How to choose the right veterinarian for your dog
Just like your own family doctor, making sure that you choose a veterinarian that is right for your dog is a very important process. To do this, what you will want to do is on the day of the dog’s scheduled appointment; simply arrive 15 to 20 minutes early so you can take the time to look around. Upon completion of the necessary paper work, take the time to thoroughly check over the reception area as well as any other part of the clinic that you can easily see to determine if it is a comfortable enough place.
You may want to know if the reception area is comfortable as well as being clean and smelling good. Furthermore you will want to pay close attention to the receptionist. You can tell a lot about a clinic from the receptionist. Through observation you will be able to tell how chaotic the clinic is or even how smoothly the entire operation is ran.
Keep track of the amount of time that it takes from the time of your appointment scheduling to the time in which the vet actually calls you and your dog back. The last thing anyone will want is a vet who may take 45 minutes to an hour to see your dog, especially if it is an emergency situation.
Once you are able to be in contact with the veterinarian, pay attention to the vet’s demeanor and actions. You may even want to take not of the following to determine if this is the veterinarian that is right for your dog.
1) Does the vet seem impatient and wants to end the visit as quickly as possible, or doe the veterinarian take the time for formal introductions.
2) Ask the vet questions and make a mental note as to whether she is more than eager to answer all the questions that you ask or even if she seems to be a bit irritated or displeased by the questions that you ask.
3) Does the veterinarian give you any information about the practice? If she is proud of what she does then she should offer this information without hesitation.
4) Is the vet enthusiastic about the work that is being done, or does the vet seem to be bored or a bit uninterested in the practice of animal medicine.
5) You will also need to pay attention to how the vet acts to your dog. She needs to be gentle and above all patient with the dog as this is a sign of a true dog-lover.
6) Finally you will need to note how your dog reacts to the vet. Dogs can tell a lot about other people that us as humans could miss. Knowing that your dog is comfortable with the vet is just as important as all of the observations that you have made throughout the entire appointment.
