Tips For Choosing a Veterinarian

Tips For Choosing a Veterinarian

It is essential in dealing with your pet’s health issues to have the right vet for your pet. Different veterinarians can specialize in certain types of pets, for example, there are distinct cat doctors or vets that specialize in snakes or other exotic creatures. There are also ones that are general practitioners that deal with all types of animals.

Below are a few tips for you to find the right veterinarian for your pet.:

• Look for a veterinarian as soon as you get your pet home. It is not a good idea to wait until your pet is ill before trying to find a vet. Just as with your own doctor, your pet needs to have a vet that it is comfortable with. Regular trips, even just for check-ups, can reassure your pet when it is truly in need.

• Of course you want to find a vet that specializes or is good with the type of pet that you have, but the best way to find a good vet is to ask around. Ask friends and other family members who they use for their pets or who they could recommend.

• Contact the top three choices and find out if you can take a tour of their facility before making a decision. Ask if you and your pet could possibly meet with them prior to making an appointment or commitment. You will want to see how the vet interacts with your pet and with you as well.

Ask for references you need to (other than those of your friends or relatives) to discover any if there is any bad background history

• Evaluate the premises at the vet’s facility. Be aware of how well the building is taken care of—if it is clean and properly kept? Are there separate sections for different types of pets—cats and dogs often react when in each other’s company and keeping them separate may be a bonus. Ask other pet owners in the waiting room how they feel about that vet. As them about waiting times.

• Find out what hours and times the facility is open. This may be crucial if your pet is sick and you need a pet doctor immediately.

• Note how far away the vet is from your home. Again, this may provide an important factor in your access to the vet. If your pet is hit by a car, for example, getting him to the vet as soon as possible could save his life.

• The veterinary clinic location can also be a concern for your convenience of bringing your pet to the vet. Is the location within an easy drive from home and work? Does it have parking? Is there an area nearby where you can walk your dog (for a quick pit- stop) before the visit? These factors can all play a part in your vet choice.

Ask the vet questions about his qualifications. Pretend you are an interviewer for a job and remember it is important that you find the right vet for your pet.

• Ask what special equipment the facility may have on site if your pet has a special need. This vet may offer on-site tests or treatments that may be beneficial. Sometimes certain treatments are out-sourced to another practice (which you may not like). Ask if they also provide emergency care for after hours because not all clinics do.

Ask if there is financial aid available if this were to become an issue (say if you pet develops cancer and needs treatments).

• Find out if this clinic has more than one vet on staff. Some clinics have multiple staff members and your pet may not always see the same person. Find out how it is decided who will look after your pet and if you can see the same person all the time. (This pertains to your pet’s comfort level by dealing with someone they already know when crisis times arise and your pet is ill.) Will your pet’s care be a team effort, and are you comfortable with that approach?

• Some vet clinics offer seminars and information videos on pet care. Does this one have resource materials that you can borrow to learn more about your pet and their care? Having these resources may indicate how concerned this vet is in the overall well-being of your pet.

It is also important to consider vet prices. Although you may think this will not be an issue, it is still important to compare apples with apples. Sometimes a price that one vet offers may include painkilling medication and monitoring while another’s vet’s prices won’t. Prices can also vary significantly due to their overhead costs.

Choosing the right vet for your pet before you really need it can help you and your pet when in a health crisis. You must remember that owning and taking care of a pet is a responsibility, but one that provides very satisfying rewards. Imagine yourself holding that sweet innocent animal that is looking to you to take care of all of its needs.

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