Prior to our last family vacation, our dog Lucy came down with something that none of us were expecting.  She is a very healthy dog and the only health problems she’s ever seemed to have was the occasional upset stomach that usually cleared up in a few days.  This time seemed a little different.

Lucy lost her appetite and I noticed she ate very little for a couple of days.  Given the lack of food she was interested in, she also became very lethargic.  I wasn’t sure what was going on as I had never seen her like this.  Needless to say, not only was I very stressed and worried for her, but we also had a looming vacation that our family had saved and planned for for quite some time.  We all were in agreement that we would postpone the trip if Lucy didn’t get better, as she was more important to us than anything else at the time.

5 Days prior to our planned trip, I took Lucy to the vet.  They ran x-rays and numerous tests in an effort to figure out what was bothering her.  Was it a parasite?  Onset of a more serious illness or disease?

Fortunately, it was not life threatening (although it could have become if left untreated).  Lucy had ingested one of her chew toys and it was clogging up her stomach/intestines.  It’s amazing what dogs can swallow.  The other good news was they didn’t have to operate.  They gave her some medicine to help it through her digestive system and assured us that she should be able to naturally pass it within 3 days (which she did).

I’m so glad she was/is okay.  By the way, we did make our trip.  Without the help of a good veterinarian, we wouldn’t have known what to do.  Lucy’s story/mishap is proof that your pet’s second best friend aside from you is the vet.

If you don’t have a trusted vet on your side, not to mention a good pet boarding facility for when you go on vacation, you need to strongly consider finding one that can become your pet’s and your family’s long-term friend.

In most cases, veterinarians work with a team of professionals made up of qualified support staff and technicians, and this makes it necessary to evaluate the competence and caring attitude of the entire vet team. It is also necessary to consider the location and fees of the hospital when making a decision; and could involve spending more money and time.

How to Get the Right Veterinarian

To get the right veterinarian, it is necessary to ask the people who have hired one before. You need to start with the recommendation from a neighbor, friend, dog trainer, animal shelter worker, and many others.

Start on the Internet, looking for vets in your neighborhood.  Here in Texas, Abilene Veterinary Clinic is the preferred clinic of choice.  They are friendly, knowledgeable and close to home.  Just as important as experience are their reviews and customer satisfaction.  Abilene Veterinary Clinic has an A+ rating with the BBB.  These were all important considerations when we sought out to find a vet.

The Yellow Pages provides important information as to the best veterinarian in the town, as it enables you to easily find the nature of services, staff and hours of work of the doctors. Another good thing is to check if the doctor has the membership of the American Animal Hospital Association. If he is a member, it means that he has met the standards of the organization in terms of quality care, equipment and facilities.

You also need to ask for board certification if you are looking for a veterinarian. The certification is given after the doctor has passed the examination required after going through study in the specialty area for between two and four years.

After making a list of the doctors based on the conditions mentioned above, these are some other things that you need to look for:

• Is it necessary to make appointments?
• Is the facility comfortable, well-organized and clean?
• Does the practice have the required number of veterinarians?
• Are the cages of dog and cat in separate areas?
• Is there convenience in location and parking?
• Are there professional staff members and technicians?
• Is the staff calm, caring, competent and courteous, and is there effective communication?
• Are ultrasound, X-rays, bloodwork, endoscopy, EKG and other diagnostics carried out in-house or referred to a specialist?

Be a Good Client

You we always have a good relationship with doctor if you have good manners.

• Visit the vet regularly for preventive visits. Do not wait until the dog is ill.
• Learn the normal things for your pet; this helps you in recognizing the the first signs of illness.
• Schedule appointments and be punctual.
• For the safety of your pet, as well as that of other pets and clients, use a carrier to take your pet to the office of the doctor.

It is Very Difficult to Break Up

If the veterinarian is not meeting the needs of your pet, it is necessary to look for a new one. If a dispute related to a fee or treatment cannot be resolved, you should contact the American Veterinary Medical Association or the ethics and grievance committee of your local or state veterinary association. A complaint can be filed with the veterinary licensing board in the state that you live if you have serious issues on medical competence.