YQA: How to Choose a Vet For Your Pet Dog or Cat

We provide some tips to make sure you're able to find a vet that suits your needs and is there when you need them most.

6 Key Considerations when looking for a Vet

Let’s be honest. When you need a vet, you really need them to deliver so it’s important you choose one that not only suits your needs but one that will also be reliable and dependable. Below we explore 6 key considerations on how you can find the best vet for you. After all, there’s no such thing as ‘the best’ for everyone as everyone and thier pets will have different needs. We also wrap up this question with some points to look out for if you already have a preferred vet.

Personal Recommendations

Reaching out to friends, family and close contacts is a great way to find a great vet for your dog or cat. Also ask them what they like or don’t like about the vet they currently use also helps with some of the challenges you may come across. Furthermore, what are others saying online and social channels? Spending 30 minutes doing a bit of quick research now can help navigate or escape bigger issues in the future.

Think long-term with the bigger picture in mind

It’s easy to jump into the first vet that comes to mind but building a relationship with a vet is very much a win-win situation. You’ll receive better service, the vets will know your pets more, the pet will be less stressed and familiar with the process and all records will be kept in one place are just some of the benefits you’ll receive with choosing the right vet from the start.

Look for Affiliations

Social proof and community engagement is a great way to verify their level of service. If the vet belongs to or are endorsed by organisations such as the SPCA, or is a member of the the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) then chances are they go beyond the bare minimum for service. Also, looking at industry governing bodies is great way to find out what is the ‘industry standard’ or if there are any best-practice frameworks they need to adhere to.

Do they meet your needs or specialise in a particular area?

When choosing a vet it’s paramount to know be just be asking about the vet but your pets and yourself too. This includes:

What is most important to me in terms of knowledge or expertise
Does the vet need to have certain equipment over and above the industry norm to meet my needs?
Are they familiar with the tasks or personality of the pets (e.g agility training needs, specific breed requirements etc)

Do they have a passion for pets

When looking at their online and off line presence, is there a culture of care for animals? If not, this should be a major red flag. Vets need to have empathy and high levels of interpersonal skills as they’re often dealing with pet parents like yourself in high stress and vulnerable situations. If they are in the field of working with pets and people, having a passion for, or at least showing compassion for pets is a non-negotiable for providing the best treatment.

How is their service?

At a first glance, what is the general feeling of the place? Compare this with what you felt when walking out of the vets. If both were positive then chances are you’ve found a great vet. If you’re left wondering or question their service, don’t settle for second best and at minimum seek other alternatives to see what’s out there.

4 Questions to ask to make sure your vet is a great fit for your pets

If you’ve already got a local go-to vet service, heres 4 questions you can be asking yourself to make sure you’re not missing out on anything better.

Are they trustworthy?

Are you 100% happy with dropping your pet off at the vet and the feedback you receive from the vet? If so, it doesn’t really get much better than this. If not, consider shopping around again. You shouldn’t have to settle for below average service.

Are they reliable?

Do you have issues with timing, delays or no getting the service you require? Understandably urgent tasks crop up from time to time however this should be the minority of the time, not the majority.

Is their location convenient?

Are you travelling out of or across town for your vet? Sometimes it can be worth it but often long trips will just cause more stress for your pets, especially cats. Ask in your local area by community Facebook groups, neighbours or clubs for recommendations for who they use. This is a good indication for where alternative services could be found.

I there value in their rates/pricing they charge?

When it comes to paying the bills, it’s important that you’re getting value, but not at the expense of poor quality service or inferior results. Vets will always be ‘expensive’ as it is a profession that takes years to practice for. Ask yourself:

Am I happy with the price – does it seem ‘fair’
Have you reached out to family or friends to hear of any experiences they’ve had and estimated costs?
Verify the costs with other vets by providing a quicks overview of what was done or needs to be done and the cost or estimate that has been given.

In summary

Make sure you’re happy with your vet’s service and offering.
Compare costs with other vets nearby.
If seeking a new vet, research both online, offline and through family and friends.
If looking to change vets, make sure you obtain your pets history and records.

Was this content helpful?