Choosing a comfy mattress and matching collar for your pets usually makes you feel excited. However, as parents to your cats or dogs, picking their vet is something you must carefully consider. This person will be your long-term partner in ensuring they will live a long and healthy life. With multiple vet clinics near you, it may be difficult to decide.
Here’s a list of the factors you should consider when looking for the right vet for your pets:
Ask for Recommendations
Start with your family, friends, colleagues, and people you know who are pet owners, too. They might know some reliable veterinarians whom they tried before. Ask them why they are sticking with their current veterinarians. If you believe their expectations are similar to yours, find time to visit and assess the facility.
If you happen to live in Bedford Hills, New York, looking for a reliable veterinary hospital, check out Fine Animal Hospital. They have the most recommended Bedford vets with various specializations. Their services include Vaccination and Prevention, Routine Tests, Internal Medicine, Emergencies, Dental Care, Acupuncture, Senior Pets, Boarding, Puppies and Kittens, etc.
Look for a Licensed Veterinarian
You most likely say, “Of course!”
Though most people assume this is given, you can find some animal clinics with practicing vets even without a license. Ensure that the vet you select is licensed in your state and the country. It is the same with their other employees because there are also accredited veterinary technicians. When you visit an animal facility, you typically see their workers’ licenses hanging. If you don’t find them, simply ask them, check online, or contact your state board of veterinary medicine for more information.
Consider their Specializations
We know vets are not created equal. Currently, there are more than 40 recognized specializations from the veterinary field. Besides general practice, other specializations are intended to diagnose and treat your pets’ more severe health problems that also require specialized equipment. Ensure that the facility you choose has vets with distinct expertise.
Moreover, if your pet is a cat, look for a vet specializing in treating cats. The same applies to your dogs.
Ask About their Approach to Pets and Medications
Vets exist to provide care for the entire well-being of animals, not just administer medications. Because vets are not the same, they have different approaches when it comes to animals and drugs. Discuss briefly with your potential vet about their opinions regarding your pets’ overall health and preventive issues. If you think they’re not in the same boat as you, you should keep looking.
Consider the Location and Price
As much as possible, you want to choose a vet clinic close to where you live. If there’s an emergency, you can be there immediately. Find one that is at least less than 1 hour away from you. When it comes to prices, vets’ fees vary. Make sure that their prices fit within your budget before you commit to them.
At Fine Animal Hospital, they’re located in a convenient place, wheelchair-accessible, and with convenient free parking. You don’t even have to wait for a long time because they have enough staff to assist you and your pets.
Are you and your Pets Comfortable?
Ensure that you are comfortable with your chosen vet to say everything you want. This is similar for your pets. While it’s normal for your pets to feel distressed in the beginning, displaying anger, discomfort, and anxiety every visit are warning signs that you should move on.
Ensure that the Facility is Clean and Tidy
It’s important that you stop by your potential veterinary facility and observe the level of cleanliness. Bear in mind that it is a medical facility, so it needs to be clean all of the time, like our hospitals. If it looks dirty and dingy, it is another red flag that you should keep looking.