| How To Choose The Right Veterinarian |
| Tuesday, September 2, 2008 |
Choosing a vet is an important part of your dog's life. The goal is to only use the vet for routine checkups and whatnot, but the reality is often much different. Especially when your dog is a puppy, and when he starts getting old. It is definitely worth the effort to research a doctor and to develop a good relationship before you need to make an emergency appointment.
How Do I Start?
You're probably thinking that you would start by looking online, or in the Yellow Pages, but I don't think that is the best way. This is a decision that could seriously impact your dog's quality of life, and yours by proxy. Taking a little extra time to make the right decision can mean a lot in the long run.
First place to start looking is with your family and friends. The best veterinarians get a majority of their clients from referrals. If someone has a good vet, they will be only too happy to tell you all about it. You just gotta ask.
The most important thing to remember when asking your friends and family for advice on a vet is to ask them who they recommend and WHY. The why is the most important part. If your brother likes his vet because it is right down the street from his house, but he lives in Timbuktu, that's not really helping you. Different people will also have different priorities in a doctor. Asking why will help you identify those with the same priorities as yours.
If you are mainly interested in providing a high level of care and not so much with location and price you should consider checking with local training clubs. Specialized clubs, like agility training or police K-9, are the best to look talk to. These are people whose top priorities include the health and well being of their dog.
What's The Next Step?
Now that we have talked to a few people and found the names of a few good vet's offices we should put together a list. Call the first name on the list and let them know you are looking for a regular vet for your dog. Ask when you can come down to meet the doctor(s) and introduce your dog.
Once you get to the clinic you will be trying to assess a few different things. You want to see your vet's general approach to health care. Ideally you will get a minute to speak to the vet and ask him a few questions. Some good questions you may want to ask include:
- How many vets are on staff. It helps to have more than one doctor, especially if you need to make an emergency appointment. There should be at least two veterinarians not including assistants.
- How much do they charge? Is it competitive with others you've heard of? Do they have payment options available in case of a sudden large bill? Vet bills, like doctor bills, can get big quick.
- Do they offer emergency call service. Many vet offices close at night and for the weekend. Some offices, who have extremely dedicated people running them, offer all hours care.
- What types of continuing education does the staff undergo. Advances in medical care are happening all the time, and that includes veterinary medicine. Doctors who keep up to date with industry specific periodicals and seminars are usually better candidates.
Choosing a vet is a balancing act between your different priorities. Level of care, convenience and price are all important factors. Take all into consideration. If you are having trouble deciding between clinics see which one(and which doctors) your dog seemed most comfortable around. Check the dog's body posture and look for his tail to be pointing straight out. The more relaxed the dog is the better his experience, and yours, will be.
Further Reading
To learn more about creating a healthy environment for your dog, including when your dog needs to see the vet, how to respond to emergencies, dog First Aid and all common health problems check out The Ultimate Guide To Dog Health. For a full review of what you will get with this guide Click Here |
posted by TheNieszGroup @ 9:11 PM   |
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| 1 Comments: |
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Thanks for the article! My wife and I just got two puppies and we adore them. We want to make sure we can provide for their well-being, and part of that is choosing the right veterinarian to take them to. Regular visits to the vet sound like they would be very beneficial in the long run if we want to keep these dogs for as long as possible. Thanks again! http://healthypetalaska.com/Meet%20The%20Staff.html
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Thanks for the article! My wife and I just got two puppies and we adore them. We want to make sure we can provide for their well-being, and part of that is choosing the right veterinarian to take them to. Regular visits to the vet sound like they would be very beneficial in the long run if we want to keep these dogs for as long as possible. Thanks again! http://healthypetalaska.com/Meet%20The%20Staff.html