The Right Pet Veterinarian ClinicIf you have recently moved to a new area or you have just added a puppy to your family, you will need to find a vet.
The day you bring your puppy home is not too soon to start looking. Ask around, people that have pets will tell you all about their vet and be happy to do so.
In the local yellow pages you will find a pet veterinarian clinic and a phone call can help a lot. Ask what the prices are for some standard treatments such as shots, worm checks, and neutering.
When you find one that suits you over the phone, then you should plan your pet's first visit.
The first trip to your pet veterinarian clinic should be for a checkup and general physical.
This should be done ASAP after you bring your new puppy home. That way you can make sure your pup is healthy and let the Vet get to know your pet.
Also it gives you and your pet a chance to get to know the Vet and the clinic surroundings.
Evaluate the front office staff? Are they helpful? Friendly? Do they acknowledge you when you walk in? What is the overall appearance of the clinic and its surroundings?
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 a little.
How about the veterinarian? 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 pet 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 your questions answered?
It is always appropriate to ask specific questions about procedures, medications, anesthetics etc.
It is also a good idea to tell the veterinarian exactly what you expect. If you treat your pet as a family member and want the vet to feel free to do whatever he/she feels is necessary you should say so.
If finances are a major concern, then 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 veterinarian, do you receive a reply in a reasonable amount of time?
You might also want to ask about the pet veterinarian clinic emergencies 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.
And you can take this opportunity to set up a schedule for shots, neutering and worming.
The first trip should also be a happy time for your pet. Remember if you act happy and comfortable at the vet so will your pet. Take along a pocket full of treats and don't forget to stop by the hamburger drive-through.
Before your return trips, remember to write down exactly what you've observed, what made you think that your pet needed to go to the Vet. Sometimes, in the stress of the office it's hard to explain exactly what you've seen. Your veterinarian will be thankful for the input and can better decide what's wrong if he knows what's been happening at home.
Sometimes it may not be necessary to take your pet in! If you know you need to worm your pet, you've seen the sign in the stool, all you need to bring in is a stool sample. Just be sure that you have a recent and accurate weight on your pet.
It's good to have a pet veterinarian clinic that knows you
and your pet, so in case of an emergency you can always call
for professional help and advice.
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