How to Choose the Right Vet for Your Pets

Pets and Vets

How do you choose the right veterinarian to care for your pets?

Choosing a veterinarian can be one of the most important decisions you can make for the health and wellness of your pet.

A good vet will be your partner in helping you make informed decisions about your pet’s health and well-being for their full life with you.

So, how do choose the vet that you can trust to give your pet the care you feel they deserve?

Why You Need a Veterinarian

Your pets will need regular check-ups, preventative care, treatment for disease and injury and, sometimes, emergency care. Building trust with your veterinarian is vital.

Vets provide vaccinations, wellness checks, nutrition advice, surgery, dental care, and early detection of conditions and disease for treatment. They are the stewards for the wellness of your pets.

Your vet will know not only the medical history of your pet but their temperament.

They will recognize changes in your pets that you may not recognize if they have happened gradually. They will have a better idea of what these changes could mean for the health of your fur babies.

Regular visits will help detect issues to prevent serious threats to the health of your pets.

So, naturally, you want a veterinarian that you can count on to give them the best care possible.

How To Choose a Great Vet

You will need to find a vet that you can trust. After all, these little balls of fur are members of your family.

You want the person who can give you knowledgeable advice. A qualified vet will do that.

But you also want someone that you feel comfortable with, who you can ask questions, who will explain your options clearly, and who you trust to have your pet’s best interest at heart.

You also want a vet that vibes with your pets. You want your pet to feel comfortable and safe in their care.

So, how do you make that choice?

Ask Around

Asking trusted family members and friends is a great place to start. If you know someone who has had great experiences with a vet, it’s reassuring. It can give you some leads into some really excellent vets in your area.

Online reviews are also a great resource.

Don’t just look at the ratings. Read the reviews so you can get a better idea of what stands out about a clinic.

Professionalism, friendliness and compassion of all the staff, cleanliness, and up-to-date knowledge can all be important factors in your decision.

Think about what’s important for you and your pet.

For instance, if you have a pet that is a nervous patient, finding a fear free certified clinic might be a good option for your pet.

A fear free vet practice receives specialized training, for all the staff, to recognize and manage pet anxiety and uses low-stress handling techniques.

We love this about our veterinary clinic. Even though Lucy actually enjoys her visits to the vet, Hunter is a nervous kitty. But they are patient with him and don’t push him out of his comfort zone.

We’ve noticed how gentle and kind all of the staff members are with our pets. They employ positive reinforcements using treats and soft words to reward and distract, creating a positive association with vet visits.

They even have soft music playing. Sometimes I think this is as much to calm the owners as the pets themselves. Maybe that’s just a happy coincidence.

While Hunter is still nervous, it’s probably more about the ride to the vet than his time at the clinic. The testament to this is that his ride home is calmer than his ride to the vet.

What’s important to you and your pet?

The right vet for you is the one that can make both you and your pet feel that they’re in the safe hands.

Does Your Veterinary Clinic Work for You and Your Pet?

There are lots variables to consider when it comes to choosing the right vet. Here are just a few:

Location and Hours:

Consider the clinic’s hours of operation and location. If it’s inconvenient to visit your veterinary clinic, is that really going to work for you and your pets?

You don’t have to choose the vet that’s closest to you. Choose the one that fits your life the best.

What is the back-up plan if your clinic is closed? Does the clinic have an option to provide you with after-hours care?

Our vet is a single practitioner. He can only be open so many hours a day.

While the clinic hours usually work for us, the clinic gives several options for care in case of an emergency or non-emergency care, such as the number for the nearest emergency clinic for emergency services, a telemedicine service for non-emergencies, and a 24/7 veterinary technician hotline to give advice on whether your pet needs emergency care.

Services:

Consider whether your vet provides the services your require.

Do you have an exotic pet? They will need specialized care and not all vets are qualified to accept them as a patient.

Do they provide in-house surgical procedures, dental cleanings and care, boarding services, or rehabilitation services?

Are these things critical for you and your pet?

Are there alternate arrangements that will work for you?

Comfort:

Don’t be afraid to arrange a visit potential vet clinics to speak to the staff and see the clinic.

Are the staff friendly?

Is the clinic clean and organized?

Would you feel comfortable asking questions or addressing concerns with the vet and the staff?

Some clinics have separate waiting areas for dogs and cats or staggered times to keep interactions with other pets to a minimum.

What steps does the clinic take to ensure your pet is as calm and comfortable as possible?

Knowledge and Technology:

Is the clinic using updated technology?

Are the veterinarians committed to professional development and continuing education?

Do they provide online resources to help you with booking appointments or finding more information about veterinary care?

Putting It All Together:

When we lived in the city, our vet clinic was just a quick walk across a park, or an even quicker car ride away from our house.

They had extended hours and several veterinarians on staff so getting appointments was simple.

Plus, by seeing a variety of vets, we felt that different ideas on treating our pets was a good idea. Collaboration can be a very useful tool.

But when we moved out into the countryside, we felt it was time for a change.

We needed a vet clinic that was closer to our new home. We found our new vet through our boarding kennel.

Though he is a single practitioner, with somewhat reduced hours compared to the other clinic, the new clinic’s hours can still accommodate our needs.

We found that we like the fact that we only see one vet. We know all the staff. They know us and, more importantly, our pets.

Our old vet clinic, while convenient, always seemed to have a different vet to see our pets. It felt as though every time we visited, we (and our pets) had to adjust all over again.

For a couple of “socially challenged” people, that had some major drawbacks.

Our vet knows our pets and how they behave. They know how to handle their little personality quirks.

We also like that our veterinarian is always learning and growing his knowledge. He stays up to date on the latest research and it shows.

Your vet is a partner in the health of your pet

Take the time to find a veterinarian who you can trust to give your pet the best care possible.

The fact is, you and your pets should be comfortable and feel secure with your veterinarian. Most of your visits will, hopefully, be with healthy and happy pets. It’s your vet’s mission to keep it that way for as long as possible.

They will help you make informed decisions about nutrition, exercise, and behavioural issues. They will advise you on preventative measures to keep your pet healthy and safe.

They will be there for you and your pet when they are sick or injured. They will advise you on possible treatment options and deliver that treatment.

Ultimately, they will be there when the tougher decisions are made. These are the decisions we don’t like to think about but that all of us, as pet parents, will face.

It’s pretty important to feel you can trust that your vet has your pets’ best interests at heart.

Trust in your vet is a vital part of the package so that you can have the peace of mind that your pets are going to receive the most knowledgeable and compassionate care possible. So, take the time to find someone who you feel will give the kind of care your pet deserves.