How did you choose your vet or how do you choose to choose if you have just adopted a small companion or have just moved? There are many criteria to choose the veterinarian to whom you will entrust the health of your doggie. We suggest you review them to help you see more clearly.
The distance
We are not talking about selecting the nearest veterinarian, but, for all that, the proximity of the practitioner in your home to its importance in your choice. If you choose a good veterinarian ... but more than 50 km from your home, imagine the galley to take his dog there every week if one day your hairy had to receive a recurring treatment. Similarly, in case of emergency, you must be able to get there as quickly as possible ... so avoid, if you can, to choose at a distance too far from your home.
Opening hours and days
It may seem self-evident but also ensure that your veterinarian offers beaches and opening days compatible with your professional schedule otherwise ... you will be forced to systematically ask a day of rest to drive your doggie.
The rates
Tariffs, precisely, are set freely from one veterinarian to another and they can vary from single to double between two practitioners. Rates depend on the veterinarian's equipment, location, number of employees, childcare services offered, etc. The more well-performing equipment (imaging devices, for example) and specialized veterinarians, the higher the fee, the more likely your dog will have a full course of care. Also find out about the prices of medicines that, like for consultations, are set freely.
The organization of nights and weekends
Also inquire about the proposed veterinary custodial services. Are they offered by the veterinarian himself or is there an answering machine that is updated regularly to tell you which day care services are closest? And if your dog was to be hospitalized, how is organized the surveillance of the animal outside the opening hours of the establishment? So many questions to raise before making a choice.
Trust
As with your treating physician who looks after the health of your family, you must trust your vet. He must listen to you and answer all your questions without using incomprehensible medical jargon. We even recommend that you make a test visit to the veterinarian you are looking for to check that the current goes well between the animal and him but also between you and him! Take advantage of a vaccine or a vaccine booster to evaluate your "compatibility". The veterinarian must take advantage of this appointment to make a small "check-up" of your animal by examining his teeth, the pads, evaluating the flexibility of his joints etc. If the vet sends right after his injection, go your way! Also, observe the cleanliness of the premises, the absence of smell or hair of the previous patient in the examination room. These are elements that can also make a difference!
Cabinet, clinic or hospital center?
A veterinary clinic and a hospital center have many facilities and employ veterinary assistants, more available than veterinarians to answer many questions. The difference between a clinic and a hospital is that the second facility provides regular monitoring of hospitalized animals, even at night and on weekends. These two structures will have more expensive fees veterinary practices because of the multiplicity of equipment and the number of employees employed. On the other hand, in clinic and hospital, you will not be insured, unless you specify when making an appointment, to meet the same veterinarian every time. If you are not a fan of change, go for a practice where a veterinarian can be accompanied by his assistant.