But if you are not so fortunate as to have competant vets in the family . . . how do you choose an animal doctor to whom you will entrust the medical care and treatment of your beloved puppy or dog when it is in need? Dogs need good medical care just keeping up with general health issues and keeping vaccines current. It is essential that you have a vet who you can communicate well with and who you trust. There are a great many fine and dedicated veterinarians in practice in communities across the nation to choose from. Unfortunately there are also those who it's best to stay away from. Knowing the difference can be hard without some research on your part.
Your trips to the vet should not be traumatic for your dog (or for you either) so you are looking for a clinic or animal hospital that has a pleasant and calm environment as well as being clean. Your routine check ups are important so that your dog gets to know and trust the doctor and the staff so that should an emergency arise the people treating the dog are not total strangers. This will make treatment somewhat easier for both the dog and those caring for him or her.
Don't be shy about checking out references for a clinic, animal hospital or individual vet. Check around with other dog owners . . . even ask strangers at the dog food store . . . maybe even especially the stranger as you may get more honest answers. Ask for stories and pay special attention to the more serious treatment needs. No vet (or people doctor for that matter) will have a perfect 'cure' record. There will always be losses. There will always be horror stories. But the cream of the crop have good records and good references. The best are also willing to get second opinions and do further research on more difficult diagnoses. People skills are also important. It doesn't necesarily make for better medical treatment of the condition but you are the one paying the bill and the doctor needs to be able to empathize with your stress and communicate the diagnosis and treatment options in ways that you can understand. Ask lots of questions. If the vet isn't able to answer to your satisfaction . . . consider finding another one who will.
We hear way too many stories about treatments that haven't worked and dogs that have had to be 'put down' that probably could have been saved and lived comfortable lives with better veterinary care. We also hear way too many stories about outrageous medical treatment costs (yes, competant vet care is costly . . . but price gouging is a practice that warrants you changing vets) and recommendations for extremely costly procedures that are not realistically called for. PLEASE do some research and check out your vet options carefully. . . for your pocket book's sake and for the well being of your dog. The good vets are out there and they are very much worth searching for!
Our vets have a great enthusiasm for what they do and take each pet's condition seriously and personally. We feel like they fight for each one as if it was their own. We feel extremely fortunate that we can have such confidence in our dogs' medical professionals. (It's also great to be part of their family.) You can check out links to their web site and facebook page below.
until next time . . . . Eliot www.rosehallkennel.com
http://animalhospitaltn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anderson-County-Animal-Hospital/127521980595008
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