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Official FSVO documentation

All the official fact sheets and brochures from the FSVO (Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, formerly FVO) on keeping pets in line with the rules: needs, minimum legal space, good practices. Free documents, always up to date.

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Official documents, always up to date The links below open the PDF fact sheets directly on the FSVO website: this way you always have the version currently in force. For practical veterinary advice, see also our exotic pet fact sheets.

📄 Catalogue of PDF fact sheets

leaflet · 28.01.2025

You place the order. Your dog pays the price.

Awareness campaign against impulse-buying puppies online; to display/hand out at pre-adoption consultations.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
information notice · 02.06.2025

Dogs and the law

Summary of the keeper's legal obligations (identification, training, etc.); a basic reference for every new owner.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
information notice · 21.06.2017

Protecting your dog from the heatwave

Very useful to share every summer (heatstroke, cars); high sharing potential.

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1.3topic fact sheet · 09.05.2016

Kennels and boxes for keeping dogs

Keeping standards for boxes/kennels; for breeders and boarding facilities.

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1.4topic fact sheet · 09.05.2016

Correct keeping of tethered dogs

Legal framework for tethering; advice for the owners concerned.

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1.5topic fact sheet · 25.04.2024

Puppy yoga and similar activities

A topical subject (puppy welfare at events); a frequent client question.

🔗 View the fact sheet (FSVO) ↗
questions and answers · 19.02.2025

Questions and answers on dogs with docked tails or cropped ears

Ban on docked/cropped dogs and their import: a recurring question at the practice.

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2.3topic fact sheet · 30.03.2016

Restrictions on keeping and breeding hybrids (crosses between wild animals × dogs/cats)

Regulation of Bengals/Savannahs and wolf hybrids: a sensitive and frequent topic.

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article · 31.03.2017

Cats eat mice – yes, but not only that!

Diet of farm cats; an educational supplement.

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2.2topic fact sheet · 31.03.2016

Measures to prevent excessive breeding of pets

The case for spaying/neutering: a core focus of the practice.

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5.1topic fact sheet · 07.02.2024

Minimum enclosure dimensions for keeping rabbits

A practical reference for advising on exotic-pet keeping (the most requested).

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
5.4topic fact sheet · 07.02.2024

Gnawing objects for rabbits

Prevention of dental problems (relevant to consultations).

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16.2topic fact sheet · 02.06.2025

Humane killing of rabbits

Technical/euthanasia document; for information, mainly internal use.

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inspection manual · 13.10.2021

Animal welfare – Rabbits (inspection manual)

Technical reference document for inspections; advanced use.

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information notice · 27.02.2018

Guinea pigs and the law

Common exotic-pet keeping advice (a children's animal).

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
information notice · 07.07.2016

Parrots and animal welfare law

Social keeping is mandatory; permits for large psittacines.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
3.1topic fact sheet · 07.07.2016

Mandatory permit for keeping large psittacines

Macaws/cockatoos: information on the cantonal permit.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
information sheet (PSA) · 07.07.2016

African grey parrot (Congo African grey)

Detailed species fact sheet (PSA); keeping advice.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
information notice · 23.02.2016

Budgerigars and the law

Budgerigars: legal provisions (LPA/OPAn).

⛔ Document temporarily unavailable from the FSVO
advice sheet (PSA)

Budgerigar — PSA advice sheet

Keeping advice (aviary, diet, group living) — an external resource from Swiss Animal Protection (PSA). A practical supplement; it does not replace the legal notice « Budgerigars and the law ».

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
10.4topic fact sheet · 28.05.2026

Keeping hens as a hobby

Pet hens in the garden: keeping requirements (a reference for hobby backyard-poultry clients).

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
recommendation · 25.06.2026

Avian influenza — recommendations for hobby poultry keepers

Biosecurity and mandatory registration; useful during an epizootic outbreak.

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16.1topic fact sheet · 10.03.2026

Humane killing of poultry, pigeons and quail

Compliant killing methods (hens, quail).

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
4.1topic fact sheet · 07.02.2024

Use of Kangal fish (Garra rufa)

A special case (fish spa); uncommon but useful.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
topic fact sheet · 18.04.2023

Humane killing of fish

Technical document; internal use/experienced aquarists.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
18.7topic fact sheet · 25.07.2023

Fairs and shows with aquarium and pond fish

For aquarists and fair organisers.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
information notice · 27.02.2018

Ferrets and the law – the essentials in brief

The practice's exotic-pet speciality (Au Furet!); a flagship document to highlight.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
web page

Travelling with a pet (dogs, cats, ferrets) — requirements and checklist

Requirements for entering/leaving Switzerland, passport, microchip, rabies: very often asked about in pre-travel consultations. The checklist is built into the page (no single PDF).

🔗 View the fact sheet (FSVO) ↗
2.5topic fact sheet · 21.02.2022

Duty to inform regarding pet enclosures

Obligation to provide information when selling enclosures; concerns all exotic pets.

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13.2topic fact sheet · 07.02.2024

Compulsory training for keeping and handling certain animals

Which species require a certificate of competence: a frequent question.

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12.2topic fact sheet · 29.03.2022

Mandatory permit and training to organise fairs, markets and events involving animal trading

Framework for events; for organisers.

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12.4topic fact sheet · 26.09.2025

Looking after other people's pets

For boarding facilities, dog-sitters and pet-sitters among the clientele.

⛔ Document temporarily unavailable from the FSVO🔗 FSVO page: keeping and training ↗
2.1topic fact sheet · 17.09.2025

Mandatory permit and training for professional breeding

For breeder clients.

📄 Open the PDF (FSVO) ↗
good-practice guide

Good practice in animal shelters and boarding facilities (FSVO-ASFSA)

For shelter/boarding-facility partners.

⛔ Document temporarily unavailable from the FSVO🔗 FSVO page: keeping animals ↗

🐾 By species: FSVO fact sheet + our advice

Rodents & rabbits

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Rabbits

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Guinea pig

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Golden hamster

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Rat

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Gerbils

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

Birds

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Canary

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Budgerigar

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Parrots

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

Reptiles & fish

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Tortoises & turtles

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Aquarium fish

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗

Dogs, cats & ferrets

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Ferret

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Dog

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Cat

📄 FSVO fact sheet ↗🐾 Our fact sheet

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Printed brochures (federal shop) Some general-public brochures can also be ordered or printed via the federal publications shop ↗ :

  • My dog
  • Keep your eyes open before buying a dog!
  • Truf', come here...
  • Afraid of dogs? No!
  • Aquarium fish
  • Reptiles – Suitable enclosures and proper set-up
  • Keeping rodents and rabbits in line with their needs
  • Before travelling – Important information about pets

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Going further The FSVO home page Pets and wild animals ↗ and all the brochures & reports from the FSVO ↗.