Finding a Vet

Just like professionals in any field, there are good veterinarians and there are bad veterinarians. The best vets are ones that are referred to you by satisfied friends, but there are a few other things you can look for:

1. Location and hours. The best vet isn’t going to be of much use to you if you can’t make any of his office hours. How close is the vet’s office to you, and does she have appointments available on nights or Saturdays? What’s available for after-hours emergencies? Most clinics refer you to a nearby 24-hour emergency hospital and don’t offer any method of connecting with your vet in an emergency that takes place after regular business hours, but if your vet practices alone, you may have a way to reach him.
2. Personality. Is the vet friendly and interested in your pet? Do you feel comfortable with her as a person? You want a vet who’s open to answering all your questions, and who takes your concerns seriously. If you have trouble understanding what they’re suggesting, even after repeated questioning, you might want to try someone else who’s more invested in making sure you know what’s going on.
3. Knowledge. Does the vet appear knowledgeable? Do his suggestions sound similar to what other dog people/vets have recommended, and if not, can he explain to you how he arrived at his suggestions/diagnosis? Does your vet keep up with regular veterinary research, and is he willing to photocopy information on your dog’s disease for you?

   Keep in mind that it’s not just what your vet knows, but what he doesn’t know, and whether he’s aware of his shortcomings. A vet who readily admits he doesn’t know about your particular dog’s problem, and refers you to a more specialized practitioner (with whom he’ll work in treating your dog), will be of far more use to you than the vet who gives you inaccurate or incomplete information because they don’t want to lose your business.

4. The staff. Just because you found one vet you liked, doesn’t mean your search is over. A vet who practices in a clinic or hospital may not be available every day. Most vet clinics have a couple of rotating staff veterinarians, so you should go in at different times to try them out. In an emergency, you would have to take whatever vet is on duty that day. Do the vets appear to be fairly consistent in their treatment of your pet, and do you feel equally comfortable that all of them would do what is best for your pet?

   Don’t neglect the vet techs either. In many hospitals and clinics, the vet techs are the ones who handle nail trims and dental cleanings. They should, at a minimum, understand how to deal with a variety of dogs and personalities, and be able to subdue, muzzle, or calm down your pet. When you find something wrong with your pet, and aren’t sure whether it’s worth a trip to the vet, the techs are the ones who talk to you on the phone and tell you what you should do.

Also, don’t forget to find out the location of the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic to you, and keep the phone number and address handy. Emergencies don’t wait for regular office hours, and you’ll want to know where you can go, even if it’s just to call and ask if your dog needs to come in or if he can wait for your regular clinic to open.