Given how seriously FSME and fox tapeworm are tracked in Germany, covered in detail in the Health section, it's worth knowing where to buy prevention products once there. Basic tick-prevention products for dogs — tablets, spot-on treatments and collars — are sold through several channels in Germany: veterinary practices, pharmacies (Apotheken), and specialist pet stores such as Fressnapf, according to consumer-guidance reporting on where these products are typically available.

This is genuinely more flexible than a country where pet medicine is tied to a single type of retailer: a traveller who's near a Fressnapf branch, an ordinary Apotheke, or a vet practice all have a realistic chance of finding a basic tick treatment without planning a special errand. Products vary in how long they last, so checking with whichever retailer or pharmacist is nearest about the specific product's duration is worth doing rather than guessing from the packaging.

For anything beyond basic tick prevention — a stronger combined parasite treatment, or a specific medication for an existing condition — German veterinary medicine generally follows the same pattern as the rest of Europe: a prescription from a vet is required, so carrying a copy of any relevant prescription or vet letter from home is worth doing if a refill might be needed while travelling.