. Ask who the responsible vet is and ask to see the licence.
When should my dog get its rabies vaccine?
From 3 months, with boosters at 30 days and 6 months, then once a year, according to the Ministry of Health.
What if I suspect rabies in a cow?
Do not handle it without protection and alert Senacsa. In 2026 Senacsa asked farmers to report cases and was sending free doses to every department.
