Because owning a pet usually entails a long-term relationship between the owner and animal, finding a good vet can help demystify strange behavior and keep animals at their best.
Interviewing the Vet
When meeting a vet for the first time, the pet owner should consider asking questions that may become relevant throughout the pet’s lifetime.
While specifics will be unknowable, the pet owner can ask about the vet’s approach to alternative medicines, disease/parasite prevention, and euthanasia. If the vet’s answer is markedly outside the pet owner’s views, it might be good to ask more detailed questions or to continue interviewing other vets.
Support staff often plays a critical role in the pet’s care. If the animal will be boarded, it will be the vet technicians and sometimes in smaller offices, even the reception staff who will feed, water and possibly walk the animals.
Pet owners should pay attention to how the staff treats the dogs and cats in the waiting room as well as how they respond to animals in the treatment area. If a staff member is too rough or apathetic, it is important to notice if this is typical of the staff or just inherent in that particular member.
Likewise, if the technicians and receptionists seem genuinely interested in the animals and remember them from previous visits, pet owners have a good indication that their animal family members will be well treated even without the owners’ presence.
Young Animals Need Vet Care
Pet owners of puppies, kittens, young ferrets, rabbits or other immature animals can ask their vet about proper nutrition, preventative care, and breed tendencies. For puppies, the vet can suggest chewing alternatives and can suggest gentle playing techniques with both kittens and puppies to avoid painful rough play after the animals are fully grown.
In many cases, this is also an excellent time to inquire about spaying or neutering to prevent unwanted offspring. Questions to ask should include the cost of the procedure (which typically will be considerably less than feeding and raising offspring), recovery times, and the appropriate age in which to operate on the pet.
On the lighter side, this is also a great time for the animal to get to know the health care professionals who will help the pet become a healthy, happy adult and valued member of the family.
Middle-Aged Animals
Middle-aged animals have usually outgrown some of the more destructive behaviors of young pets and settle down into their roles in the family. With the settling down often comes weight control issues.
Owners can ask the vet about portion control and discuss the best food choices for the animal. Pet owners need to retain their vigilance about parasite control and it may be worthwhile to periodically ask the vet about new advances in flea/tick barriers or other types of preventative care typical of the species.
Older Animals and Special Needs Pets
Older pets and special needs animals can have special concerns because of common health problems associated with the normal process of aging or from traumatic injuries. Vets can suggest special medications or alternative medicine in addition to changes in exercise or other modifications to help the older cat or dog.
In the case of animals injured in accidents or from breed-related problems such as dachshunds prone to paralyzing spinal injuries or hip dysplasia in larger dogs, vets can offer a clear picture of the animal’s potential quality of life and rehabilitation procedures.
In some cases, rehabilitation exercises or surgery may be an option. In other cases, the vet can refer the pet owner to related resources or to special equipment such as wheeled harnesses for paralyzed dogs.
Good veterinarians and staff members truly shine when helping families decide whether euthanasia is the right choice for the elderly or injured pet. These vets will clearly and honestly answer pet owners’ questions about the methods and pain killers used, options for burial and cremation, and the time frame the owner has to go through the process of saying goodbye.
The pet owner will also want to ask the important questions concerning cost of the procedures because fees will vary depending upon the size of the animal and possibly the regional location of the clinic.
If possible, it’s best to ask the vet or the staff these questions before it is time to euthanize a pet, both for the pet owner and for the vet.
Good Vets are Crucial to Pet’s Well-being
Finding the right vet will create a smooth relationship between the family and the professional to ensure a happy, healthy life for the special animal.
More Information
Humane Society of the United States offers additional information about vet selection and finding adoptable animals.
Bonnye Good - Bonnye Busbice Good received an Editor's Choice award for her article on Your Historic Home's Interior Design Secrets and has also written ...
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