Practical Tips to Know Which Veterinary Clinic Suits Your Pet the Best

Your pets do get sick and while some ailments can resolve on their own or can be treated with homemade fixes, there are times when the ailment is best treated by a veterinarian. To keep your pet safe and make sure that you are accommodated for emergencies, it's important that you find a good veterinary clinic before you even need one. But would you know which one suits your pet the best? Here are tips you can use:

Ask for references from people who have pets

If you have no idea where to find a veterinary clinic, begin by asking family members, neighbors or friends who have pets. If their pets are healthy and happy or have pets with recurring conditions, there's a good chance that they use the services of a veterinary clinic. You could also use local phone or online directories to find veterinary clinics in your area. Consider proximity so you could quickly bring your pet in should an emergency arise.

Personally check the veterinary clinic

Before you commit to one clinic, visit each of your choices and ask for a tour of the place. A veterinary clinic should be clean, organized and well-lit. Check out the lab equipment, cages, examination and operating tables, shelves and medical equipment. Ask what types of services are offered and what procedures are available that your pet might need. Watch out for warning signs such as unhygienic practices, dirty floors, windows and cages, old equipment and unprofessional staff. If you want a veterinary clinic that suits your pet the best, it should be a place where you can confidently bring your pets for a checkup and be assured that they will be well taken care of.

Work with a doctor you're comfortable with

Talk to the vet who will be in charge of keeping your pet healthy. It's critical that there is good communication between you and the doctor so you can readily ask questions and air your concerns. Your pet should also be comfortable with the vet. If you like the way he/she treats or handles your pet, the clinic may be the one that suits your pet the best.

Make sure you will be working with professionals

There is nothing worse than having your pet treated by an untrained and unlicensed vet. To ensure your pet's safety, make sure that the doctor/s and other medical staff that will be treating them are licensed and have the proper training and background.

In the U.S. and Canada, many veterinary clinics and hospitals are accredited by the AAHA or American Animal Hospital Association. An accreditation is a good indication that the clinic has met set quality standards of animal care. It's also a good assurance that you and your pet will only be dealing with professionals and thus can expect a high quality of care.

Finding a veterinary clinic is often one of your first concerns as a pet owner. Find out how to know which one suits your pet best.

Basic Overview - The Procedures to Be a Licensed Vet Tech

Veterinary Technicians are responsible in providing direct health care to the animals. They provide their services in animal hospitals, pet shops, pet care clinics, zoos, aquariums, medical research facilities, grooming salons, pharmacies, etc. The wide variety of job opportunities has made this job a popular career. Becoming a licensed vet tech is generally a 2-year process where a person has to pursue an academic degree course in the veterinary school and sit for the Veterinary Technician State Exam. Below is the simple guide for people who do not have any idea on how to take up this career.

Step 1 - Select a recognized veterinary school and enroll yourself to a 2-year associate degree program which is accredited by American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Step 2 - Check the entry requirements of a few universities and submit your applications. (Tip: You have higher chance to be accepted by top school if you have good score in biology, chemistry and mathematics during your high school)

Step 3 - Commence your study either through online (distance learning) or offline (study in campus). Attend your lectures and complete the classroom courses and clinical work according to the schedule.

Step 4 - Start your internship by working in a veterinary office or lab which is arranged by your school to develop necessary clinical and surgical skills

Step 5 - Obtain graduation proof and prepare yourself to sit for Veterinary Technician State Exam, the credentialing exam required by your state.

Step 6 - Sit for the exam and get it through. The exam may consist of oral, written and practical test.

Step 7 - Obtain the license to be a qualified veterinary technician

These simplified procedures aims to provide a basic understanding to people. This is to assist them to get hold of the flow of obtaining the qualification of a vet tech. For those who are really keen in joining this special line, it is advisable to obtain the detailed information from the website of AVMA as each state's requirements vary from one to another.

For more information about online veterinary technician programs and veterinary technician requirements visit VeterinaryTechnicianCareer.com.

Local Vet - Finding a Veterinarian

Your local vet is a physician for animals and a practitioner of veterinary medicine. Vets working on clinical settings often practice medicine in a limited field such as pet medicine, production medicine, or livestock medicine. A veterinarian specializing in production medicine is an expert in dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, sheep, poultry, and equine. Veterinarians may also choose to specialize in medical disciplines such as surgery, dermatology, or internal medicine, after postgraduate training and certification. Finding a local vet nearest you is easy with a vet directory.

Some veterinarians pursue postgraduate training, enter research centers, and contribute in advances in many human and veterinary medical fields, which include pharmacology and epidemiology. Moreover, legendary vets were in the forefront in the effort to suppress malaria and yellow fever in the United States. They were the ones who were determined in discovering the identity of the botulism disease-causing agent, produced an anti-coagulant that is used to treat human heart disease, and developed surgical techniques for humans such as hip-joint replacement, limb, and organ transplants.

Like physicians, veterinarians must make serious ethical decisions about their patient's care. There is an on-going debate within the profession over the ethics of declawing cats, docking or cropping of tails and ears, spaying or neutering dogs, debarking dogs, housing of sows in gestation crates, and housing egg-laying poultry hens in cages. Some of them use their skills to protect humans against diseases carried by animals and conduct clinical research on human and animal health problems.

Other vets work in basic research, broadening our knowledge of animals, as well as medical science and applied research, developing new ways to use that knowledge. They do not only diagnose animal health problems and vaccinate against diseases, but they also medicate animals suffering from infections or illnesses by treating and dressing animal wounds, setting fractures, performing surgery, and giving advice to owners about animal feeding, behavior, and breeding. They may also work with food animals and/or horses, and usually drive to ranches and farms to provide veterinary services to herds or individual animals.

Veterinarians can also perform caesarian sections on birthing animals. Others care for zoo, aquarium, or laboratory animals. When they treat animals, they use medical equipment such as stethoscopes, surgical instruments, and diagnostic tools, which include radiographic and ultrasound equipment.

