Deciding on which vet you will take your puppy to should be a decision that is made before purchasing a puppy. If your puppy was purchased from a reputable breeder than it will be current on all vaccinations. However these vaccinations must be given on a regular basis. The puppy probably will have to have a rabies vaccination; state law usually determines the age at which this vaccination will be needed. A veterinarian will be able to provide these services in compliance with local laws. One way to decide on a vet for your pet is through referrals. If your puppy comes from a local breeder then ask the breeder whom they recommend. If you are purchasing the puppy from out of town, then ask other pet owners, animal shelters, dog trainers, or any dog club.

 

 

 

You have probably heard the age old saying "you get what you pay for". In some cases this is true but not always with vet services. As with any profession there are some people who are only concerned with making money. However most vets have a natural love for animals. When choosing a vet call a few of the places that you are interested in and ask how much does it cost for yearly vaccinations and check up. After all this is the time that you will definitely be visiting the vets office. This should give a good idea of the prices from different vet offices. Once you rank your choices you can then visit the clinics and make your decisions based on cleanliness, and boarding facilities.

 

 

 

Most clinics will have normal banking hours meaning hours of operation are from 9:00AM-5:00PM. Then they will usually open for a short time on Saturdays. However check the schedule to be assured that it is not in conflict with your own.

 

 

 

Now that you have found a vet that is right for you and your pet, what kind of questions need to be asked? Well a vet will usually be glad to tell you where they went to school. After all for those of you that don't know it is harder to get into veterinarian school than it is to get into medical school. It is a honor just to be accepted, so they are usually proud of their credentials. Achieving a Doctorate degree requires a great deal of research, so ask what type of research did they participate in while attending college. Once again this is not a typical question and a vet will usually jump at the opportunity to talk about their research. Also you can ask if he/she had any of their own research published in a scientific journal, or if any of the research that they participated in was ever published.

 

 

 

Why ask these questions? Well it will give you a chance to come better acquainted with the person that is going to be taking care of your newest family member. Also it gives you a conversation topic instead of saying it is cold outside today. Most importantly it allows you to find out what areas of medicine your vet is most interested in and how they feel about their profession. If someone doesn't want to talk about their college or there graduate research then they probably are not happy with there job and it may be best to look for another vet. When someone ask about your puppy like what kind is it, or where did you get it from, you will jump the opportunity to inform them. You vet should be just as excited about pets as you are.

 

 

 

Next you need to find out about emergency situations. Is you vet on call 24hrs. or does he recommend a 24hr emergency clinic. This needs to be discussed before an emergency situation ever arises. If you bring you dog in at 1:00AM is he going to demand payment or would he work out a payment plan for such a situation? When buying a puppy you can plan and save the money needed. In an unforeseeable emergency you may not have $3000 dollars for an emergency surgery.

 

 

 

 As a previous horse owner I had a horse that was really sick. Which when you have an emergency with a horse you just can't throw it in the car and drive to the vets office. They have to come to your house. I called the vet that had been treating my animals for years and asked him to come and check on my horse. He then asked me how are you going to pay for my visit. I told him I would write him a check, "just come quick". He said he would be there when he got the chance and didn't seem too worried. I then called another vet's office and told him of my situation and he said, "I'll be there in 15 minutes". The point is one was concerned with payment and the other was concerned of the well being of the horse. The vet that I called first had always taken my money and cared for my pets, but he had more concern with the payment than the horse (I had no and had never had any unpaid bills). As a new or old pet owner you have to ask whom would you want caring for your family. The vet that came to check on my horse that day is the one that I use and recommend now.