What clinched it for us was the combination of excellent reviews and easy access from the A2. We needed a solution that wouldn\u2019t mean a big detour or more stress. We weren\u2019t aiming for the perfect clinic in Spain\u2014we just needed someone who could see us quickly, handle it sensibly, and, ideally, in English.<\/p>\n\n
A vet near Madrid: the SANIVET clinic in Guadalajara<\/h2>\n\n
We managed to park almost right in front of the clinic, which we found easily thanks to the satnav and clear street signage. When we walked into the waiting room, there were maybe two other clients with their pets ahead of us. One of the staff came over, but when she realized our Spanish was about toddler-level, she called the doctor himself, who spoke English.<\/p>\n\n
We briefly explained what was going on. True to his terrier nature, Ibo greeted the doctor enthusiastically. It turned out the doctor once had a fox terrier too, so the feeling was mutual. That harmony ended the moment he touched Ibo\u2019s ear\u2014he growled, just as he had with us the night before.<\/p>\n\n
At that point it was clear the problem was real, not just a fleeting irritation.<\/p>\n\n
A suspected foreign body in the ear<\/h2>\n\n
The doctor quickly shared his hunch. He said Ibo would likely need to be put under to find out what exactly was in the ear. From the start, he suspected a foreign object lodged in the ear canal.<\/p>\n\n
I\u2019ll admit, I hesitated. Putting a dog under anesthesia a few hours before a long flight to South America didn\u2019t sound like a good idea\u2014especially since we hadn\u2019t ruled out other possible causes of Ibo\u2019s irritation.<\/p>\n\n
We agreed the doctor would first try to examine the ear without anesthesia. Unfortunately, that didn\u2019t reveal a clear cause. The only option left was to look deeper into the ear canal, and that simply couldn\u2019t be done without anesthesia.<\/p>\n\n
For this kind of exam, the dog has to be completely still\u2014not only to avoid a needless struggle with an irritated animal, but also because even small movements during an inspection of the deeper ear canal or the eardrum can cause damage.<\/p>\n\n So we agreed to go ahead with anesthesia. In response to our questions, the doctor reassured us that the medication used shouldn\u2019t have a negative impact on the flight.<\/p>\n\n That didn\u2019t make it an easy call. When you fly with a dog, you try to keep the final hours before departure as calm as possible\u2014no extra interventions, no stress, no uncertainty. Suddenly we were doing the exact opposite.<\/p>\n\n Once the anesthesia was given, Ibo went down fairly quickly and, in under five minutes, was in a deep sleep. The doctor began examining the deeper parts of the ear canal.<\/p>\n At first it seemed like there was nothing unusual to find. Then, a few minutes later, he pulled the first grass awn out of Ibo\u2019s ear. And within a minute, a second one.<\/p>\n\n We were surprised, and also a little relieved. The procedure had clearly been worth it, and the problem had a concrete, fixable cause. It was obvious Ibo would finally get some relief.<\/p>\n\n After the successful procedure, all that remained was to wake Ibo up. The nurse gave him an intramuscular injection, and the doctor expected he\u2019d come around within five minutes.<\/p>\n\n When Ibo still wasn\u2019t waking after ten minutes, we got a bit nervous. Another injection followed, but that didn\u2019t do the trick either. In the end, the five-minute wake-up turned into roughly thirty\u2014but by the time we left, we did manage to get Ibo back on all fours.<\/p>\n\n We said our thanks, paid 147 euros for the procedure, and set off for Madrid\u2019s airport feeling a little more at ease.<\/p>\n\n Ibo was clearly still feeling the effects of the anesthesia for a few more hours, and even when he was being loaded onto the plane he wasn\u2019t quite himself. Despite that, his transport went smoothly in the end.<\/p>\n\n And in that moment, that was what mattered most.<\/p>\n\n Flying with a dog is logistically demanding and always a bit stressful. That\u2019s why it pays to avoid any extra complications\u2014and if a health issue does appear, it\u2019s wise to deal with it as early as possible. The closer you get to departure time, the less room there is for recovery.<\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ibo.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-25-at-12.02.39.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\nAnesthesia a few hours before a long-haul flight<\/h2>\n\n
An unexpected surprise<\/h2>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ibo.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-25-at-12.02.37.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWaking up from anesthesia and heading for the airport<\/h2>\n\n
On to Madrid, this time with calmer nerves<\/h2>\n\n
What we\u2019re taking away from this<\/h2>\n\n