Your vet is an important partner in caring for your pets. Regular visits to the vet for checkups allow both you and your vet to spot any problems before they become serious. Sometimes, small changes that you have not notice but are serious can be very obvious to the vet. By spotting these small changes early, these changes can be eradicated before the problems become too serious to solve.

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 in selecting your vet.

Recommendation from fellow pet owners

Ask a pet owning friend or neighbor for recommendations is a good way to start looking for a reliable vet. Another alternative is to ask for recommendation from your local pet shop.

Proximity of your vet

Distance from your place to your vet is important here. 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 serious drawback. If you do not drive, make sure your vet is accessible by public transport.

Operation hours

Select a vet that opens his clinic at least one evening per week or on Saturdays if you work during the day.

Specialist clinic

In looking for a veterinary hospital, choose one that has a particular pet only clinic like dog-only clinic or cat-only clinic. Reason for doing so is to ensure your pet will not be distress or upset by the presence of other species of pets in the reception areas.

Talk to the staff

Arrange a visit and meet up with the staff there to find out whether they are helpful and friendly. Another thing to take note is their competency level in dealing with pets. One way to find out is to ask them a few basic questions. As for the vet, make sure you and your pet are comfortable with him or her.

View the facilities

Arrange a meeting to view the facilities that the center have. Larger centers are more likely to provide more specialist services such as behavior therapy, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology than smaller ones.

When taking your pet to the vet, carry your pet in a carrier or escape proof box with visibility. You must be prepared and able to reply to questions pose by the vet in regards to 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 requests in a clean sealed container.

Do not ask anyone to bring your pet to the vet in your stead. As the pet owner, you are the only one that know the most about your pet's symptoms. Unless it's an emergency, please do not call your vet at night or over the weekend.

Your vet is an expert who should love animals and want to help. Building a three-way relationship is the key to providing the best care for your pet.