What to look for in a good veterinarian

Earlier I told you I would show you how to pick a good veterinarian. No amount research on a particular vet can totally prepare you for what to expect, or even show you that he/she is a good doctor. You just have to see for yourself!

1. Look up vets in your area (or how ever far you're willing to go).
2. Ask any friends/family who live near you about vets they go to - this might give you a starting point.
   
3. Call the offices to ask questions. You may even want to make a list of things you want to ask.
   
4. If you like the answers to the questions, set up a time that you can meet with the vet.
5. Meet the vet, observes how he/she treats you, and ask more questions!

When you call the office, you'll probably get a receptionist on the phone instead of the vet him/herself. Some things you might want to ask would be:

How much does it cost per office visit?
Does he/she have emergency hours? If so, when are they?
How long has he/she been in practice?
Directions (if needed)

Then, if you have set up a time to meet with the vet, drive out there to see the office. (Please keep in mind that it may be difficult to set up a time to meet the vet without an appointment for your pet because they are often very busy.) Now you can assess the office. Is it old, run down and operating from a trailer? Is it big, fancy and expensive? Of course, there are always exceptions, but generally a good vet will have an office somewhere in between - not big and expensive, and not run down in a trailer. A run down place could indicate a lack of funds - and customers, which could point to a lack of quality (remember, this is not ALWAYS the case). A big expensive office could indicate price gouging or overcharging... maybe even pressuring customers into buying products they don't need. Also, is the office busy or empty? A good vet is probably has some customer activity going on, but it shouldn't be so busy that you wouldn't get enough one on one time.

When you meet the vet, assess how he/she treats you. He/she should make sufficient eye contact with you, and you should feel comfortable in his/her presence (for a first meeting). Ask questions about policies, and routine treatments. Does the vet recommend that your dog get vaccinations every year? If so, why? Tell him/her you don't want to over-vaccinate your pet, and see what the response is. Does the vet want to leave the conversation, get irritated or make you feel belittled? If so, move on! (I'll tell you more about annual vaccines and why they actually harm your dog later.) If he/she seems open or accepting of this idea, ask about nutrition. Does he/she recommend a certain brand of dog food? If so, ask why. How accepting is the vet of your decision to feed something else, preferably something high in protein and grain-free, or even raw? If your vet highly recommends not feeding high protein, grain-free, or raw meat, move on! Your vet should be at least open about these things. I will also discuss nutrition later, and why sadly a lot of vets recommend the worst food you could possibly give your dog.

Something else that may or may not concern you is your preference for obtaining monthly preventatives for heart worms, fleas and ticks. Do you like to order it online rather than pick it up at the vet's office? If so, ask about this policy. To order heart worm preventative, you have to have a prescription from your vet, and not all vets are willing to do this. Some will only let you get it by picking it up at the office (more money in their pockets). If this is an issue with you, discuss it. If you like to order online because it costs less, ask if he/she will match the price for you. If you found a reputable site with a lower price like Drs Foster and Smith, or 1-800 Pet Meds (although I find this one to cost the same as what most vets charge anyway), and the vet won't match it... You do the math. This is only a matter of personal preference and is far less important than where your vet stands on important topics relavent to your dog's health, and the ability for you to relate to each other in conversation and exchange of helpful information regarding your pet.

You don't want to underestimate the power of the vet tech in deciding upon your vet. Vets usually pick techs that match them... So if the tech(s) is friendly, outgoing and very willing to help you, chances are the vet they work for probably is to. If the tech(s) is cold, quiet, distant, rude or demeaning, the vet probably is to!

Also look at the office. Is it clean, organized and decorated to increase the appearance of a friendly environment? This is a plus! You might want to stay away from unorganized offices and exam rooms - If the staff (and thus, the vet) are too busy to make a presentable enviroment that's more welcoming than cold, you might have less one on one time to your vet. This one on one time I keep mentioning is important. Your vet must have adequate time for you and your pet in order to know you both better. This is for the sake of your pet! The more he/she knows about your pet's history, normal behavior, interactions, etc, the better.

If you decide you might have found the right vet, bring in your pet for an appointment. When you come in, you can assess how your pet is treated. Does the vet seem friendly and pet your animal to establish a friendly relashionship? A friendly relationship is important for pets too! Or does he/she look down upon the animal, refer to it as "the dog" rather its name? If you went through the steps above, the vet probably responds well to your pet. If the vet doesn't, and is instead impersonal with your pet, it's time to move on. You really want a vet who is compassionate about what they do, and cares about your pet.

A note on Banfield - inside PetSmart. You might think I would not recommend this practice, but actually I recommend going through the same procedure I listed above. As with any practice, there are good ones and bad ones, and that includes Banfield. I've heard both great stories and horror stories - again, as with any practice.

Find what works for YOU, and happy hunting!