A Step By Step Guide To Choosing A Good Vet
Your vet is an important partner in looking after your pets. A regular visit to the vet for checkups allows both you and your vet to spot any problems before they become serious. Sometimes, small changes that you may have not noticed, but are serious will be very obvious to the vet.
Therefore, it’s important to select a vet that you and your pet are absolutely comfortable with and always go to the same vet if possible. Below are some pointers that you can use when selecting one of the many outstanding vets providing animal care London.
1 Recommendation from fellow pet owners
Asking a pet owning friend or neighbor for recommendations is a good way to start looking for a reliable vet. Alternatively ask for any recommendations from your local pet shop.
2 Proximity of your vet.
Distance from your home to your vet is important. Most family pets tend to get distressed when they travel too far and the journey is too long. In case of an emergency, a longer distance is a potentially quite a serious drawback. If you do not drive, make sure your vet is accessible by public transport.
3 Operating hours.
Select a vet that opens his clinic at least one evening per week and or on Saturdays if you work during the day.
4 Specialist clinics.
In looking for a veterinary hospital, choose one that has a particular pet only clinic for example a dog-only clinic or cat-only clinic. This is to ensure your pet will not be distressed or upset by the presence of other species of pets in the reception areas.
5 Talk to the staff.
Organise a visit and meet up with the staff there to find out whether they are helpful and friendly. Another thing to note is their competency level in taking care of pets. Ask them a few basic questions. As for the vet, make sure you and your pet are comfortable with him or her.
6 Have a good look at the facilities.
Arrange a meeting to view the facilities that the centre has. Larger centres are more likely to provide more specialist services such as behaviour therapy, small animal cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, internal medicine and neurology than smaller ones.
When taking your pet to the vet, carry your pet in a carrier or escape proof box that has visibility. You must be prepared and able to reply to questions posed by the vet concerning your pet’s general health and problems. If possible, bring along your pet past medical records or other relevant documentation. Collect any sample that the vet has requested in a clean sealed container.
Do not ask anyone to take your pet to the vet in your stead. As the pet owner, you are the only one who knows all about your pet’s symptoms.
