Veterinary Care Basics
- 1. How to Tell if a Cat or Dog May Need Veterinary Care
- 2. Choosing a Vet
- 3. Basic, Commmonly Used Drugs
- 4. Veterinary Specialists
- 5. Can Your Dog Be a Blood Donor?
- 6. Getting the Most Out of Your Pet's Veterinary Visits
- 7. Holistic Pet Care
- 8. Medical Procedures on Young Animals
Choosing a Vet
Dr. Chris Newman, Belle Mead, NJ
It can be difficult to know what to look for when looking for a Veterinarian for your pet. You may have moved and left behind a vet with whom you have great rapport or you may have a new pet and are overwhelmed by all those big ads in the yellow pages. While there is no magic formula to guarantee a positive experience and high-quality care for your pet, there are a few ways to simply evaluate the hospital and veterinarian you choose.
Ask friends for recommendations
Before making an appointment you should check with friends and
neighbors who own pets. Find out who they use and why. It is a
good idea to get several different opinions since no one person
will be liked by everyone. You want to get a sampling of
opinions.
A visit to the clinic
Next, visit the clinic before making the appointment. The staff
should be happy to answer any questions about the practice. It is
also legitimate to request a tour at a time that is mutually
convenient. There may be times of the day when a tour is not
advisable but your request should be granted at some point.
The staff
Evaluate the front office staff? Are they helpful? Friendly? Do
they acknowledge you when you walk in or are you ignored? What is
the overall appearance of the clinic? Is it clean? Odor free?
What is the attitude of the staff toward the other clients who
may be present? How about to those on the other end of the phone
line? You can learn a lot by just observing.
Your first appointment
If you make the appointment you will have a chance to meet with
the doctor and the assistants. (Of course, you may have already
met some of these people if you stopped in the office). You
should evaluate these people in the same manner as previously
described. Are the assistants helpful and friendly? Are they kind
to your pet? Are they rough in handling the animal or gentle?
Meeting the veterinarian
How about the doctor? Does he/she take time to listen to your
concerns? Are you given enough time to explain and ask questions?
How is his/her rapport with your pet? Does he/she talk to your
animal and try to establish a relationship before starting the
exam? Is your pet called by name? Does the doctor take time to do
an exam and address your concerns? Do you feel comfortable asking
questions? Are you questions answered?
If your pet is ill or if some type of in-hospital procedure is required is everything well explained?
Make sure you communicate your needs to the doctor
It is always appropriate to ask specific questions about
procedures, medications, anesthetics etc. It is also a good
idea to tell the doctor exactly what you expect. If you treat
your pet as a family member and want the doctor to feel free to
do whatever he/she feels is necessary you should say so. If
finances are a major concern that should be mentioned at the
outset so there will be no surprises.
If tests have been run, do you receive the results promptly? If you leave a message for the doctor, do you receive a reply in a reasonable amount of time?
You might also want to ask about the clinic's emergency policy and how they handle referrals to specialists and second opinions.
Above all, you should be comfortable with the veterinarian and the practice. You should always feel that your pet's good health is their first priority.
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