How to Choose a Veterinarian for Your Pet

When to Begin Your Search for a Vet- How to choose a veterinarian

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If you have already welcomed your new pet into your home and are just beginning your search for a vet, we’re sad to report that you’re already one step behind. How to Choose a Veterinarian for Your Pet.

“You want to interview veterinarians for the possible puppy or kitten you don’t yet have,” says Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Oncology), staff physician at NYC’s Animal Medical Center.

Not only does that foresight guarantee that you’ll have a plan in place in the event an unexpected disease or illness does occur—particularly prevalent with animals coming from shelters or rescues—but it also spares you having to wait weeks for an initial vet visit, she says.

Because there are limited hours of operation, shortages of employees and a huge number of new pets coming into homes, Dr. Hohenhaus explains it shouldn’t come as a surprise to find veterinary clinics filled up six weeks in advance. How to Choose a Veterinarian for Your Pet

But hey, it’s okay if you’re not yet able to find a vet for your cat or dog. Just the fact that you are doing it is what matters most!

Now that you understand that there’s no time to lose, the next thing is to determine a practice in which you’d like to bring your pet, and inquire about how you can be added to their new patient waiting list.

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Where to Search When Looking for a Vet- How to choose a veterinarian

How to Choose a Veterinarian for Your Pet. The early pace in looking for a vet is to do your research. Begin your search near home (both literally and figuratively).

• Inquire from another pet owner: Ask your neighbors, friends and co-workers about vets they have had positive experiences with their own pets.

• Look online: A Google search can yield local veterinarian clinics. Many local and state veterinary and how to choose a veterinarian for your pet medical associations offer online directories you can browse. There also are directories for specialty vets. Did you know there are 46 areas of expertise familiar by the American Veterinary Medical Association? For example, you may be surprised to know that there are actually vet clinics specifically for cats, or vets who deal with emergency medicine, cardiology and epidemiology, to mention a few.

• Be local: Remain within 5 miles of where you reside, advises Dr. Kevin Kelley, DVM, emergency medicine veterinarian at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital in Clear water, Florida. The last thing you need is to have to commute hours when your pet requires medical care. You also want to have a vet who can work around your job schedule, he adds.

Questions to Ask a Potential Vet- How to Choose a Veterinarian for Your Pet

After you have narrowed the list, there are several questions you can ask that will assist you in deciding on a vet. Here are five questions you can ask that are suggested by our veterinarians:

1. Do you have weekend and evening hours? If you have a 9-5 job, this might be a good idea.

2. Is the practice certified? Most would be from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). AAHA-accredited practices are assessed on a myriad of quality-assurance measures. Fear-free certifications, which indicate anti-fear and anxiety procedures are employed in the practice, are increasingly popular.

3. What is your emergency protocol? You’ll want to know whether the practice can manage emergencies in-house or refer to urgent care outside, and whether there is a physician you can consult 24/7. (Don’t count on midnight voicemails being returned unless assured by your practice.)

4. Do you maintain a list of referred specialists? No matter if it’s a breed condition or an acute or chronic disease that must receive special care, specialists are going to be involved in your pet’s health care at one time or another in their lifetime. “Most good quality vets, if there is something outside of their comfort level or expertise, they know who to refer you to,” states Dr. Kelley. “We’re a source of revenue in an age of professionals for a reason.”

5. How many vets are in the practice, and do I see the same vet each time? “If they have more how to choose a veterinarians working there, they may have more availability,” says Dr. Kelley. A bigger practice can assist with scheduling, but this also means you may not see the same vet each time—something to consider if this one-on-one relationship and consistency are important to you.