Choosing a Vet
(Page 3 of 3)
May/June 1988
By Randy Kidd, D.V.M.
Also, remember that, as with any medical service, you also have the right to get a second opinion. If you have any doubts about a vet's recommendations, get another opinion.
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Facilities: Many vets tend to be hung up on facade—the fancier and more grandiose, the better. But good medicine doesn't necessarily require the newest and best in facilities or the latest medical gadgetry.
The level of veterinary medicine practiced in your area will depend—as is the case with human medicine—on the area's population density. Citified practices tend toward the more esoteric in medical amenities; rural practices offer basic health care, not always glorified with high-tech laboratory support or modern medical miracles. Which is best for you? Only you can decide.
You should always, however, expect and demand cleanliness and an odor-free facility. Also, you should expect a staff that is organized, efficient and concerned about your pet's health care needs. Chances are, you'll deal more often with your veterinarian's support staff than with the vet. They're the people you'll talk to first when you call to ask a question. You should expect them to be competent and cordial and helpful.
Emergencies: Will you have immediate access to a vet in the event of an emergency? Where population densities can support them, vet emergency clinics are now popular. Find out how the vet you plan to use handles emergencies. Tape the emergency number to your phone. And make sure that the number goes along with anyone who takes your pet for a walk or romp. A good way to do this is to have the emergency number etched permanently on your pet's collar.
Are you comfortable: This is the final and most important question to ask yourself. If you just plain feel at ease whenever you and your pet are in the vet's office, then you have the right vet. But if you feel a vague discomfort when dealing with the vet, and if your pet seems to feel the same way, look elsewhere.
Dr. Kidd, a long-time contributor to MOTHER EARTH NEWS, is a Kansas-based veterinarian with advanced training in pathology and clinical pathology. He has a special interest in holistic health care for animals and their owners.
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