Research from the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that there are roughly 43,346,000 homes in the United States that own at least one dog as a pet, and 36,117,000 homes have cats. Keeping a pet is very popular in the country, but it isn’t a responsibility-free task.
While undoubtedly lovable, pets can be quite a handle to talk about. They need food, exercise, and even medical attention. Sometimes, you may even need to leave a pet behind on a business trip or vacation. In this case, finding a great veterinary hospital can really be an asset. These facilities will take care of your pet when you’re away and will be there if anything urgent happens to their health.
Even if your dog, cat or other animal is perfectly healthy, veterinarians agree that you should at least find a vet to take your pet to at least once a year. Read on to find out some tips for finding a vet.
How to Choose a Vet:
- When looking at local veterinarians, one crucial thing to keep in mind is availability. If your pet becomes sick or injured, you want to be able to get them access to medical assistance as soon as possible. Check online or in your neighborhood to see if there is a 24 hour animal hospital near you.
- Finding a vet also involves a financial element. While many people are anxious about high medical bills for their pets, many vet offices are reasonable and are more than willing to set up a payment plan if you can not pay the entire bill right away, especially if it was an emergency situation. Don’t be afraid to ask a vet office about their prices.
- When finding a vet, you don’t want to settle on the first one you come across. Not only should you compare prices and services available, but you should compare the overall “feel” of the clinic itself. Are the workers friendly and helpful? Are they all experienced workers? Talk to employees and see if you would be comfortable with them treating your pet.
- Once you do pick a vet, be sure to ask questions! You want to make sure that you know signs and symptoms that may indicate that you need to bring your pet in for medical care, and this advice should come straight from a trained professional, not the internet. Feel free to ask for some tips on how to keep your pet healthier and happier as well.
Have you ever had any experiences trying to find a vet? Tell us about it in the comments below!