Vets who are working in research, use a full range of sophisticated laboratory equipment. In addition to this, some are involved in food safety and inspection. Those who work as livestock inspectors, check animals for transmissible diseases such as E.coli, advise owners on the treatment of their animals, and may quarantine animals. There are those who also examine slaughtering and processing plants, check live animals and carcasses for diseases, and enforce government regulations regarding food purity and sanitation.

More vets are finding opportunities in food security as they ensure that the nation has abundant and safe food supplies. Those involved in food security often work along the country's borders as animal and plant health inspectors, where they examine imports and exports of animal products to prevent disease here and in other foreign countries. Many of these workers are employed by the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Division or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Veterinarians in private or clinical practice often work long hours in a noisy indoor environment. Sometimes they have to even deal with emotional or demanding pet owners. When working with animals that are frightened or in pain, vets even risk being bitten, kicked or scratched.

Find a local vet using our complete local vet directory. Visit www.localvet.com.

A Vet Assistant Training Will Help You to Find Better Jobs

Do you want to know how to become a vet assistant? Becoming a veterinary assistant is a good career option. You can find lots of employment opportunities in this field.

You can become a vet assistant through on-the-job trainings. What you can do is to find a job as an office assistant in a community animal clinic. With this job, you can learn the basics of animal care and eventually assist the vet in the day to day activities of the clinic.

Another option is to volunteer your services in a local animal welfare center. As a volunteer, you will be able to learn the basics of animal health care. If you have direct experience in caring for animals in a formal facility, then it would be easier for you to get a job.

Your career prospects would be better if you take formal training. Most animal health facilities and hospitals prefer to hire a certified vet assistant or technician with formal veterinary training. You can certainly enjoy higher salary and more employment opportunities if you take formal courses.

Getting your veterinary assistant certificate is not difficult. You can choose to take classes online in order to take advantage of distance learning programs. By taking online courses and trainings, you will be able to get a certificate without sacrificing your current job.

So if you want to have a lucrative career as a vet assistant, you must strive to get formal trainings and courses. You should also get hands-on experience so you can easily get a job as a veterinary assistant.

It is very important to choose the best vet assistant training. You can learn more on how to become veterinary assistant and how you can get a veterinary assistant certificate by visiting vet-tech-training.com

Using an Online Service to Find a Local Vet

Animal owners naturally want the best for their pets, and that begins with knowing how to care for them the right way. You may purchase reference books about caring for animals, research online on how to interact with them, or shop for the tastiest pet food ever produced. Nevertheless, it still will not be enough.

Primarily, what every meticulous pet owner needs to do is to find an ace local vet. There are several ways to go about finding vets, but frequently, the best and easiest solution is to use an online veterinarian finder. Accessing veterinarians online by going to a vet directory is quick and simple.

Among the initial steps a pet owner needs to do when they plan to bring a new animal into their home is to conduct a search of local veterinarians. Using an online vet finder can make this a remarkable process, serving as a search engine for locating, and even sorting, local pet clinics for your pet according to your specific location.

By just relying on a tittle-tattle recommendation in your search for a vet, you limit your ability to find the best animal doctor for your pet. Nonetheless, by conducting a vet search online, you gain a more complete periphery of the local veterinarians in your area, and then have the option of cross-referencing any information you receive from a fellow pet owner, local animal clinic, or breeder.

The most significant information provided in a vet search are the types of services the pet clinic provides, what animals they treat, and vital facts about the doctors who will be treating your pet. Keep in mind that it is usually best to find a vet that works frequently with the type of animal you own. This would ensure you that they will be up to date on the most recent health information necessary to your pet's well-being.

Find a local vet using our complete local vet directory. Visit LocalVet.Com today.

The Annual Vet Visit - A Vital Part of Pet Ownership

Most diligent pet owners will go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their beloved pet. Some shower their pets not only with love but with countless material goods. For some people, shopping for Fido is more important than shopping for themselves.

If the pet is injured or sick, these owners are willing to shell out thousands of dollars in order to save its life. But many people wait till serious damage control is in order before they take their animals to the vet. Although it may seem that an animal only needs to visit a vet if it is hurt or sick, nothing can be further from the case.

Dogs and cats should be brought into the vet at least once a year even if they are in the best of health in order to receive an annual check up. These check ups can be the key to avoiding future harm to your pet. They can also help you save great sums of money by catching potential physical problems facing your animals before it gets so bad that serious medical intervention is necessary.

What Happens During a Yearly Check Up

There are a number of routine procedures for the annual check up. There is generally a basic package with additional procedures that can be added on. Check ups involve:

o Health assessment-at this time your vet will perform a routine physical examination to check for any obvious signs of illness. You should bring up any questions or concerns you might have concerning the health of your pet at this time.

o Vaccinations-any vaccines that expire in a year will be given again. Certain vaccinations such as rabies are now often given only every two years. The amount of time between rabies vaccinations does vary between vets, however.

o Parasites-your pet will be checked for any infestation such as flea, tick or worm. The exam for worms in cats requires a very uncomfortable stool sample procedure. Be aware that your cat will be upset, but the procedure is fast and vital to your cat's continued health.

o Nutrition and Behavior-your vet will determine whether or not he or she believes that your animal is under or over-weight or at a normal weight. The vet may then suggest changes in diet or exercise accordingly.

For more information on the annual vet visit, visit the website of Austin Vet Clinics.

Joseph Devine

Small Animal Emergency Vet Services

Pets come in all shapes and sizes. They come from many different species and pack many different surprises as well. No matter what, our pets are our special friends and they bring joy to our lives.

Pets bring happiness, comfort, companionship and joy. However, there are many things which need to be considered when it comes to handling and keeping pets healthy, happy, and well. Some of the considerations are food, shelter, and veterinary care. Then there are the many other pet needs! No matter which pet you choose - dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, birds, etc., proper diet is a big consideration. These animals need good quality food. While they may instantly eat anything you eat, most human food is not suitable for your pets. This is why you should feed only those products specifically developed for your pet.

