We love our pets and any pet owner would do whatever it takes to keep their pet safe and healthy, and this is why it is vital to find a great vet and stay in touch with them. I am very fortunate to have the AV veterinary center right around the corner who have some of the best vets I think I have ever had the pleasure of using, and it gives me enormous peace of mind that should my 2 dogs require anything, that we have a high level of animal care close by. When we talk about a great vet there are some key things to watch out for, and this is what I consider to be someone who does a great job.
Handling
Believe it or not there are many vets out there who understand animal biology perfectly well but have very little empathy when it comes to handling the pet. This is tough to watch and if you do find a vet like this then I’d say don’t return. What you are looking for here is a vet who will take care of your pet, from the moment that they walk into the surgery to the moment that they leave.
Quick Appointments
Not all appointments are made for an emergency and you will of course expect to wait a short while, what you should not expect however is a 10 day wait to get in to see a vet. At the most you should wait for 2 or 3 days on average for a non-emergency appointment, any longer than that and you can safely assume that they are not managing things well, they don’t have enough staff or that hey are simply asking on too many patients, which means that animals could be getting rushed through their treatment. Don’t accept long wait times.
In-House
I appreciate that there are some treatments which need to be completed at an animal hospital where they have more space and resources, but your vet should be ablate deliver 90% of the treatments within the clinic. I have heard many stories from friends and co-workers about vets who constantly refer patients to another place, if this keep happening then it is clear that the clinic isn’t fit for purpose and you should look to go elsewhere, even if the vets working there are great.
Price
I am never on the hunt for a cheap price when I look for a vet, but I do expect reasonable and competitive prices and so should you. A simple search online for certain treatment options will bring up the average price which you should be looking at, and that is a great rule of thumb. If the price is way off what you expect then you may have to think about looking for some treatment elsewhere.
Make sure that you get a vet who loves and cares for your pet just as much as you do.