Tips on How to Choose the Right Veterinarian for Your Pet

Choosing the right veterinarian for your pet is important because you need to feel you can trust the person you take your pet to for well visits as well as when it's sick. It is also important to feel comfortable with the staff and the cleanliness of the facility. Whether you have moved to a new area or you have adopted your first pet you will want to establish a relationship with a good veterinarian before an emergency happens to your pet.

Finding a Veterinarian

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a good veterinarian for your pet. But if you are new to the area you may not know anyone you can ask. In this case you should look at your local yellow pages or check for veterinarian listings on the Internet. The website for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) is a good place to look up a certified veterinarian. The website HealthyPet is also a good resource. Once you find a veterinarian you'd like to consider, call and make an appointment to visit the clinic.

What to Look For in a Good Veterinarian Clinic

Qualifications - Make sure the veterinarian graduated from a qualified school and check to see if he is board certified in other areas such as surgery, ophthalmology and cardiology. A good veterinarian will also continue his education after receiving a degree so check to see if he has the abbreviation ABVP after his name. This means he is certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.

Staff - Is the staff friendly to both you and your pet? Feeling comfortable with the staff is important in the event your pet has to stay overnight. Another important point to check is how many veterinarians are on staff. Having more than one on staff is helpful in the event your pet has an emergency.

Clinic - Make sure the clinic looks clean and organized. Check if they have their own x-ray and lab equipment and make note of the hours they are open. Find out what their emergency policy is in case you need to call after hours. Another important feature to check is whether or not they are certified by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). This means they have voluntarily been inspected to ensure the clinic is up-to-date with their education and equipment.

Cost - The cost of services and payment options are also important as veterinary services can be costly if your pet becomes sick. Ask for a list of cost of normal services. Also, check to make sure they take credit cards. Fees and services can vary from clinic to clinic so it is important that you know ahead of time what the veterinarian charges.

Once you have chosen a veterinarian clinic you will want to make a well check-up visit for your pet in order to establish your pet as a patient. This way, if an emergency occurs you will feel comfortable bringing your pet to the clinic.

Like children, pets can have incidents throughout their lifetime. Establishing a good veterinarian clinic will help bring you peace of mind every time you need to take your pet for medical services.