This same rule goes to the shelter and veterinary care you provide. When you have a pet, it becomes your responsibility as well as your joy. One of the many considerations is the health of your pet. It is very important for you to have a veterinarian. Here are some helpful hints to help you find a good veterinarian for the care of your pet.

1. TRUST - One of the most important factors to consider is that you must completely trust your veterinarian. One good way to find the right vet is to ask your friends and family with pets who they recommend. Often they know a vet who would be just right for you and your animals.

2. LOCATION - Another important factor is that his or her clinic should be near your home, or at least easily accessible for you. It is essential for your vet's clinic to be pet friendly and easy for you and your pet to enter.

3. EMERGENCY SERVICE - Your veterinarian should be there when you need them the most. They should either offer services during emergencies, or have specialists ready to cover. In case of emergencies, it is comforting to know you have the best possible care being provided for your pet.

If you want your pet to have the healthiest and longest lives possible, call Portland Vet Specialists at http://www.murrayhillvethospital.com/. They also offer pet boarding, show standard grooming services, convenient on-line pharmacy, and pet adoption program.

Vet Tech Schools - The Growing Need For Veterinary Technicians

Between 2006 and 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the employment rate for veterinary technicians will grow as much as 41%, increasing the number of jobs from 71,100 to 100,000 during this 10-year time period. This is considered a great number as it is reflects a growth rate much faster than the average. This information is good news, especially to motivated individuals who are seriously considering a career as veterinary technologists or vet techs. Excellent job opportunities await prospective veterinary technologists as the demand for this occupation is least likely to be affected by the recent global economic recession. Animals, whether domesticated or not, are in need of continuous medical care in spite of the economic slump.

The demand for vet techs is directly attributed to the rapid advancement in veterinary medicine. Pet owners and animal caretakers expect nothing but the best veterinary care using the most advanced and sophisticated techniques. This is evident by the huge amount of money spent by Americans on their pets. In 2007, it is estimated that $41.2 billion was spent on animal care and management with 24.5%, or $10.1 billion, allocated solely to veterinary care. It is believed that the cost of pet ownership is expected to increase in the coming years.

In response to the growing need for veterinary technologists, the number of vet tech schools offering degree programs has increased over the past few years. In April of 2008, 14 vet tech programs have applied for accreditation by the AVMA. In the first quarter of 2009, there are 154 vet tech programs accredited by the AVMA in the United States. Around 18 vet tech schools offer 4-year baccalaureate degrees. Recently, the number of AVMA-accredited distance learning veterinary technician programs has increased to 9.

For every vet tech graduate, it is estimated that six to eight jobs are available. In addition to the strong demand for vet techs, a career in this field can be a rewarding experience with wide-ranging opportunities. Veterinary technology is an occupation with an increasing number of specialized areas. Most vet techs work in clinic or hospital settings. They can choose to specialize in one type of clinical procedure, such as anesthesia and surgery, dentistry, diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests and animal training. For those who want to work and get involved in animal welfare, employment in animal shelters can be fulfilling. Veterinary technologists could also work in research facilities and assist in the implementation of various biomedical research and clinical courses. Some can work as herd health and livestock managers in ranches and farms; others might want to work in zoo or wildlife medicine that mainly deals with exotic and non-domesticated animals. Veterinary technologists can also find a satisfying career in teaching, military service, industrial animal health, diagnostic laboratory, and veterinary pharmaceutical sales. In May 2007, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics gave a mean wage estimate for veterinary technologists of $27,970.

Choosing and building a career around veterinary technology should not be entirely based on the occupation's promise and stability as challenges and risks are involved, as well. One should consider their genuine interest in encouraging and protecting animals' health and welfare.

To learn more about vet tech schools and veterinary technician programs visit http://www.vettechprograms.net.

Visiting a Cat Clinic

A cat's medical needs also depend on its life stage. Like people, they need occasional check-ups and regular trips to the cat clinic. The young cat and the old cat need to be taken cared of more. Vaccinations and emergency situations bring your pet to the cat clinic but what you really need to know is how often you should visit a veterinarian.

Most often, kittens go to the cat clinic for an initial check up and the subsequent visits are to get vaccinated. They may also be needed to be de-wormed by the vet. Some of the vaccinations that the vet may recommend are for feline panleukopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline calcivirus. A vaccine against rabies will also be needed by your kitten once it reaches about four months of age.

Upon reaching adulthood or one year of age, your cat needs to go back to the vet for booster shots of the core vaccines and the rabies vaccine. During this time, another fecal examination will be done as well as an overall physical examination. After every three years, booster shots for vaccines are recommended to be administered to your cat. If you want to be more careful, a once a year booster vaccination may also be put into practice. General visits to the cat clinic for fecal analysis and physical examination may be done twice a year for healthy cats and more often for cats with illnesses or certain conditions.

Once a cat reaches eight years of age, they are considered seniors or old. The general check-ups and booster vaccinations should not stop since they are more prone to illnesses. Your cat clinic should be able to remind you of schedules for general examinations twice or thrice a year. Diseases that come with the aging process in cats include arthritis and diabetes, both of which cannot be cured but can be managed. During time when your cat starts to feel pain or discomfort, your vet will be able to give you advice and medicine to make your cat's life more comfortable despite the conditions.

Bringing your cat to a cat clinic may be easy for some but other pets need some time to get used to. Prepare your cat for travel by providing a carrier. Kittens may be held in your arms but it is still recommended that they are placed in proper carriers or cages. Talk them up for the trip. A soothing voice and gentle caresses will assure your pet that things are going to be okay. Do not forget to bring treats and water when you go for a trip to the cat clinic. Your pet may feel anxious and get stressed. Water can help them relax and adapt to the place.

Make sure that when you get to the cat clinic, you keep your cat calm as to reassure that it is safe. If possible, always make an appointment with the same doctor every time you visit a clinic.

Find out more about cat vomiting and also learn more about cat neutering by visiting our website today!

