Choosing a veterinarian for your pet is one of the most important processes you’ll go through in your pet’s life. The steps you should take to find the right vet are similar to those you go through finding a doctor.
The number one method I use for selecting any medical professional is to seek the advice of others. Ask around to other pet owners in your neighborhood, if you know any, to hear what they have to say about the best vets in the area. That’s what I did when I moved here and began adopting my pets; I asked a friend and cat-owner what vet she used, and that’s where I took my pets.
If you don’t happen to know anyone in your neighborhood who has pets, or if their vet doesn’t work for you for whatever reason, you still have other options for getting vet recommendations. Nowadays it is simple to find customer reviews of various services on the internet; even if you just look at the Google Maps listing for a vet, for example, you’ll probably see quick links to reviews of the vet.
Once you’ve visited a vet you can get ideas as to whether or not you want to stick with that particular practice. As I mentioned earlier, when I first moved here I took my pets to the vet that my friend used and recommended. We both liked the vet because it was a low-cost clinic, which kept down the price of routine exams and shots.
Although I was very satisfied with the bills at the end of my visits to this vet, I still usually left feeling a bit disgruntled. Sometimes you only get the service that you pay for, and that was how it worked in this case. The low-cost clinic only has the budget to employ one veterinarian, and the cheap bills attract a large clientele. I got the sense that sometimes leaves the vet feeling harried, and it showed.
Whenever I had questions about pet care, I always felt a bit rushed by the vet to get my questions over with. However, I was willing to overlook that to keep my vet costs down, until Chihiro had her ear problem. When I called my usual vet to set up an appointment for her, they couldn’t schedule her in for almost four weeks.
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I couldn’t leave Chihiro alone without her needing a cone to keep her from scratching herself, which hurt her ears.
I don’t mind having to wait a month or more for an appointment when it’s just time for a checkup and shots. But when I have an immediate health concern for my pet, I’d like to see the vet within a few days at most. That was the breaking point for me.
So I relied on additional information I’d received since first choosing my old vet, including new recommendations I’d gotten as I’d met more people. I had two new vet recommendations, including one for a vet only a few miles from my home. I called them first, and they were able to schedule Chihiro an appointment for the next evening.
I was very impressed with Chihiro’s new vet after our visit, something I might elaborate on in a future article. The process I used for finding a new vet displays a few other options to consider when picking a vet; geographical location might not be the most important factor, but if you have multiple good recommendations for vets, try out the one that’s closest.
It’s always good to know your vet is nearby in case you have an emergency. And remember: you don’t have to stick with a vet; if you become dissatisfied with yours for whatever reason, ask around for recommendations for a new one.
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