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
Dog Gifts
and Toys for Dog Lovers.
Copyright 2004. All rights
reserved.
