Doha - Post Report Question and Answers
Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Nannies/helpers can always be used for animal care but there are some boarding facilities. Decent vets so far it seems. We got a Doha special so haven’t had a lot of experience yet. It can be harder to bring in an animal depending on the local rules at the time. So many people abandon pets here it’s criminal. - Oct 2024
We got a dog in country. There are SO MANY pets abandoned here. If you want to get a cat or dog, I would just get one here. Vet services vary. It does get really, really hot and you have to walk dogs early morning or later in the evenings in the summer. We hired a helper who will stay with our dog when we travel. - Jun 2024
I believe you cannot ship a dog into Qatar if it is fewer than 11 months old. There is a lot of lengthy paperwork involved and of course money spent. We have a dog here and life could be better for her but it is what it is. Our villa has a small yard out back for her to go. Otherwise, she loves the speed bumps and small patches of grass within the compound to do her business on. Many expats here have dogs, cats, etc. We have used Barkers and Mittens for boarding, which has been great but with the Expo going on, we have had to find alternative means for boarding. We used Qatar Vet (Duhail) to help us get our dog home this summer and did I mention it was a LOT of paperwork and time involved? We have also recently started using Canadian vet and it has also been a good experience. Better parking options and the staff has less of an accent so for me, easier to understand. Royal Canine is the food of choice here and that is what we purchase (95QR for a 1.5kg bag). It is costly for the vet stuff but the animals are in good hands and the vets are all clean and pleasant. No quarantine for our pet upon arrival. Be cautious when you fly your pet in that he/she does not arrive on Thursday night or Friday. Otherwise, no one will be there to in process and they will sit there until business begins on Saturday. - Oct 2023
Yes. Lots of vets and dog walkers, etc. Pets have to fly in via excess baggage or cargo but Qatar Air really takes care of pets. - Jul 2022
We don't have pets, but a friend told me that the shipping from the States was really difficult. I really don't know, just that they do not need quarantine. I've seen a lot of dogs and cats for adoption here. - Apr 2021
There are many good and qualified vets in Doha. No quarantine required. Be mindful of the heat when bringing pets, as outdoor animals will find it difficult and dangerous to be outside for more than a couple minutes during the seven-month-long summer. - May 2017
Yes, there are some really great vets here--in particular Qatar Vet Center and the Canadian Veterinary Clinic. Both are good. I take my cat to QVC and have been very happy with the experience.
Animals do not need to be quarantined when they arrive.
Bringing an animal to Qatar, even in the summer, was much easier than I expected. Because you can't bring animals in cabin on Qatar Airways (except for service animals and falcons), all animals must be checked into cargo. Traveling here in the summer, I was worried that a summer heat embargo would apply, but Qatar Airways keeps their animals in air conditioned holding rooms on the U.S. and Qatar side, so they don't impose any summertime restrictions. U.S. airlines could take note of their good service on this front. - May 2017
No quarantine. There are a couple decent vets, but they're pretty expensive. The vets have boarding services. - Feb 2015
No. - Apr 2012
No. - Mar 2012
No. - Jan 2012
No. - Oct 2010
No. - Dec 2009
