Looking for a veterinarian?
If you’ve just moved to a new area or if you’ve recently added a new pet, one of the first things you’ll want to do is to find a veterinarian to help you. You need to find someone that you can trust to care for your pet’s health.
You can get started by seeking recommendations and referrals from neighbors, co-workers or friends. You can also use the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) website to find accredited clinics in your town. Internet searches can help find clinics that have gotten good reviews from clients.
You can also call and interview possible candidates. Here is a list of questions to ask that may help you to make a decision about the right practice for you and your pet.
Does the practice refer to specialists when indicated? Often a general practice will not be able to provide every type of care your pet might need, so referring should be essential.
Does the practice hospitalize patients overnight? If the practice is unable to provide staff to monitor your pet overnight , then they should be able to refer the patient to another facility.
Does the practice have licensed veterinary technicians on staff?
Credentialed staff members are able to provide exemplary care for your pet. The use of licensed staff members shows a commitment to providing the highest quality care for patients at the hospital.
What sort of equipment does the veterinary hospital use?
Try to find a practice with the following equipment available: Laboratory equipment to run bloodwork on site. This allows for a quicker diagnosis of illness and closer monitoring of your pet’s medical condition. Other necessary pieces of equipment include the ability to measure patients’ blood pressure, oxygen levels (such as a pulse oximeter or capnograph) and an automatic processor to develop X-rays (or digital radiography equipment). Having modern equipment available is a benchmark of the quality of medicine that the veterinary hospital practices. If the vet doesn’t have these pieces of equipment, I would worry where else they may have fallen behind.
What types of anesthetics are used at the practice?
The modern standard when performing any type of surgical procedure is to sedate the pet with gas anesthesia. Injectable sedation should be used only for brief procedures, like replacing a splint or taking an X-ray, not for complicated surgical procedures. Any time a pet is under any sort of sedation they should be closely monitored by a veterinary technician.
If the office satisfactorily answers most of these questions, you can schedule an appointment to meet the vet and the staff, and to tour the office so you can get a feel for the environment.
It is also important to have a chance to speak to the vet about their treatment philosophy and ethics. While at the office, try to ask the following questions and pay attention to the surroundings:
Is the practice clean and fresh smelling?
Arrive a few minutes early for your appointment and take a look around the office. Of course there are things happen in veterinary hospitals that cause messes and odors. You can tell if a spill or smell is new or if it is the general condition of the practice.
Does the practice keep complete medical records?
You should see neat patient files somewhere in the office, and you should feel free to ask the vet about how they keep notes about their patients. Bonus points if the office has computerized medical records.
Are prescription drugs dispensed properly?
Your vet should want to see your pet before prescribing any medications, and medications should be dispensed in an appropriate container and with complete labeling information. Make sure that your veterinary office is keeping proper documentation of any controlled drugs that are prescribed for your pet.
Does the practice use modern, sterile surgical techniques?
Ask the vet what they and their staff wear when performing or monitoring surgery. Their surgical uniform should include: scrubs, a mask, a cap, a sterile gown, and sterile gloves for any surgical procedure.
Are patients carefully evaluated before anesthesia and surgery?
Patients should have a physical exam just prior to undergoing anesthesia. Bloodwork should be performed prior to anesthesia to make sure that your pet is healthy enough to undergo the procedure.
Does the hospital have an established protocol for pain management?
Pain control should be a priority for every pet. Ask if an animal having an elective surgery, like a spay or neuter, is given pain medication both at the hospital and to take when they go home. You should be able to tell if the office makes pain control a priority.
Does the veterinarian have a “one size fits all” philosophy or will they change protocols to fit you and your pet?
Protocols should change according to the situation. All pets do not need the same vaccination schedule, it should depend on the types of diseases that they are exposed to. Your veterinarian should also be willing to discuss your personal viewpoints on how your pet should be treated. Every pet owner has a different idea about things such as how quickly to get aggressive about diagnostics and treatments, use of holistic treatments, etc. You will be more comfortable with someone that is willing to listen and treat your pet in a way that fits with you and your family.
Asking questions can be life saving for your pet. A good way to love your pet is to educate yourself so you can be an advocate for them during their care.
