Whether you’re moving to another state, or you’ve just adopted a new friend, here’s everything you need to know about finding a veterinarian and veterinary hospital that’s right for you.
It’s a good idea to choose an animal hospital that prides itself on meeting and exceeding the typical veterinary standards in the areas of:
- emergency services
- pain management
- contagious diseases
- surgery and anesthesia
- radiology services
- pathology services
- nursing care
- diagnostic capabilities and a well-stocked pharmacy
- dentistry (should have dental x-ray capabilities)
- examination facilities
- pet medical records
- housekeeping and maintenance
Ask your neighbors, friends and coworkers who they use
Get recommendations from friends or coworkers who feel the same way about their pets as you do. If you consider your pet a member of your family, ask people who think the same way.
If you’re moving far away
If you’re moving to another area, ask your current veterinarian for a recommendation. Area veterinary medicine associations also have lists of active members, often with special interests such as avian and exotic medicine.
Tour the practice
When you find an animal practice you think you like, ask for a tour. The hospital should be proud to show you its facility. During the tour ask yourself the following:
- Is it clean?
- Do the animals seem comfortable and safe?
- Are dogs and cats separated?
- Does the equipment look up-to-date?
- Is there too much clutter?
Schedule a “get acquainted” meeting
The worst time to find a veterinarian is when your pet becomes ill and really needs one. Instead, schedule a brief get acquainted meeting so you and your pet can meet with the veterinarian. This meeting will allow you to ask about hospital practices and determine if this hospital is the “right fit” for both you and your pet. An effective veterinarian-owner-pet relationship is a partnership and communication is key.
7 questions to ask a veterinary hospital
When considering a veterinarian, some basic questions you might ask:
- Can you request an appointment with a certain veterinarian? The answer should be yes.
- Do you have a large network of specialists if needed? The answer should be yes.
- What is your telephone policy? They should have educated staff available to answer your questions over the phone. But you should always be able to leave the veterinarian a message to call you back.
- What is your response to emergencies? If your pet has a serious emergency (automobile accident), the hospital should be able to see you immediately or arrange for your pet to go to another hospital that can.
- How long should I have to wait to schedule a routine appointment? Most practices should be able to schedule an appointment within a couple days, depending on how busy they are, and how urgent your pet’s needs are.
- What types of payment methods do you offer? Ask the practice to make sure that they are set up to accept the types of payments you need.
- Do you have an email system where I can schedule appointments and ask questions? An increasing number of practices offer online services. Ask to see if they offer these types of services.
Keeping your pet healthy is very important. But your veterinarian can’t do it alone. It’s up to you to work in partnership with your veterinarian to give your pet the care he/she needs to live a healthier, happy life.
