Choosing someone to care for your baby!
Feb 24 '01
The Bottom Line Research, research, research. Choose who will care for your baby carefully... you'll be thankful you did.
I know I'm not alone in feeling that my dog is more my baby than my pet, so I tend to put more effort into her care than I do into most other things.
Choosing a Vet was my number one priority *before* I actually had an animal to care for, I wanted someone I could trust and count on to help me care for my dog. Sadly, I've come across quite a few people who have chosen their Vet by simply opening up the Yellow Pages and pointing, or picking the least expensive or closest to them.
When I got closer to the time to bring a dog into my home, I started my research. I talked with people I knew and asked for their suggestions, I called the Humane Society to ask for recommendations and I dropped into a few of the Vet's offices that were within the distance I was looking to travel.
I looked for:
Clean, Sterile, Well kept offices and exam rooms- if the exam rooms aren't clean, you are risking your dog picking up some sort of infection or disease...
FRIENDLY Staff- both in the Vet and in other office staff. Your dog knows who likes him/her and who doesn't, making a trip to the Vet a more stressful experience isn't worth it- to you or your dog.
Reasonable Prices- nobody likes to spend an arm and a leg on Veterinary care, ask to see some kind of price breakdown so you know what you're dealing with. There will always be Vet's who charge 2 times what others do, and then there will be the ones who charge practically nothing.
Additional Services- boarding, grooming, etc. A big priority to me, was finding a Vet I liked who offered boarding. I felt if my dog already knew the Vet and staff, it may make the boarding (and time away from family) easier on my dog to handle.
Surgery and Emergency Care- if your dog needs to be spayed or neutered, can the Vet do the procedure? Or do you need to transfer your dog's care to someone else? If your dog ends up getting a snakebite on Thanksgiving Day (I'm coming from experience on that one!) will your Vet be available? Or are they affiliated with a hospital that will be?
Will this Vet be your friend? Give you the reassurance and support you need when caring for your baby? Take a Pro-Active solution to any health problems? Personally, I strongly dislike Vet's who act as if you are just a number, the one's who don't take your questions and concerns seriously.
When I finally chose a Vet, I took my dog in for a meeting. There was no exam, no shots, nothing to be scared of. My dog is classified as 'high needs' and generally gets scared pretty easily when she is away from home. The Vet I'd chosen got right down on the floor with my dog, talked to her in the most soothing voice, all the while petting her and rubbing her belly. I knew, as soon as Cheyenne slowly started moving towards the Vet, that she was definately going to be OUR Vet. She was estatic when my previously frightened 55lb dog jumped in her lap and started licking her face.
I am eternally thankful that I did the amount of research I did, even if I did border on being obsessed with it. I haven't had one unhappy moment at all, I am completely pleased with the care my 'baby girl' is getting, and I feel as if I can contact our Vet at anytime, for any reason without being made to feel bad about it.
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Epinions.com ID:
CheyenneNY
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Location: Rochester, NY
Reviews written: 64
Trusted by: 2 members
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