Choosing a Veterinarian

When you have a new puppy, choosing a veterinarian is an important task.

He or she is going to be your partner when it comes to keeping little Fido healthy and well.

Choose someone that both you and your puppy like; making the right choice now will be more than worth the time and effort involved I promise.

What to look for

Talk to friends, work-mates and family, see who they trust with their precious pets. Word of mouth recommendations are a great starting place. You can also look through your local Yellow Pages or check online for suitable clinics, then drive over there and take a look. You can drop by to take a look around and get a feel for the place before you make an appointment. Parson Russel terriers

Some important things to look at when you're choosing a veterinarian and visiting prospective clinics are whether or not the premises are clean and inviting, are the receptionists and nurses friendly and welcoming and whether or not the veterinary surgeon is properly qualified and if possible, affiliated with a professional organization such as the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association).

If your first impression is good, you can move onto the second step - making an appointment to visit with the veterinary surgeon themselves.

Meet & Greet

When you go to meet with the veterinarian, take Fido along with you. It's a good way to introduce him to the sights, sounds and smells of an animal clinic - without the trauma of shots or procedures.

The staff should be very willing to make a fuss of Fido, they may even have special treats for him and this will really help build up his self-confidence. Feeling comfortable in the veterinarians office will reduce the stress and anxiety of future appointments.

When you speak with the veterinarian, be sure to ask all the questions you want - it helps to take a list with you so you don't forget anything. Things such as what vaccination schedule he recommends and his opinion on diet and supplements etc. are a good place to start.

If you are interested in holistic, homeopathic or complementary treatments it's important to find out how the veterinarian feels about that. When choosing a veterinarian you need to be sure that you pick someone who shares your philosophies.

There is one other point worth mentioning, and that is to check the charges made for regular visits, vaccinations etc. as costs can vary quite dramatically from one clinic to another. Although you should expect to pay a reasonable amount (and NEVER make a decision based solely on price) when you're choosing a veterinarian make sure that you're not being overcharged for routine procedures and appointments.

Veterinarian checklist

We've put together a quick check list that you can use when choosing a veterinarian and evaluating a veterinary practice. Feel free to add or take away anything you want, it's just offered as a rough guideline.

Clinic is clean and well organized

Equipment and furnishings look modern and well cared for

Staff is friendly and welcoming, to you and Fido

The Veterinary surgeon is qualified with board certification

The location of the clinic is convenient for you. You'll be visiting often, and you don't want to have to drive across town through traffic each time

You are happy with emergency services and provisions

The charges are reasonable

Clinic has convenient hours and same-day or emergency appointments

One other point to consider. Many veterinary clinics and hospitals carry a certain brand of dog and cat food which they recommend. These are usually good products but there are many equally good ones out there.

Don't feel you have to buy the food the clinic sells, and even if you do decide to use that brand you'll often find it's a bit cheaper at the local pet superstore.

Learn how to find the right dog food for your little fur baby!

Did you know that you can find the answer to many of the most commonly asked dog health questions on the Purina One website? Their 'ask-a-vet' page has links to these FAQ's plus an opportunity for you to ask a licensed veterinarian your own question. You can find this resource here.

Of course, this is not a substitute in any way for the medical care and assistance of your own veterinarian. If your pup seems unwell or you have health concerns, please talk to your own vet quickly.

If choosing a veterinarian includes checking out Holistic Veterinarians you may want to take a look at the AHVMA (American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association)website.

You can search for holistic veterinarians by state (and Canada). Check it out here.

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