Tips for Finding a Good Veterinarian
A Guide to Locating a Veterinarian and Using Vet Finder Websites
Sep 10, 2008
Part of responsible pet ownership involves routine veterinary care. Yearly wellness checks for pets can help diagnose disease and illness early on, when it’s easier and less expensive to treat. And yearly pet vaccinations are required as well to ensure a pet’s health through the years.
But many new pet owners are faced with the dilemma of locating a new veterinarian and as with human health care, it’s not as simple as picking a listing in the phonebook or on the yellow pages website. There are certain things that every pet owner should take into considering when searching for a veterinarian for a dog, cat, small animal, exotic, reptile, bird or livestock.
Consider the following tips when locating a veterinarian to care for your pet.
- References from friends, family members and fellow pet owners are among the best way to find a good veterinarian. A pet owner who is happy with his veterinarian will be more than willing to provide a reference.
- Veterinarian finder websites and the Yellow Pages offer another option for locating a veterinarian for routine care. This is good for locating a veterinarian, but a bit more investigation is required when locating a vet to perform routine care for a pet.
- Pet owners should investigate a veterinarian’s treatment style. Pet owners should request to speak with a few current patients for a reference. A good vet will also not have any qualms if a potential client asks to sit in on an examination. A brief interview with the veterinarian is also recommended, to get a better idea of the vet’s style and treatment philosophies. If the veterinarian is not willing to provide references or meet for a brief interview, then this is a red flag; is this a vet who will best suit a particular pet owner’s needs?
- Simply stated, not every veterinarian’s style is a good match for every pet and pet owner. A veterinarian’s personal style and interaction methods are very important. Some veterinarians are adept at offering explanations on each and every aspect of a pet’s care, while others tend to assume that a pet owner understands the situation unless he/she brings up a concern. A pet owner who does not have a background in medicine may not understand many elements of veterinary care and are therefore likely to have many questions concerning his pet’s health. This type of pet owner should seek out a primary veterinarian who has good “people” skills who can offer good explanations to the layperson. When meeting a veterinarian and sitting in on an examination, pet owners should pay attention to the vet’s communication style and assess whether this fits their needs.
- Pricing is another consideration. To get an idea of the veterinary clinic’s pricing, which can vary dramatically, ask about the clinic’s standard office visit fee. The average varies dramatically by region, so pet owners should not hesitate to call around to determine what’s average and acceptable for the area.
- Locate an emergency veterinary facility in the area. Emergencies tend to arise after hours and on weekends and during an emergency is no time to find a vet. So before a pet emergency arises, pet owners should become familiar with the location of a 24-hour facility in the region and it should be verified that the clinic is equipped to handle a particular type of pet – not all veterinary clinics treat all animals.
- When adding a new bird, small animal or exotic to the family, pet owners should call their current veterinarian’s clinic to see if treatment is available for their new pet. Veterinarians who treat cats and dogs do not always treat other species. When appropriate, opt for a specialist in the area for avian veterinary care, care of small animals, reptiles and exotics. There is an array of specialized veterinarian finder websites available for pet owners who are seeking equine veterinarians, avian vets, reptile vets, vets who treat exotics, small animals, livestock and other animals who don’t happen to be canines or felines.
Locating a veterinarian that can properly accommodate the needs of a pet and the pet owner is a vital part of responsible pet ownership. Pet owners are encouraged to take a proactive stance when it comes to the care of a pet and this means finding a vet in advance of a veterinary emergency.
Related Reading
Pet owners who found this article interesting may also enjoy Signs of a Sick Dog, and Signs of a Sick Cat, along with Signs of a Sick Rat.
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