Most dogs live between ten and seventeen years. The
relationship you have with your veterinarian is going to be a
long one. It’s a worthwhile investment of your time and
energy to shop around carefully to find a vet whom you’ll be
comfortable with for years. If you don’t feel that you can
communicate openly and honestly with your animal doctor,
then keep searching.
The first thing you should look for in a vet is someone who
you believe will be able to communicate with you. This
person’s first job will be to diagnose what’s ailing your dog
or to try and figure out why your pet is behaving a certain
way. Next, the vet should be able to explain the problem to
you in a way that you can understand. The vet should then
be open to any questions you need answered until you feel
fully satisfied and confident that you know what your dog
needs and how you can take care of it. You shouldn’t stop
searching until you find a vet who is both qualified and
personable enough for you.
There are many resources to help you find the best
veterinarian. No matter where you live, start out by asking
friends or other family members. You might ask questions
such as: Who do you use? Does he explain what’s ailing
your animal clearly? Is he good with certain breeds? If they
know of a qualified vet, they may save you a lot of
searching.
Another option, growing ever popular, is an online search.
Many chat-rooms, newsgroups and clinic web pages are
both valuable and innovative methods of assessing what’s
available. Additionally, if you can find the contact
information to a private rescue clinic (many of which are not
in the phone book) online, you may be able to ask them
which vets they have worked with.
Once you have a list to choose from, you can call or even
visit different clinics. You first question should be in regard
to their office hours. Are they open late? Do they have an
emergency service phone number available? Are they open
on weekends? Again, this would be just in case there’s ever
an emergency.
Next, assess the staff. This may be hard over the phone,
because like any medical facility, they’re often busy places.
So, it may be best to do this in person. Are they friendly,
knowledgeable and helpful? Are they used to handling
animals, especially dogs carefully? If your dog is large, can
they handle him without injuring or frightening him more?
One ingenious way to find this out is to schedule a “nail
clipping” appointment. Don’t test ten different veterinary
clinics in one week, as this will tire your dog excessively.
Visit the clinic for a preliminary test of all that has been
stated. This will get you on the “inside” and will help you
make a well-founded, first-hand appraisal of the clinic and
its faculty.
There are a few final issues to resolve before your
assessment is over.
- Is the clinic is a multi-doctor clinic, or a one-person show.
- If there are many doctors, can you choose a veterinarian
who will work with you and your dog exclusively?. - What are the charges for basic services (vaccinations, nail
clipping)?. - What types of payment do they accept?.
- Are there low cost vaccinations available?.
- Are the veterinarians on staff a part of any continuing
educational programs?. - Is the facility up-to-date with the latest practices and
technology (diagnostic, surgical, laser, ultrasound, and
aftercare services)?. - Will they allow you to tour the boarding facilities?.
- Are these facilities clean?.
Again, getting an inside view of the place will help you
answer all of these questions both quickly and accurately.
Finally, if you feel like you’ve found your new veterinarian,
celebrate! This was an important step in making your dog
part of the family. Rest assured that you have done your
part for your pet’s well being.
About the Author:
Tina Spriggs is an expert dog lover whose lifelong interest in canines provides the motivation for her site. To learn more about dogs or to find gifts and toys for them visit her site at
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