A Day in the Life of a Veterinary Technician Working in a Clinic

The veterinary clinic is the one place that most people associate a veterinary technician working in. This position is one of many vet tech jobs that many of the credentialed veterinary technicians have to choose from and is the most popular one. The vet technician training does not always teach the student how to handle stressful situations. This can cause a problem for a new vet tech when they weren't expecting to have to handle these types of situations during the course of their work day. When the first time there is a day that doesn't go quite right, this individual may be surprised. This veterinary tech working in a clinic environment will perform many duties during the course of a day and not every day will go as scheduled.

When the morning started off very calm and everything went as scheduled and then, in the afternoon, it suddenly becomes quite bizarre with one emergency after another, the stress began. The first incident began the afternoon at the front desk when everyone wanted to be checked in or out at the same time, the next in an exam room where the animal was very scared and crying and screaming at the same time, and the next in the surgery room when the animal was bleeding profusely and efforts to stop it weren't working. This can make for a highly stressful day and at the end of it the new vet tech can't wait to leave.

Then, at 5:00 PM, a pet owner comes running in holding their very sick little dog. So, this day will be not only stressful, but extra long. This may make the vet tech wonder if the veterinary tech salary is worth the stress. During this day, the vet tech has given injections, taken x-rays, assisted at the front desk by answering the phone and scheduling appointments and checking patients in and out of the clinic, stitched up large gashes on a cat that was attached by a wild coyote, restrained an animal that was very afraid of the large veterinarian when he came in the room to exam him, and worked overtime to calm down an emotional pet owner and take care of her sick pet. After a calm morning, and a stressful and long afternoon, the day ended on a good note when the vet tech was able use the knowledge he learned at the vet technician school to diagnose and treat the last patient of the day and send the pet home with the emotional pet owner calmed down and very appreciative. This is what makes the vet tech realize why they went into this profession, for the care they can give to the animals that come into the clinic and for the gratification it can bring back to them.

Otto Ingrid is very passionate about animals. He is determined to provide everyone with loads of information about veterinarians, animal hospitals and this industry. If you'd like to find out more about this topic, please visit vet tech salary or vet tech salary and find out everything you want to know.

Veterinary Schools - An Option to Avail If You Want to Become a Vet

Veterinary schools are meant to dress with the required knowledge and training all those who want to be in this field. Veterinary science and medicine is basically related with the diagnosis and treatment of the sick, injured and infectious animals. The number of those students is increasing on very high rates who are opting for veterinary field as the field of their careers. It is supposed to be the answer to the skills and aptitude of those students who tend to have a liking for the animals, an urge to know and to treat their different diseases and infections.

The best place where these students can get the best possible education and knowledge to initiate a successful career in this field are veterinary schools..these schools are being found all over the world in order to fulfill the demand of specialization needed in the respective field. Education at different levels is being provided in these veterinary schools.

Training, education and knowledge are three important things that are necessary to know in any field where you want to excel or want to adopt as career. Veterinary schools specifically provide education and training regarding animal care and the cure of their diseases and the respective surgical methods. Courses along with degree programs are being offered at these schools. It is up to the aptitude of the student, what he or she wants. It is recommended to go for a short span of veterinary course before initiating a degree program in this field as it will provide the student with the basic concepts and learning reading veterinary medicine.

There are different professions that can be opted after having finished and acquired the required education and training from these veterinary schools. You can become a veterinarian, a vet technologist, a veterinary pathologist, neurologist, surgeon etc. it is up to the student what does he want to opt for and then carry on acquiring education in the related field from the veterinary schools. It is very important t get the specialized education if you want to be a veterinary doctor. How to cure animals for the respective disease, how to conduct different surgeries, how to establish their immunizations and how to diagnose their different illnesses,; all the related knowledge and training can be gained at the veterinary schools.

As a student who wants to join this career should not worry at all as how to proceed further in this profession. You can take the online help and there you can do the research as to know about the reputed veterinary schools which you can join to learn the related knowledge and to get the required training.

LEO'S PET CARE is a full-service veterinary medical facilities like vet clinic and animal hospital Indianapolis. LEO'S PET CARE seeks to provide the best possible medical care for their patients.

Finding a Vet - Choosing the Right Caregiver For Your Pet

Proper health care for your cat or dog is important. Consequently, choosing the right veterinarian is no small matter. Like other doctors, all vets are not alike and neither are animal clinics. Doing a little "legwork" before your pet needs medical attention can make a great deal of difference when the need arises.

Just to be clear, this is not about good or bad veterinarians. Vets are health care professionals and as such have invested a considerable amount of time and money to establish and maintain their practices. This requires the kind of dedication that comes from the desire to help. Simply put, vets do what they do because they love animals and have the best interests of their patients in mind. This is about finding the doctor or clinic that best suits your needs and those of your pet or pets.

Research: See who is available.

So, where do you start when it's time to find a doctor for Fido or Fluffy? At the risk of stating the obvious, the first step is to find the vets or clinics in your area. Start with the 2 most popular resources: the Yellow Pages and the internet. This will give you a list of possibilities along with phone numbers and addresses. The odds are good that many listings or websites will also provide more information, such as the specialties of a particular vet, the clinic where he or she practices, etc. So, after this simple step, you should have a wealth of data at your fingertips. That was easy, wasn't it?

Networking: Get some opinions.

Now it's time to see what you can find out about those vets and/or clinics. Start by asking around. Your friends and family are a great resource. If you've just moved to a new neighborhood, ask your neighbors if they can recommend someone. A possible bonus to this approach, of course, is the opportunity to meet your new neighbors and their pets.

Now, for those of you thinking, "Why not just call the closest clinic and make an appointment?", that would certainly be one approach. On the other hand, there's nothing quite like a "word of mouth" endorsement. A little networking may also bring other points to light, like pricing. Unless your pet needs to be seen right away, it's probably worth a little bit of your time to check around before picking up the phone.

Direct Contact: Check it out for yourself.

