HOW TO CHOOSE A VETERINARIAN

So, you need to choose a veterinarian.  You’re new to the area, or you’re a first-time pet owner.  There are lots of veterinary practices within a reasonable distance from you – how do you pick? WORD OF MOUTH If you already know pet-owners nearby, ask.  Don’t just ask what practice, ask why.  Everyone looks for different things in a veterinarian – something that is very important to you may not be particularly important to your neighbor.  Vets and their staff come in all types – curt, but efficient; friendly, but scattered; working to the client’s convenience instead of their own.   And, from my personal experience, veterinarians can be an ego-driven lot, so make sure to ask about the vet’s personality as well. HOURS This can be very important, both for routine and emergency visits.  When I moved into my current home, I chose a practice which advertised that they were open until 7:00 PM two nights a week.  I commute to work every day, and having these two days where I could make an appointment after my work hours were complete…