Travelling to this area with a dog is, on the whole, very easy. The problems that come up are always the same four, and all four are avoided with a well-packed bag and a bit of timing.

Ticks

Grassland and roadsides are full of them in spring and summer. Have the external parasite treatment up to date before you travel — it is not applied on the morning of the first walk — and check the dog every day, especially ears, neck, armpits and between the toes. A tick remover in the first-aid kit is worth its weight in gold.

Heatstroke

A parked car, midday sand and long walks with no shade: that is the combination that sends most dogs to the vet in January. Water always at hand, shade, and outings early in the morning or after 6pm. No walk around here is worth doing at midday in February.

Snakes

There are venomous snakes in the countryside around here, and a dog that puts its nose where it should not is the ideal candidate. Keep in mind that the CIAT protocol (1722) is for people: if your dog is bitten, the destination is a vet, as soon as possible, with no tourniquets or cuts and without making it walk more than necessary.

Water that is not for drinking

The lagoon water is brackish and the sea, obviously, is too. Neither will hydrate a dog; always carry fresh water. And if you see greenish water or a paint-like film at the shore, there may be a cyanobacteria bloom: no swimming, not even paddling, because afterwards the dog dries itself by licking.

Numbers to save before you set off

  • Emergencies / Police: 911
  • Protected area park rangers: 092 374 035 — injured wildlife, fires, incidents on the shore.
  • Fire brigade: 104
  • José Ignacio police station: 4486 2021
  • Pueblo Garzón police station: 4480 6003

Mobile signal is weak across much of the lagoon: save the numbers and, if you are walking far, tell someone where you are going. The rest of the contacts and protocols are on the emergencies page.

The nearest vets

There is no vet in the lagoon villages. The two nearest options are on the Maldonado side:

  • Veterinaria Rafael Cuadrado — Calle 28 y 49, Balneario Buenos Aires, on Ruta 10, a quarter of an hour from José Ignacio. Phone 4277 5689. Monday to Friday 9am–1pm and 3:30–6pm, Saturday 9am–1pm. For a routine consultation without driving into town; if it is closed, the next one is Clínica Veterinaria de La Barra (099 133 886).
  • Clínica Veterinaria López Quintana — 25 de Mayo 890, Maldonado, about 45 km away. 24-hour emergencies on 099 811 905; consultations by WhatsApp on 091 929 271. Open Monday to Friday 9:30am–7pm and Saturday 9am–2pm, with inpatient care.

The details are from September 2026 and come from public directories and each clinic’s own website: confirm them by phone before driving over, especially off season. With a dog, having these two numbers saved in advance is worth more than any other recommendation on this page.