Once you've gathered any information you can, you're ready to start making those calls. If one particular vet or clinic is well recommended, it makes sense to make that one first on your call list. Don't just jump right into making an appointment, however. Talk with the vet or a staff member about any special needs your pet has, the specialties of the doctor or doctors, emergency services and any other concerns you may have. Don't be embarrassed to ask about fees for checkups, shots or any other services. Your pet's health is your primary concern, but it's important to know how hard your pocketbook is going to be hit.

If things sound promising, ask when you might be able tour the facility and meet the staff. While this may sound unusual, it is actually quite common and most animal clinics will be happy to oblige. This will give you an opportunity to determine your comfort level with the caregivers and the environment. While each pet owner will have some concerns of their own, here are a few items you way want to check:


Cleanliness Comfort for your pet:
Is there a convenient area outside for your pet to relieve him/herself? Is the waiting area large enough to keep pets separated?
Services and Equipment available on-site:
Emergency/trauma services X-rays Endoscopy Ultrasound EKG Lab work (blood, etc.) Surgery Dental procedures Boarding (Check for comfort and safety.) Grooming
Staff: Courteous and knowledgeable? Parking/Loading Hours and availability:
Evenings? Weekends? After hours: Is a doctor on call for emergencies?
If possible (and if you won't be charged for an initial visit), take your pet along for the tour. If your dog or cat is comfortable with the surroundings and staff, you're probably on the right track.

Last, but not least, remember that a little courtesy on your part will go a long way. Don't be rude or impatient; you're dealing with a medical facility and staff and their chief priority should be the health and welfare of the patients they're seeing. This also applies after you've chosen a veterinarian or animal clinic. Try to keep your appointments and arrive a few minutes early. If you need to reschedule, do so as early as possible. Handle payment and billing issues promptly. Control your pet when you're in the clinic. Keep in mind that these people are the second most important in your pet's life.

Doc Crandell has worked closely with animal care professionals since childhood. He now writes pet-related content for Remmeer.com, a retailer of quality gifts and accessories for pets and pet lovers. Visit their online store for unique items like dog costumes and clothing and cat lover's fashion accessories.

3 Tips For Finding Low Cost Vets in Your Town

With the rising cost of vet bills, finding an affordable vet makes sense. But sometimes it can be hard to know where to look. Here are three tips to help you find a low cost vet in your area.

One of the best places to look for an affordable vet is through the local humane society. They are very likely already working with a veterinarian that works at a reduced rate.

If they are not, they can likely point you in the direction that you need to go, or give you some additional resources.

The second way to find one is just to call around and ask what their prices are. If you call around to three veterinary clinics and ask what the average price of a spay is, then you can get a general idea of prices.

One potential downfall of this approach is that sometimes vet clinics charge a reduced rate for spays to get new clients, but overall their prices can be more expensive.

The third way to find one is by driving. Veterinarians set their prices by what the average income is of households in a 3 to 5 mile radius around the clinic.

Often times just by driving to an area of town where the level of household incomes is lower, you can find a vet that charges less.

Also remember to ask your current vet if you can get a break on prices. Sometimes they will give you one if they know you are a good client that pays right away.

Use these three tips the next time need to find a low cost vet in your town.

To learn more about this go to: Negotiating With The Vet For A Lower Bill

Also visit my blog: Help With Vet Bills

Does Your Vet Have Chihuahua Allergies?

Just because a vet has a dog for a patient doesn't necessarily mean they know everything about Chihuahua care. Before you get a Chihuahua, make sure your vet knows about Chihuahua care. How do you choose a vet for your Chihuahua? Hopefully, you will have a choice of vets in your area, but any vet is better than none! Pick one that is close to you, but also professes to know about Chihuahua care, including care of Chihuahua allergies.

Because of the Chihuahua's extremely cute little button nose, they don't have the air passages that most dogs with longer noses have. They are, therefore, far more prone to breathing disorders and to making extremely strange noises not common in most other breeds of dog. Any allergen like dust, pollen, cigarette smoke or even perfume can act as triggers to Chihuahua allergies and cause these alarming, but usually not life-threatening, breathing problems.

One place Chihuahuas get extremely agitated at is the vet's office. If your vet has never treated small blunt-nosed dogs like Chihuahuas before, the vet might misdiagnose a problem. How to choose a vet for your Chihuahua? First, ask if they often treat Chihuahuas. Vets are so busy that it does not pay for them to lie in order to get more business they can't attend to properly. If they are not familiar with Chihuahuas, they will refer you to a vet that is.

Be sure you know who your vet is and how to get to the office before you bring home your Chihuahua. In many places in the world, emergency vets operate 24 hours a day, but are more expensive than a regular vet or a vet clinic in a large pet store. It is good to know where both your regular vet and your emergency vet are before any emergency arises. Keep their phone numbers by the phone or displayed in a prominent place so you don't have to waste time hunting through the phone book in case of emergency.

There is no known treatment for Chihuahua allergies that trigger asthma like wheezing, whoops, snuffling or honking. Even elimination of the allergen is not a guarantee that theses alarming episodes will stop completely. These bizarre noises are apparently the muscles of the pharynx going into spasms. They tend to ease off when the dog is calm and escalate when the dog is upset.

Smokers better not own a Chihuahua, because cigarette smoke often triggers attacks. Be careful with strong perfumes, incense, potpourris or scented candles. When a Chihuahua goes into an attack, it will look a lot worse than it is. This condition is not life threatening. Calm your Chihuahua by petting, distracting with a toy, not getting upset yourself, and don't yell. It is always good to check with a Chihuahua knowledgeable vet to be sure there isn't any other obstruction in the nose or throat when you first spot these attacks, or if they worsen.

As a dog lover the Sandra Dean has spent time studying the history of dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a diverse breed suitable for certain types of households. As a bold breed, the Chihuahua is highly protective and loyal of their owners. Knowing Chihuahua information can help you determine if it is a breed right for you.

