Switzerland: 2025 Annual Report of the Zurich Veterinary Office

The Veterinary Office of the Canton of Zurich has published its 2025 annual report, providing an insight into its various areas of activity.   

The dog legislation, which was revised in 2025, introduced new training requirements. All dog owners must attend a practical training course. For first-time dog owners and those whose last time owning a dog was more than ten years ago, a theory course with a final examination is also mandatory. A ban on the acquisition of new Rottweilers was also implemented in 2025. For Rottweilers already owned, an ownership permit had to be applied for by the end of June 2025. The licence required a successful temperament assessment based on the Zurich obedience test. Due to the ban, the number of Rottweilers kept fell from around 350 at the end of 2024 to 295 at the end of 2025.   

In addition, the Veterinary Office places a particular focus on children in the area of dog bite prevention. To this end, it offers a course for nursery schools and primary schools, in which children are taught how to interact with dogs correctly. In 2025, this course was used more frequently than ever before, with 295 sessions held. 

In the area of animal diseases, bluetongue, avian influenza and African swine fever are among the most significant diseases. In the canton of Zurich, bluetongue persisted and, despite vaccinations, led in some cases to severe illness resulting in animal losses. Avian influenza remained present and was also detected in wild birds in 2025. Thanks to preventive measures, transmission to domestic poultry was prevented. Newly emerging diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease led to control and surveillance measures across Europe. These developments underscore the ongoing importance of early detection, prevention and international cooperation for effective animal disease control.