Veterinarians are plentiful, but good veterinarians are rare. The Houston Chronicle notes that there are several traits, both physical and mental, that benefit a vet. Not all vets go into it because of their love of animals. The best veterinarian you can find should display these traits. Moreover, they should be someone you can depend on to take proper care of your pet. It takes more than qualifications to make a great veterinarian. Here we’ll cover the things you should be looking for in your veterinarian search.
Know What You And Your Pet Need
Most of us pet owners are fans of making lists because it helps to keep us organized. Having a checklist of things you expect in your perfect vet is necessary before you even begin a search. Please consider your pet’s age, the breed, and any health concerns that may be affecting them. If you have a young puppy, you might want a vet that specializes in puppy care. On the other hand, if you’ve got an old cat, a vet who deals with geriatrics for pets might be a better option.
Additionally, it would help if you looked at the core things you want to see in a vet practice. Do you prefer a smaller practice or one that has a lot of clients? What about appointment times and rebookings for missed appointments? These factors can impact the choice of a vet as much as their specialty.
Starting and Narrowing Down the Search
Time for another list! The first place you’d get good vet recommendations is from others who have dogs or cats. If you have friends in the area, ask them about where they take their pets. Collect a few names and call the offices. Ask questions based on the criteria you outlined in the previous section. If you don’t have any close friends with pets in your city, you can always rely on Angie’s List or Yelp to help you locate one that suits your needs. Collecting the list and calling the vets will help you narrow down the choices even more. You want to have no more than three or four options at the end of this step.
Tour the Facilities
When you’ve narrowed down your vet count, you should take the time to visit each of them. You don’t need to take your pet along, but you should at least check out how their waiting room is scheduled and how they treat their patients. It would be best to note how easy or difficult it is to get from where you live. Having a separate waiting area for dogs and cats might be necessary, as is ensuring that staff is caring and compassionate.
Choosing The Right Vet
If you live in an urban area, you’ll probably have a pick of offices that you can take your pet to. It will take time to narrow down the vet that’s the right fit for you and your pet, however. Taking this time helps you to be better prepared for visits and take comfort in knowing that you chose the best out of the available choices. The well-being of your pet is your responsibility. Finding the right vet is worth taking the extra time to figure out whether they cater to you and your pet’s needs.