How to Choose a Good Avian Vet

We've all been there, done that. Made an appointment with a vet that claims to see birds, only to find out that the only bird they 'see' on a regular basis is the one that eats from the feeder outside their office window. How do you find a good vet in your area? Take the following questionnaire and see if it can't help you in your search.

1). Is the vet you are considering listed in the AAV -Association of Avian Veterinarians?

2). Is this vet recommended by any local clubs or rescue organizations? (1 point)

3). Go visit the clinic. Is it clean? Does the staff seem friendly and knowledgeable? Are there bird magazines or other tell-tale paraphernalia in the waiting area? (2 points)

4). Call other local vets and ask for a referral to a 'bird' vet. What names do you get? Do any of them suggest the prospect? (1 point)

5). Does the vet you are considering own a pet bird? (yes, 1 point) Do they breed birds? (if yes, add an additional point)

6). How many years has the potential vet been treating exotics?

1-3 years (1 point)

3-6 years (2 points)

6+ years (3 points)

Suggested Evaluation:

14 points or more: Is that the choir I hear singing? Book an appointment!

10-13 points: Probably a decent bird vet.

6-9 points: Worth a try, if this is one of the few in your area.

Less then 6 points: Is this the only vet you can find? Yikes! Be very careful.

Now that you've found a vet you want to try, lets go over some basics for the first visit.

The First Visit:

1) Are there any other birds waiting? Can you hear any other birds in the back?

2) Are there appropriate bird related items in the exam room? For example, towel, gram scale, perches, etc.

3) How does the vet handle your bird? Is he/she confident, and gentle? Pay close attention to how your bird reacts around the vet- their intuitive feelings are oftentimes better then ours. Does the vet talk to the bird? Does the vet ask the bird to step up instead of just grabbing it?

4) Be sure to ask questions! If the vet gets annoyed with your desire to understand as much as possible, be aware. Most vets automatically explain the process of what is happening (eg, "Now I am going to towel Pickles and palpate the breastbone"). Are your questions answered carefully and thoroughly?

5) Is the vet explicit about home care, and what to do with the bird once back at home. Does he/she provide any information about the best possible home setup for a sick bird, and offer any additional advice? If the vet is recommending measures such as handfeeding, giving medication, or other measures, can they explain the proper protocol for carrying out their instructions? Are they willing to show you how to best restrain your bird and give them oral medications?

6) If possible, consider paying the first bill with a credit card. That way, if anything is to go wrong, you'll have someone 'on your side' with leverage- you can dispute the charges and the vet won't get paid until or unless the card company is satisfied. The vet is more likely to try and satisfy you if they have not yet received payment.

Finding a good avian vet can be a long and often frustrating process. Don't be afraid to ask questions, seek recommendations, and interview any prospects before actually bringing your animal into the clinic. Once you find that gem of a vet, you'll want to keep them for years to come!

If you read this article and found it helpful, consider stopping by my website http://www.BirdToys.com

You can also find me and over 22,500+ other parrot owners at http://www.BirdBoard.com where you can ask questions and get immediate feedback.

Choosing The Right Vet

When it comes to choosing a vet, it's worthwhile doing a thorough check before committing your time, money, and your dog's health into anybody's hands - no matter how highly recommended they come. All vets have the requisite degrees and credentials, but it's how they interact with you and your dog that really makes the difference. Shop around and make an appointment with several vets: this is an effective way to benchmark your eventual clinic of choice's standards of healthcare and client service.

Where to Start Looking

Ask around. Word of mouth is the best way to find a healthcare practitioner, and vets are no exception to this. Speak to your friends who have dogs; if you see any especially well-cared for dogs out and about (particularly of your dog's breed), ask the owner which vet they go to.

Another goldmine of useful information is the breeder or shelter that you got your dog from - presuming that all their animals are well-cared for, this is another excellent way to find a good vet.

One more option is to question the trainer who handles dog obedience or puppy school in your area; they can generally recommend a quality clinic as well.

Considerations to Make

Obviously, there are some specific things you'd want to weigh up when deciding which vet to go with. Listed below are some of the more important aspects of veterinary care to consider:

- Location. You need to weigh up convenience against quality: it's great to have your vet within easy distance of your house, but you don't want to sacrifice good animal care for the sake of extra driving time. On the other hand, emergency care is important too - time can make the difference between life and death in emergencies, and you don't want to be driving for an hour just to reach the clinic. Try to find a balance between quality care and ease of access.

- What kind of office hours does the vet keep? It's going to be a real drag if you have to take time off from work to take your dog in for a routine checkup.

- What's your impression of the office, the waiting room, and the examination room? All should be clean, well-kept, warm and dry. There should be sufficient space in the waiting room for you and your dog to sit comfortably while you wait for your appointment. The examination room is important: cleanliness is obviously paramount, but look at the details, too. Is all the equipment put away safely? If your dog starts thrashing around or leaps off the table, there shouldn't be anything left out of place that he can hurt himself on. The table should be wiped down after every use; all surfaces should be resistant to water and dirt; and so on.

What are the staff like? Do they set you and your dog at ease? Do they answer questions willingly and with a smile?

- How does the vet interact with your dog? Obviously, some dogs are going to be upset at the vet's no matter what happens, but you can tell from a quick observation whether that vet has compassion for animals. Does the vet offer other services, like boarding, grooming, and training?

- Ask about emergency and after-hours services. Is there such a service at this clinic? If not, they should recommend one to you.

- Money is an important consideration as well. Does the clinic accept major credit cards? What about if your dog needs an unforeseen operation or expensive treatment - are payment plans an option?

Making the Decision

This is a pretty big decision. Your dog is totally reliant on you for his healthcare; you're his spokesperson for the eventual decision, too. He can't speak up and ask all the questions that are most relevant to him, like you can when choosing your own doctor; so don't be afraid to speak up! Choose wisely, and you and your dog should enjoy many years yet together.

