If you live in Dubai with a pet, you already know the search for a reliable vet can feel overwhelming. The city has no shortage of options, but finding one that handles everything — from a first puppy vaccination to post-surgical recovery — in one place is rarer than you’d think. PetsFirst City Walk has become the go-to for thousands of Dubai pet parents, and once you see what this clinic actually offers, it makes complete sense.
Here’s an honest look at what sets it apart.
Your Pet’s Legal Requirements, Sorted in One Visit
Dubai takes pet ownership seriously, and the law reflects that. Microchipping is mandatory for all pets under Dubai Municipality regulations. Rabies vaccination is legally required every year, with a colour-coded ID tag issued upon registration. Add deworming to that list, and you’re looking at three separate compliance obligations before your pet can move freely in the emirate.
In practice, many owners scramble across multiple clinics to complete these requirements. At PetsFirst City Walk, microchip implantation, rabies vaccination, deworming, and pet passport issuance are bundled into a single all-inclusive package. One visit, one price, everything covered. Book your puppy or kitten vaccination appointment at City Walk to get the full compliance process started from day one.
WSAVA Vaccination Protocol: What It Means in Practice
PetsFirst City Walk follows the WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) vaccination guidelines, the small animal equivalent of WHO standards for human medicine. These represent the most current, evidence-based recommendations available and shape vaccination decisions at leading practices worldwide.
For dogs, the core vaccine covers DHPPIL (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis), alongside mandatory annual rabies. Cats receive the PCH vaccine (panleukopenia, calicivirus, herpesvirus) and annual rabies. Puppies and kittens follow a primary series of two or three visits spaced roughly four weeks apart, beginning no earlier than eight weeks of age.
One practical point worth knowing: if a third vaccination visit is medically necessary to guarantee full protection, that visit is provided at no extra charge. The schedule is determined by your veterinarian based on your pet’s individual needs, not applied uniformly to every animal. If you need to reschedule, a few days later than the recommended date is acceptable; booking earlier than advised is not, so check with your vet before moving an appointment.
For dogs that visit parks, beaches, or boarding facilities, Kennel Cough vaccination is strongly recommended as an additional measure, though it sits outside the standard package.
Parasite Control Built for Dubai’s Climate
Internal Parasites
Intestinal worms are more prevalent than most pet owners realise. Certain species are zoonotic, meaning transmission to humans is possible, with young children representing the highest-risk group. No preventative product exists; regular treatment is the only effective strategy. PetsFirst recommends a deworming tablet every three months, timed to Dubai’s climate and parasite burden. Book dog deworming or cat deworming at City Walk to keep your pet on schedule without the guesswork.
External Parasites
A common mistake is treating tick control as seasonal. In Dubai’s warm climate, ticks are a year-round concern and are classified as disease vectors that transmit Ehrlichia through their bite. Seasonal approaches work in temperate climates; they fall short here.
Multiple product formats are available to match your pet’s lifestyle: spot-on solutions, oral tablets, four-week duration treatments, and three-month options. Your vet will help you select the right format based on your pet’s behaviour, skin sensitivities, and your own preferences around application frequency.
Surgery: From Pre-Op to Recovery
Dogs and Cats
When your pet needs surgery, the pre-surgical process follows a structured protocol. Your pet is admitted at a dedicated pre-anesthesia check appointment scheduled several hours before the procedure. A veterinarian performs a nose-to-tail examination, reviews the surgical plan with you, and answers your questions before anesthesia is administered.
Fasting follows evidence-based guidelines: food withheld six to eight hours before surgery, water two to four hours before. For early afternoon procedures, a light snack between 6am and 8am is permitted. Bringing a familiar blanket, toy, or bed helps your pet settle during recovery.
Two follow-up visits are included in the surgical package: the first at 48 to 72 hours to assess comfort and recovery, the second at seven to ten days for wound assessment and stitch removal if needed. PetsFirst does not routinely prescribe antibiotics for clean elective surgeries, reflecting current best practice in preventing antibiotic resistance and unnecessary gastrointestinal upset. Pain relief is always provided at discharge.
Rabbits
Rabbits require a fundamentally different approach, and that distinction matters clinically. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits are not fasted before surgery. Food and water remain available right up until the procedure, because maintaining gut motility under anesthesia is critical to rabbit recovery.
Owners are encouraged to bring their rabbit’s preferred water bottle and regular diet: hay, pellets, leafy greens, vegetables, whatever they normally eat. Restoring appetite quickly after surgery is one of the most important markers of successful recovery in this species. The same two follow-up visits apply, and owners must monitor the wound twice daily at home, with strict rest enforced for ten days. If appetite or normal activity has not returned within 24 hours of surgery, contact the clinic directly rather than waiting.
Professional Grooming in a Demanding Environment
Regular grooming in Dubai carries a health dimension absent in many other climates. Pollution and environmental allergens accumulate on your pet’s coat and skin, and skin infections are a genuinely common outcome of poor grooming habits here. Most are preventable with consistent professional care using pet-specific shampoo; the pH of human products differs significantly from what pet skin requires, and using the wrong product causes damage rather than preventing it.
If your pet has surgery scheduled, a full groom two to three days beforehand ensures clean, dry skin going into the procedure. Book professional dog grooming or cat grooming at City Walk directly online or through the PetsFirst app.
Managing Dubai’s Summers
Anyone who has walked a dog in Dubai during peak summer knows the pavement can reach temperatures that cause paw pad burns within minutes. PetsFirst recommends early morning or late-night walks during summer months, or using air-conditioned daycare facilities available across the city. This guidance is built into how the clinic approaches year-round pet welfare, acknowledging that Dubai’s environment creates real health challenges that owners in cooler countries simply never face.
Everything in One App
The PetsFirst app, available on the App Store and Google Play, lets you manage appointments, track vaccination schedules, and access your pet’s medical records from your phone. It sends reminders so nothing slips through, and you can book directly through it or via petsfirst.ae.
Ready to Give Your Pet the Care They Deserve?
PetsFirst City Walk covers the full spectrum: legal compliance, vaccinations built on WSAVA-standard protocols, parasite control calibrated to Dubai’s climate, surgery with structured pre- and post-operative care, professional grooming, and practical guidance for life in this environment.
If you want a clinic that treats your pet as an individual and gives you straight answers, this is where to start. Book a consultation at City Walk and see it for yourself.