What you should know when
looking for a veterinarian:
When looking for a veterinarian it's always a good idea to ask friends and co-workers who they take their pets to. Ideally you will find a vet who is not only good with your pet, but answers your questions as well. You want a doctor who will explain things to you and not just give you medications and tell you what to do without explanation. If tests are run or x-rays taken you should see those results and the vet should go over them with you. Also, the American Animal Hospital Association suggests, and most veterinary schools now teach, that vaccines should only be given every 3 years. This is not just rabies. Some vets have gone along with this while others have not. It means a big cut in their income if dogs are only receiving vaccines every 3 years. There is also a way to test if your dog even needs to be vaccinated every 3 years (excluding rabies, which is required by law). It is a simple blood titer test. There are titer tests for distemper, parvo and rabies, though as of now the State of California doesn't accept a rabies titer in lieu of the actual vaccination. The reason we mention this is because over-vaccination can lead to other health issues, please read about vaccinosis for more info. We are not in any way suggesting you forego vaccinating your pet as that is a decision between you and your veterinarian. But we feel the more you know, the better you can advocate for your pet.
We also like it when we get to be in the room with our pet when they give exams, etc..., and not always have them take our pet to the back for treatments. That is not always possible depending on what they are doing, but seeing how the technicians handle your pet is a big clue to the care your pet is receiving. It is mainly the techs who handle your pet, not the doctors. So if you like the vet, but let's say you don't like one technician in particular, you should speak up & ask that they not handle your pet.
In addition, you want the reception staff to be attentive to your needs. Be nice to them, and hopefully they will be nice to you in return. They are the gateway to the doctors, so they can make your life easy, or difficult.
We also like it when we get to be in the room with our pet when they give exams, etc..., and not always have them take our pet to the back for treatments. That is not always possible depending on what they are doing, but seeing how the technicians handle your pet is a big clue to the care your pet is receiving. It is mainly the techs who handle your pet, not the doctors. So if you like the vet, but let's say you don't like one technician in particular, you should speak up & ask that they not handle your pet.
In addition, you want the reception staff to be attentive to your needs. Be nice to them, and hopefully they will be nice to you in return. They are the gateway to the doctors, so they can make your life easy, or difficult.