This topic has come up twice in the last week. My daughter Claire brought the topic up as she prepares for the arrival of her new puppy and a reader asked a very similar question recently, too.
It's a really good question and one that deserves attention. The relationship you have with your veterinarian can easily last several decades if you have multiple pets and a relatively young veterinarian!
Another really important point is that you are establishing a relationship with the entire veterinary hospital, which includes not only the veterinarian but the staff. too. In fact, you may spend more time with the front office staff, veterinary assistants or certified Veterinary Technicians than the vet herself. In many of today's busy Animal Hospitals, Veterinary Technicians will do some of the data and medical history gathering as well as assist the veterinarian with diagnostic and surgical procedures. Their role is very similar to that of a nurse or medical assistant that you encounter in your physician's office.
It really pays to get to know them well because they are a wealth of information and a central part of the animal care team in a good hospital. The same goes for the receptionist. The receptionist is the gatekeeper of the hospital and the first person you will meet when you walk through the door. The receptionist may be the person you talk to on the phone when you call for information or to make an appointment.
Most advice on choosing a veterinarian begins with recommendations from friends and neighbors. Recommendations from people you trust can be a good place to start but you should make the decision yourself based on some research and observation. How are they on the phone? Do you immediately get put on hold? Do you get the impression that they are too busy to talk? Or are they courteous and pleasant, making you comfortable, at ease and eager to answer all your questions?
I'd even suggest that you visit the hospital in person before you make an appointment.Call and ask for a tour. Most hospitals will welcome this opportunity to develop a relationship with a new client. If they're too busy for a tour that's not a good sign.
What is you first impression? How is the parking lot? Is the front office clean and pleasant? Does it smell like the monkey house at the zoo? Is it noisy and hectic or is it calm and relaxing? Taking a pet to the vet can be stressful. It can be even more stressful if the front office is bedlam.
Does the receptionist acknowledge you when you walk in? Hopefully she'll greet you with a smile. Tell her you are just looking around, that you have a new pet and you are here for your tour of the facility. You should be treated like royalty.
A good working relationship and good lines of communication with the hospital staff is key to providing excellent care for your pet. You can have the smartest vet in the world, but if you can't talk to him or her or the staff is distant, overworked and inattentive, go elsewhere. If you can't get an appointment promptly for your new puppy or kitten, say within a week or so, that's another clue.
As far as the level of care goes there are certain things you should look for. The hospital does not have to be brand new. In fact those that have been around for a while have been around for a while for a reason. It should be clean though. It should be well lit, too.
Ask them if they use gas anesthesia. Do they do most of their own laboratory work on the premises? How about emergency services? Many good practices refer after hours emergencies to 24 hour facilities. Make sure you know what to do in an emergency.
How about the staff? The best hospitals use a team approach. Does it appear to you that the staff acts like a team? Is there enough support staff? Does the staff look like they enjoy being there or do they look like inmates? A single veterinarian can get a lot done if they have the right people around them, so don't rule out practices with only one veterinarian.
If everything checks out, make an appointment. Your first visit should be a good experience, too. Most veterinarians will spend extra time with a new client on the first visit. This is the time to get to know the staff, the vet and the hospital procedures. They should tell you about all the preventive care options you have available, what you need to anticipate and when you need to do it. They should give you lots of information to take home and help you sort through it.
You want to feel like you are part of the team when you leave the hospital. The goal of the team is to keep your pet healthy or to save it's life if something out of the ordinary happens. Above all you need to feel comfortable with the hospital and staff. You should feel like you can call and get answers when you need them. There are literally thousands of great hospitals, vets and vet technicians out there to serve you. Make sure you find the right one for you and your pet.
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