“There are about a dozen veterinarians in my area. How do I know who’s the right one for me and my dog?”
It’s important to establish a relationship with a vet before your dog comes home. For one, you don’t want to search desperately for a vet and make a hasty decision because your dog is in dire need of medical attention. Also, even if your new dog was checked by a vet at the place where you found her, you’ll still want to have a medical professional you trust make sure your pet is healthy within forty-eight hours of bringing her home. Dogs, especially ones from shelters and puppy stores, often come home with minor illnesses due to immature immune systems and the fact that they could have caught an illness from one of the many other animals they lived with. If your dog has a cough, for instance, the vet can make sure she gets the antibiotics she needs before it turns into pneumonia. Or if she has a little eye infection, a vet can treat it before the infection becomes much worse. A vet can also let you know whether or not your new dog has any potentially life-threatening health issues that might require more time and money than you’re able to provide. It’s always best to discover such problems as soon as possible so you can make the difficult decision of returning the dog if need be.
To find a vet, ask friends and family who have dogs for their recommendations. Some people even check out reviews on sites such as www.yelp.com or www.angieslist.com. If the clinic or hospital is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, that’s a good sign that it’s operating at a high level of care—though keep in mind that many outstanding practices are not accredited. Once you have a few options on the table, drop by the vets’ offices to determine which one is Dr. Right. Here’s what to look for:
• Make sure the facilities are clean and that the receptionist, assistants, and other employees on staff are helpful and friendly. How do they treat clients on the phone? Are they warm and welcoming to the animals that come in?
• Find out how many vets are on staff. If it’s a large practice, ask if your dog will see the same doctor every time. Sometimes having multiple vets on staff is a benefit because they each have a different area of expertise.
If it’s a smaller practice, ask who will cover for the vet if he’s on vacation or out of the office.
• Ask about office hours and how they handle emergencies. Will you have to go to another clinic if, say, your dog needs medical attention at 3 A.M.? Who will monitor your pet if she needs to stay overnight? Will the vet return phone calls directly, and if so, when? What kinds of services does she offer, and will she refer you to a specialist if need be?
• Find out about the vet’s education. The vet should have received a veterinary medical degree from a school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. He should also have plenty of experience, particularly with your dog’s breed.
• Consider location. How far are you willing to drive for regular checkups? What about for emergencies?
• Inquire about which forms of payment the vet practice will accept. Keep in mind that most practices will not accept insurance (that is, they won’t bill the insurance company on your behalf, as most human health care providers will); however, they’ll help you fill out the claim so that the insurance company can reimburse you.
• Make an appointment with the vet and ask her any questions you might have about preparing for your dog’s arrival. Does she seem knowledgeable? Does she communicate in a clear manner? Does she take the time to answer your questions? Are you happy with her demeanor, and do you agree with her overall philosophies about raising a dog?
• If you or your dog don’t click with the vet for any reason at any point, you can always look for another one.
