| l> | | | | 3. Are the magazines and literature in the waiting |
| Get some opinions. Ask around to see where people | | | | room current or out-dated? |
| take their pets, why they take them there, and if | | | | 4. Are the posters and bulletin boards well-kept? Or |
| they are happy with the veterinarian. | | | | are they ripped, stained or out-dated? |
| 1. Ask friends, family, and co-workers, but be sure to | | | | 5. What types of products do they sell? Are they |
| ask them why they see this particular veterinarian. | | | | focused more on providing medical care or pushing |
| Pet owners often take their pets to a certain clinic | | | | products? |
| just because they always have and always will, or | | | | 6. Some veterinary clinics are members of the |
| because the veterinarian is a long-time family friend. | | | | American Animal Hospital Association, which means |
| This doesn't make it the best choice for you. | | | | that the clinic has voluntarily pursued and met the |
| 2. Ask groomers, petsitters, kennels, and other pet | | | | association's standards in the areas of facility, |
| service facilities. | | | | equipment, and quality care. |
| 3. Ask breeders | | | | 7. How busy is the clinic? Is the lobby full or are the |
| 4. Ask people at a breed club | | | | phones ringing off the hook? A certain level of |
| 5. Ask your local humane society or other | | | | busyness is a good sign, but too many clients can |
| animal-welfare groups | | | | lead to long waiting times and a low availability of |
| 6. Ask private pet rescue organizations | | | | appointments. |
| Educate yourself on the veterinarian's background | | | | Friendliness and quality of staff |
| | | | |
| 1. Education | | | | 1. Are they helpful and informative? |
| 2. Board certification | | | | 2. Are they too pushy? |
| 3. Record with the state's medical board (Have any | | | | 3. Do they take the time to listen and answer your |
| complaints have been filed?) | | | | questions? |
| 4. Record with the local humane society | | | | 4. Do they seem to want to get off the phone |
| 5. Membership with any professional veterinary | | | | quickly or do they seem too busy for you? If yes, |
| associations | | | | they will probably always be too busy to give your |
| 6. If the veterinarian is a specialist (behavioral, | | | | pet the care needed. |
| surgical, ophthalmology, etc.), check to see how he | | | | 5. Are they dressed professionally and cleanly? |
| or she qualifies to be a specialist. Be sure that he or | | | | 6. Is the receptionist friendly? Does he or she answer |
| she has experience, education, and certification in | | | | the phone professionally and state his or her name? |
| their specialty. | | | | Can he or she answer basic questions about pet |
| Office Hours, Appointments, and Emergencies | | | | care? |
| | | | 7. Is the staff friendly, caring, calm, competent, and |
| 1. What are the regular office hours? Are they | | | | courteous? |
| compatible with your schedule? | | | | 8. Does the veterinarian interact well with the |
| 2. Are appointments required? | | | | technicians? |
| 3. Can you request an appointment with a specific | | | | 9. Are you comfortable with the veterinarian? |
| veterinarian? Seeing the same veterinarian will allow | | | | Veterinarians are a individual as the rest of us. Some |
| him or her to become more familiar with your pet | | | | have an easy "bedside manner" and others are more |
| and better able to evaluate whether your pet is ill | | | | abrupt and in a hurry. Some will explain every detail |
| because he or she has seen your pet before. | | | | about your pet's condition and others are too busy |
| 4. How many veterinarians are in the practice? | | | | to do so. Some will calm your fears and grieve with |
| 5. Are there technicians and other professional staff | | | | you and others will brush off your concerns or seem |
| members? | | | | insensitive to the loss of a pet. |
| 6. Who covers the practice when the doctor is | | | | 10. Be aware that technicians handle basic |
| unavailable? | | | | procedures, such as drawing blood, taking |
| 7. Is the doctor available to occasionally answer | | | | temperatures, and preparing your pet for surgery, so |
| questions over the phone? | | | | it is important that you are comfortable with the |
| 8. Will the veterinarian take calls or answer phone | | | | technician's ability to handle your pet and work with |
| messages if a crisis befalls your pet during the | | | | you. |
| evening or weekend? | | | | Range of services that the clinic provides |
| 9. How are emergency calls handled during regular | | | | |
| office hours? | | | | 1. Are x-rays, ultrasounds, bloodwork, and other |
| 10. How are emergency calls handled after office | | | | diagnostics done in-house or referred to a specialist? |
| hours? | | | | 2. How quickly are the test results received? |
| 11. - Does this clinic provide emergency after-hours | | | | 3. Does the veterinarian offer a wide range of |
| assistance, or is there a nearby emergency clinic you | | | | medications? |
| will be referred to? | | | | 4. Does your pet require a veterinarian with special |
| 12. - If your veterinarian refers patients for | | | | interests, such as geriatrics? |
| emergency care, get the address and phone number | | | | 5. What experience does the veterinarian have with |
| of the facility and be sure to drive by the | | | | any specific medical need your pet might have, such |
| emergency facility so you'll know where it is. | | | | as diabetes, allergies, or chronic pain? |
| 13. - Is the emergency clinic staffed while your pet is | | | | 6. What is the veterinarian's policy on vaccinations for |
| there? Will there be any time period when your pet | | | | kittens, puppies and adult cats and dogs? Many |
| will be unattended to? | | | | veterinarians are getting away from automatic annual |
| Fees, insurance, and payment methods | | | | vaccinations for adults because of evidence that |
| | | | immunization lasts longer than 12 months for some |
| 1. Do ask about fees, but don't base your decision | | | | vaccines, and research has linked too-frequent |
| solely on the cheapest clinic. | | | | vaccinations with immune system disorders. |
| 2. When evaluating fees, be sure to find out what is | | | | Other things to consider |
| included, some clinics will include anesthesia, monitoring | | | | |
| equipment, and aftercare in the cost of a surgery, | | | | 1. The veterinarian should perform an exam on your |
| while other clinics will have them as separate charges; | | | | pet during the first visit. This should include feeling the |
| so you aren't always comparing the same fees and | | | | pet over for suspicious lumps or bumps, checking the |
| services. | | | | eyes and ears, listening to the heart, and checking |
| 3. Is the veterinarian a specialist in an area that you | | | | the teeth. |
| do not require for your pet? Fees may be higher for | | | | 2. The veterinarian should ask you questions about |
| specialists and it might not make sense to pay more | | | | the pet's general health and ask for the pet's medical |
| for a specialist that does not apply to the needs of | | | | history. |
| your pet. | | | | 3. Your pet should be comfortable with the |
| 4. Are discounts offered for senior citizens or | | | | veterinarian. An experienced veterinarian will handle |
| multi-pet households? | | | | the most difficult pet without causing any undue |
| 5. Is payment expected on the day of the visit? | | | | stress on the pet. |
| 6. Does the clinic accept your insurance plan? | | | | 4. Does the clinic offer any other services such as |
| 7. What methods of payment are accepted? Are | | | | boarding or grooming? |
| credit cards accepted? | | | | 5. Is the veterinarian willing to prescribe medication |
| Condition and location of the facility | | | | and allow you to fill the prescription elsewhere? |
| | | | 6. Do you trust the veterinarian? Most importantly, |
| 1. Is the facility clean, comfortable, and | | | | what do your instincts tell you? |
| well-organized? | | | | 7. If you are transferring your pet from another clinic, |
| 2. Examine the lobby, waiting room, parking lot, and | | | | be sure to transfer your pet's medical records. |
| lawn for cleanliness and odors. | | | | |