Do you have a new pet? Have you moved recently? Sometimes one of the most important decisions you can make as a pet owner is choosing where to take your pet for medical care. A lot of people think that most veterinary hospitals are pretty much same. They’re not!
It’s important to look for specific qualities when choosing a veterinary hospital. Location is a big factor. But don’t decide to go to ABC Animal Hospital just because it’s closest to your house. By driving a few more extra miles you could find a hospital where both you and your pet feel more comfortable. You might even save a few bucks!
You may read information about how to choose the right “doctor” for your pet. It IS important to feel comfortable with your pet’s veterinarian. However, what may be even more important is how you feel about the hospital staff. After all, these are the people that you and your pet will be dealing with 75% of the time.
Be sure to find out as much information about the staff as possible. Do they employ licensed or certified veterinary technicians? These individuals, much like registered nurses, will be working with your pet more than any other person on the staff. It is important that they are both knowledgeable and professionally trained. Many veterinary hospitals try to save money by hiring uncredentialed support and training them “as they go.” Unfortunately there is no law yet that states the person operating your pet’s anesthesia or drawing your pet’s blood needs any formal academic training. Scary!
You can begin you search for a new veterinary hospital simply by opening the yellow pages. There will certainly be a lot of listings under “veterinarians.” Took a look at the ads and see if there are any that stand out to you. Often they will have a list of services, office hours, doctors names, etc. If they have a website listed be sure to visit it!
Many veterinary hospitals cater to working individuals by offering late office hours. This can be a godsend-especially if you are dealing with a pet that has a chronic disease or a condition that needs regular check-ups and prescription refills. Some hospitals also offer 24-hour care and emergency services on-site while others will refer you somewhere else, even during regular business hours. Be sure to ask about emergency services when seeking out an animal hospital so you can be prepared in case something unexpected happens.
Animal hospitals serving only cats are also gaining in popularity. These may be worth checking out especially if you have an ultra-sensitive kitty. No barking and hyper dogs to worry about!
If a hospital only has one doctor on staff chances are the office hours are going to be very limited. However, many people appreciate the intimacy a one-doctor hospital can offer. You also know that when something goes wrong with your pet you will always see the same doctor. This consistency can be reassuring. Unfortunately, having only one doctor on staff also means a limited number of services offered. And what happens when the doctor goes on vacation? Or leaves for a conference? Does the whole place shut down until he comes back?
When investigating multi-doctor practices find out if any of the veterinarians have any special interests. A lot of general practice vets study a specific area of medicine like orthopedics, dermatology, behavior, acupuncture, etc. but may not actually have a “speciality” accreditation for that discipline. This could save you a lot of money and a trip to the specialist should you and your pet ever need help in any of those areas.
Sometimes the best way to learn about veterinary hospitals in your area is to simply ask around. Where do your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors go? Have they had any good or bad experiences that they can think of? Ask them about the staff retention rate. Are the same workers there year after year? Or are there new people working everytime they go in? This can be a huge RED FLAG. If people don’t like being there it must not be a positive working environment. Look for a veterinary hospital that has established for itself a long-term staff. You and your pet will appreciate dealing with the same people year after year.
Be sure to visit any hospital you plan on taking your pet to in person. How does the staff interact with the clients and pets? How does the staff interact with each other? Does the receptionist handle phone calls well? You can also ask to be taken on a tour. While visiting ask for a list of prices and brochures to take home. You can often get a good or bad feeling just by spending a few minutes in the lobby. And don’t be afraid to ask questions!