Animal Hospital Maryland
How to Choose an Animal Hospital
For many of us, our pets are part of the family. So it should come as no surprise that we want to choose the person or place that will be providing medical care for our pet very carefully. With these tips, you can feel confident that you are choosing the best veterinarian and animal hospital for you and your pet.
Often the easiest starting point is family or friends who have pets of their own. Ask where they take their pet for care. Be sure to ask what they like and don’t like about the animal hospital. If you don’t have friends or family available to ask, visit places where pet lovers congregate to ask for suggestions. Your local dog park or pet store is a good place to meet up with these people.
After you have asked around, you will probably find a few names that were mentioned more than once. Head to the internet to do some research on these names. Check your local state’s veterinary board to see if any complaints or malpractice suits have been filed. Make sure the license of the veterinarian in charge of medical care at the facility is legitimate and not expired or suspended. Look for disciplinary actions as well.
If you feel comfortable with the animal hospital you have chosen, call the office. Ask about fees, the length of appointments and the staff. Obviously, you want to be sure you can afford the care provided. The length of appointments will give you an idea of how thorough the care is. If appointments are short and scheduled back to back, it’s a fair bet that the veterinarian is going to be rushed. This increases the odds that something will be missed or your questions won’t be answered.
Not all animal hospitals require their veterinary or x-ray technicians to be registered. Ideally, you want anyone in contact with your pet to have proper training in handling animals. This should include groomers as well. When asking about the groomers’ training, be sure to ask whether animals are sedated for grooming. If the answer is yes, you may want to reconsider this animal hospital.
When you visit the facility, ask for a tour. A legitimate animal hospital should have no problem showing you all areas in which pets are handled such as the kennel, exercise areas or operating room. If they refuse to show you any areas, consider it a red flag and move on to another hospital.
Make a list of questions prior to your visit. On your first visit, you may want to ask about the veterinarian’s experience and treatment philosophy. Some are more aggressive in preventing or dealing with medical issues. Ask questions to make sure you are getting the right match.
Choosing an animal hospital is not something you want to take lightly. It is a decision that can have profound effects on you and your pet. Take the time to fully explore your options so you can be sure you have chosen the right one for you and your pet.
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