Colin Pederson is the webmaster of http://dogobedienceadvice.com, the site dedicated to informing all dog owners about correct training techniques to encourage and build a healthy relationship with your dog. Take advantage of his experience and knowledge of dogs in dealing with your dog's aggression, chewing, barking, digging and other behavioral and training problems.

How to Choose a Good Veterinary Clinic?

Choosing a good veterinary clinic is no different than choosing the right doctor for your personal health. However there are fewer clinics around than doctors so careful consideration must be given in order to ensure that pets get the quality pet care they deserve. If you are a pet owner looking for a good veterinary clinic, try the following tips. They will help you find a veterinarian that both you and your pet would be comfortable with.

Gather Veterinary Clinic References - The First Step

This is a very common practice by pet owners and is usually the best place to start. If you are a pet owner, it is very likely that you know other pet owners such as family members, friends or neighbors. Start off by asking for references from them about pet clinics. If you are new to the area and don't know anyone, a good place would be visit the local pets mart. They will able to provide you with good references as well as local listings of pet care clinics in your area.

Gather Information about the Veterinary Clinic - Part of the Process

Gathering references is just one aspect of information gathering. A good pet clinic should have an active website up and running. It should list details of all the services they provide along with all the required information about the staff and more importantly, the veterinarians, their education and their qualification. More than likely the website will feature visual pictures of the clinic as well as their equipment, all of which is valuable information.

Pay a Visit to the Pet Clinic - See It for Yourself

References help, but nothing gives more satisfaction than personally visiting the clinics. This serves as a good opportunity for pet owners to visually inspect the facility, interact with the staff and meet the veterinarians face to face. They would be able to gain valuable insight on the types of services they offer as well the facilities they have available for pets at their clinic.

Meet the Veterinarians - A Must

The main reason to visit a veterinary clinic is to get a first hand impression of the vets. The vet has to be qualified and experienced in pet care. They should be established and should have sufficient number of years of practice under their belt. Pet owners aren't the only ones that need to feel comfortable with the vets. Pets have a significant say in this as well. This is where a vet's experience and handling of pets comes in to play. If the pet is comfortable with them, then pet owners are more than likely to trust them with their lives.

Veterinary clinics for pets are not in the same abundance as health clinics for individuals. This does not necessarily mean that they are hard to find. The good ones however do require some research on behalf of the pet owner. By following the above mentioned tips, pet owners could be sure that they their pet is in safe and able hands.

Pet care Carrollton

Is Vet Tech an Ideal Career?

Veterinary technician is also called veterinary nurse. This profession is very unique in promoting animals' health and welfare. The vet techs are responsible to provide necessary treatment and assistance to the animals. It is a challenging job where it requires high level of animal interaction and good clinical skills. However, is this profession an ideal career?

In fact, this profession has a great employment trend as it has a very high demand in the employment market. There are a wide variety of job opportunities in this service industry, such as in the veterinary hospitals and clinics, zoos, pet shops, grooming salons, animal shelters, biomedical research centers, livestock management companies, veterinary pharmacies, etc. At the same time, it generates lucrative income which provides a comfortable lifestyle to the vet tech. Furthermore, it is also a stepping stone for many veterinary nurses to climb further to become a licensed veterinarian.

Being veterinary technicians, it is always great for them to gain self satisfaction from their work as they are carrying an important social responsibility. Most of the time, they get involved in rescuing animals' life and providing proper treatment for animals. Besides assisting the animals to obtain better health care, they also make their contribution to the environment.

However, this can be an unpleasant job. Some people may hate working in the vet hospitals and animal shelters. Most of the time, they have to clean the cages, kennels, stables and exam rooms. Besides, they have to collect the animals' urine and blood to perform various medical tests. This working environment is definitely not as comfortable as in the office. Furthermore, this profession exposes the vet tech to certain health risks. They may be bitten or injured by the animals and they have to always expose themselves to certain chemicals during their researches.

To some of the vet nurses, they are always depressed when they provide treatment to those seriously sick, abused and badly injured animals. They have to face the death of the animals very frequently. These types of situation make them feel upset and moody. Moreover, they are very stressful especially when there are many emergency cases need to be settled. It is also tiring when they need to work in long hours to provide intensive care.

To sum up, it depends very much on your personal view to conclude whether vet tech is an ideal career or not. If you have a lot of passion in animals, it is a definite answer that this job has great fun.

For more information about veterinary technician career and veterinary technician schools, visit VeterinaryTechnicianCareer.com.

Vet Tech Week - 5 Great Ideas to Honor Veterinary Technicians

Vet Tech Week is in October every year, and this year it is October 11th to the 17th. Now is the time to start planning how you are going to make this week special for your staff. To make it easier for you, here are some suggestions on how to create a great week and show them how much their hard work is appreciated.

1. Catered Lunches

I'm sure everyone is sick of eating the same frozen lunches everyday. Why not let them pick which restaurant they want catered in for lunch.

2. In House Massages

Why not go the extra mile and bring in a masseuse so the whole staff can get a 15 or 30 minute massage.

3. New Set of Scrubs

Your staff might appear to have every color of scrub out there, but a new pair is always appreciated. Or, instead of new scrubs, how about offering an in clinic laundry service, so they don't have to take their dirty scrubs home?

4. Homemade Sweets

Homemade cakes and cookies always seem better than the store bought kind. Go even further by writing your vet tech's names on the cake with frosting. Also, you can show how well you know them by baking their favorite flavors.

5. Newspaper Article

No other clinic will do this so just submit a quick article on how your clinic is honoring your vet techs and tell about their education and degrees. This is also great advertising for the clinic too!

These are just a few ways you can celebrate this week. With just a little more planning ahead, you can make this National Vet Tech Week more memorable.

For 27 great ways to celebrate Veterinary Technician Week, please visit my website at: http://www.veterinarytechnicianweek.com

More Than Just Animal Instinct - Veterinary Practice Marketing Skills For Vets

As any business-minded person knows, people love their pets. They are willing to splurge on their little companions to keep them happy and healthy. You don't have to love animals to start up a vet clinic and capitalize on the lucrative business of pet care, but a good set of business skills for a profitable vet clinic visited by a steady stream of loyal pet owners certainly wouldn't go amiss if you are a vet who is thinking of starting up your own clinic. To run a profitable business you really must develop Veterinary Practice Marketing skills.

