Your pet’s health should be monitored on a regular basis in order to ensure they have a long and happy life. For this reason, it is important to pick a trusted veterinarian that you can depend on for situations from regular checkups to emergency situations. When there is a wide variety of veterinary hospitals to choose from, how do you decide which one is right for you and your pets?This guide can help you narrow down your selection and decide on the best option!
When to look for a vet?
If you’re a new pet owner, you should seek out a vet as soon as possible. Especially if you have a new puppy, you’ll need to have a clinic in mind for vaccination visits. Some pets may have had a vet check done before your adoption, if not, it’s important to get one scheduled so you can be made aware of any health issues from the start.
How to look for a vet?
It’s always best to start with recommendations. Whether you research ratings and reviews online or receive recommendations from people or other pet-related businesses that you know, this will be the best way to ensure your vet is proven and trusted. The American Animal Hospital Association hospital locator is a great tool to use in your search. If you’re located in the Charlotte, NC area, Little Friends Pet Sitting & Dog Walking provides their client with an extensive Resource Page including all of their recommended vets for the greater Charlotte area.
Selecting the right vet
These important characteristics will be the deciding factor when looking into vet options that fit both you and your pet’s needs.
Location
Having a vet that is close by can make things easier for you when it comes to regular check ups, but location is especially important in emergency situations. When your pet is ill or injured, you need medical help as soon as possible. However, this can greatly limit how many vets you have to choose from. This is why many pet owners choose an emergency vet that is close by and available at all hours along with a preferred vet for check ups and specialty services.
Price
Vet visits can quickly become very expensive. You want the best care for your pets, but you also need to stick to your budget. Prices can vary drastically between clinics, for example, the cost to spay or neuter your pet can be $40 at one location and $400 at another. For this reason, some pet owners choose to have two vets. A less expensive one for simple things like neuters and vaccinations and one with more customary rates for more serious medical care and specialty services.
Experience
A veterinarian with more experience can mean they’re more knowledgeable about a wider variety of pet health topics, however, a vet with 40 years of experience may not be using the most up to date methods. Newer vets may have the latest and greatest services available, but may not be able to easily diagnose an illness that they’ve never handled before. While experience is an important characteristic to consider, it’s important to consider it along with all of the other characteristics listed.
Special services
Vets that specialize in things like surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, and ophthalmology offer care that normal vets may not be able to provide. Some vets also specialize in specific animal species. If you have an exotic animal, it’s not unlikely that a normal vet would not be able to properly care for your pet’s unique needs.
Choosing the right vet for your pets can be a tough decision, but it doesn’t have to be! If you’re having trouble making the decision, get in touch with other pet care professionals that you know and trust. Little Friends Pet Sitting & Dog Walking has over 10 years of experience caring for Charlotte’s pets. Their Resource Page offers a variety of great options for pet-related topics from veterinary hospitals to pet-friendly food & drink venues.