My first adopted one was Ralph-a pit bull duschand mix.

At that time, I had no clue about how to decide on a veterinarian.

There were a lot of questions encircling me like how to determine which vet is best for your specific breed and after choosing one how to attest your decision.

It was further complicated by moving around to new places and search for the best veterinarian started all over from zero.

It can be daunting to find the perfect veterinarian for your pet especially if you are a new parent.

Below listed are some tips that can make this daunting task relatively easier.

Pre hand knowledge about your pet’s needs

Before visiting the veterinary practices, one should be aware of what they are looking for.

You should formulate the list of your and your pet’s priorities. It will help push you in the right direction.

The three main factors one should take into consideration are the age of the dog, breed and other health complications.

For instance, for older pets, a vet specializing in geriatric care would be suitable whereas for a smaller dog a general veterinarian would be sufficient.

The Practical Veterinarian Hunt

After marking out what you expect of from the vet, it is the time to start the research and line up few of them.

Trustworthy and widely claimed for vets are your first clue.

It is very common that a dog person also knows other dog parents as well.

So you can ask for their help in pointing out a good veterinarian for you.

However, if you are new at a place, you can always look up for online reviews and ratings of the various veterinarians in the area and choose the topmost.

Whether you are referred a vet by your acquaintance or found one of your efforts, it is very important to ensure that the practice is attributed to American Animal Hospital Association.

Although it is not a mandatory requirement by law, this affiliation depicts commitment to uphold extraordinary standards and excellence for care as well as services.

Schedule a Tour

After outlining a couple of potential vets, visit the facilities without your dog to get an idea of how the place feels itself.

All good practices are open to showing you around and making you feel welcomed.

There are certain things that need to be checked and considered during the visit to the veterinary facility.

• The proximity from your house and the outlook of parking space. Is the parking easy here?

• Cleanliness of the facility. Do you find the facility clean enough to entrust your dog in its exam rooms or any other area?

• Are there segregated waiting rooms for dogs and cats?

• Do people and animals present there in the waiting area are comfortable? Of course, they don’t have to be happy but are they at ease.

• Is the staff courteous and friendly?

Apart from analyzing the vibe of the facility, it is important to ask several questions to understand the full picture of the practice.

Prior to the visit, some questions can be jotted down depending on your priorities.

Apart from those, the following points should also be inquired.

• In case of need, does the vet refers to specialists as well?

• What is emergency that is available and referred to which facility in case emergency?

• Are the examining tests like x rays, blood transfusion done here or referred outside?

• Whether the overnight patients are monitored?

• Does this practice is in collaboration with any welfare organization?

The other important factors are proximity, available hours and prices.

The in-person visit should make you feel optimistic regarding the clinic as well as staff, hoping that you will have a great understanding of the veterinarian as well.

Communication is extremely important to ensure excellence in pet care.

Nonetheless, it is you who is going to tell the vet where is the problem.

Obviously, the dog will not speak up to give his history to the doctor.

It is very important that you are comfortable with asking questions and answering the queries. After all, humans will do all the talking and quality of care is dependent on effective communication.

Collaboration Between You and Your Vet

The relationship between you and your vet should be deemed as a collaboration for the wellbeing and health of your dog.

After all, that is the priority for both of you.

Changing Your Vet

After going through the extensive procedure of searching a vet, if one is not comfortable with the quality of care provided, there is no harm or foul in leaving your vet.

Just like any other business practices, most of the veterinary practices expect that patients come and go.

However, before leaving don’t forget to ask for the complete record of your dog’s health either faxed or mailed to you.