If you are looking for a vet clinic or hospital, chances are you have done the obvious. You have:
* Asked your friends
* Talked to neighbors who have the same type of pets
* Talked to other owners at pet stores or in dog walking parks or pet play groups
* Gone online and compiled a list of candidates
* Read reviews posted on the net
The research you have done will help you compile a list, but how do you go about choosing the right one?
Location
No matter how you look at it, many people pick a vet because of their location. It is near at hand. It can be reached quickly. You can get there by walking. While this is not the worst type of criteria, it should never be a stand-alone one. Below, you will find tips for choosing a veterinary hospital.
Medical and Support Staff
When you take your pet to a veterinary hospital you want the staff to be more than competent. The vets must be experienced and capable of handling the specific pet you have. They must be able to diagnose the problem and combine technical skill with a practical approach. You want a vet staff that is informed on the latest technology and approaches but are not ready to use them if a simple way is as effective. You also want support staff that is comfortable handling your pet and recognize you when you come in the door.
Size: Does It Matter?
While a vet hospital may be large or small, both can fulfill your pet’s needs. Yet, for some people and in some cases, size does matter. A larger practice may have more veterinarians and provide more services. They may also shift your pet from one vet to another making you and your pet feel like just another client. A smaller practice may provide you the one-on-one time you and your pet need, but you may need to go elsewhere for specialized services.
Hours of Practice
Does the veterinary hospital have office hours that suit your work or school schedule? How late does the clinic stay open? Does it have emergency or extended hours on weekends or holidays? If it is not open after hours, does it have close ties to a local clinic or emergency animal facility?
Services
What type of services does the animal hospital offer? Some are very limited in scope. They vaccinate, spay and do minor surgery. For anything that is more complex, they send you to a teaching hospital or veterinary college facility.
Do they offer boarding, grooming and other related services? Do you need them to?
Quality
Does the hospital have any accreditation? If so, what does it have? Is the hospital or the veterinarian staff members of any specialty organizations or associations?
While the above list is a brief one, it can provide you with a few basic tips for choosing a veterinary hospital. Consider all these factors to whittle down your list of candidates. To help you finalize them, make sure you and your pet make a visit. Watch how the staff interacts with him or her. This will provide you with the final information you need to make the final decision.
If you are looking for the right veterinarian hospital to serve the needs of your pet, you should consider Holistic Veterinary Healing. When it comes time to putting a check beside the tips for choosing a veterinary hospital on that list you have compiled, you will find we satisfy them all. To discover more about our integrative and holistic pet care, visit us online at http://www.holisticveterinaryhealing.com/.
