Finding a vet who "gets" an imported pet's history — how did you approach this?

Bring the full paper (or digital) trail with you — vaccination records, any treatment history, and the import/health certificate used for entry — and hand it over at the first appointment rather than waiting to be asked. Most vets are used to piecing together an imported pet's history from documentation rather than a verbal summary, so a complete written record does most of the work for you here.

Brought a full printed history plus asked our old vet for a summary letter. The new vet clearly appreciated having it all in one place rather than piecing it together themselves.

Following, my dog’s records are a mess spread across two countries too.

Building on that — the vet clinic itself also had prior experience with imported pets specifically, worth asking upfront rather than assuming any local vet will do.

Kwame, my dog's records were also spread over two countries and two languages, and what finally fixed it was asking our new vet to create one combined record at the first appointment. I brought everything, the old vaccination book, the import certificate and a summary from our German vet. She spent half an hour putting it into her system and gave me a printout. Now there's one record, in one place, and I don't carry a folder of papers to every visit.

Oliver, asking for one combined record at the first visit is exactly what I needed to hear. Booking that appointment this week.

Same experience with the cats. What I'd add: ask for a copy of the combined record by email as well as on paper. If you ever move again, or need an emergency vet at night, you'll want it on your phone.

Our vet translated the key points from the Italian records herself, which I thought was very kind. She said it's easier for her to do it once than to guess at every visit.

A copy on the phone saved us once at an emergency vet on a Sunday. Diego is right.

One combined record, on paper and on the phone. Taking notes.