Some of the basic Business Skills in your Vet Practice include: Take care of your best employee i.e. yourself. As healthcare providers to animals, veterinarians are subject to burnout like providers of human healthcare. A good clinic owner knows and is able to recognize the signs of an impending burnout and can counteract this before it happens. Sometimes, work fatigue can be dealt with by taking a short break from work, or redirecting yourself towards aspects of veterinary healthcare other than the one on which you are currently focused. This gives you some respite while allowing you to still practice veterinary healthcare. A vet who can do consistently good work is a vet that pet owners like to visit, translating into more traffic to your vet clinic.

Good organizational skills should not be underestimated. Ensure the clinic's appointment book isn't jam packed with engagements. While it is tempting to cram in as many appointments as possible, and it is possible, doing so will actually hinder your ability to carry out a satisfactory examination on an animal and sap you of energy in the process. Appointments should be scheduled based on the reason for the visit. Things like routine checkups and wellness progress monitoring need less time than new patients, old animals or medical priorities.

The ability to communicate well with pet owners is a business skill that every vet should cultivate. Take the trouble to ensure that a pet owner receives information on matters relevant to the care of their pet. Being a veterinarian isn't just about selling animal health products or services; you also provide information is vital to the pet owners' peace of mind.

You can learn business skills for a profitable vet clinic as you go, but the learning curve can be steep. Thus, it is advisable to do as much research as you can on how to run a business before taking the plunge. Get some good small business marketing coaching from the experts and make sure you are in a good position to apply Veterinary Practice Marketing techniques to grow yourself a very profitable business. And as always in life, your determination and commitment to your goals play an important role to ensure the success of your own business!

If your Vet Clinic is not as profitable as you need it to be, then learn the basics of Veterinary Practice Marketing before your business suffers any more. You can get the free DVD showing you how you can Double, Triple and Quadruple the profitability of your Veterinary Business, prepared by a successful Vet and small business marketing coach who knows exactly what you need.

5 Services Veterinary Clinics Should Provide

Compared to private clinics and public hospitals, there aren't many veterinary clinics available for pets even though almost every other household in America has pets as part of their family. In light of this, it is very important to make sure that the veterinary clinic you take your pet to should be fully equipped to handle most if not all types of common pet related issues. Here we will focus on some of services clinics should provide to pets as well as pet owners in order to establish themselves as a good and efficient clinic.

1. Physical Exams at Veterinary Clinics

One of the most common ways of finding infections and disease symptoms is through physical examination by veterinarians. However in addition to visual inspection, certain tests must also be conducted in tandem. Veterinary clinics should be able to provide a complete set of tests necessary for in-depth physical examination for cats, dogs and various other types of pets.

2. Nutritional Counseling For Pet Owners

Pet owners are ultimately responsible for their pet's health and well being. In order for them to be good pet owners, they need to be fully aware of their pet's nutritional aspects. What is good for humans can be fatal for pets. A very common example of this kind of food is chocolate. Veterinary clinics should make a part of their calendar to provide adequate and informative nutritional counseling for various pets to pets owners.

3. Pet X-Rays

X-rays are critical in determining any severe fractures or bone damages. They can also detect early stages of swelling and bone marrow caused as a result of a broken bone. A broken bone if not diagnosed and left untreated can have severe consequences on a pet's life. clinics should be fully equipped to handle any pet emergencies and various types of pet injuries.

4. Proficient Medical Staff

Medical technology is useless without competent technicians who know how to work them and are familiar
with how to interpret their results and readings. Aside from good knowledge, they should also be well trained to handle pets and be able to demonstrate great patience. A pet owner has to feel completely safe and secure about handing over their pet to them. It is therefore imperative that clinics only employ qualified veterinarians, expert medical technicians and professional receptionists.

5. Pet Vaccinations

This goes without saying. Every veterinary clinic should have plenty of required and optional vaccines for both cats and dogs. Pets need different vaccines at different stages of their life throughout the year. Clinics should be fully functional to administer them at ease for all pets.

These are just a few things that vet clinics can focus on you implementing in their infrastructure. Make sure that the local veterinarian in your area provides the above mentioned services. A good vet clinic is one that accommodates all types of pets and is ready to deal with any and every pet emergency swiftly and promptly.

Veterinary Clinic

How To Choose a Vet

Your pet's veterinarian is second best friend, next to you, and an important partner in protecting their well being. This article will help you to

o Choose the perfect vet for you and your pet.

o Evaluate your current level of veterinarian care.

Evaluating veterinary services is an important part of every pet owner's role. Whether you are a brand new pet-parent or a seasoned owner, take the time to carefully evaluate your vet, both before making a selection and on an ongoing basis.

Remember, every pet is unique, every owner is unique, and every pet-owner relationship is special. It is important that you evaluate your vet on a pet-by-pet basis; a vet who was perfect for your previous pet, may not meet the needs for the current one. Similarly, owners of multiple pets may find that separate vets are in order to keep the entire brood healthy and happy.

Luckily, there are plenty of veterinary services to choose from; the right one for you is just waiting to be found. At the end of this article you will find a checklist for making your decision.

Qualities of Your Ideal Vet

The ideal vet for you and your pet is someone who will become your partner in caring for your little friend. Your vet should be friendly, compassionate, and caring. They should be confident in their treatment of your pet, willing to answer all of your questions, and exhibit a genuine love of animals.

Be sure to ask your vet about their education, their specializations, and whether they have any pets of their own.

Emergency Services

Emergency services are not offered by every vet and not necessarily a top priority for every pet owner, but when an emergency does occur it can be nice to see a familiar face. If your vet does not provide emergency services, ask about what you should do in the event of an emergency and how you can best prepare yourself and your pet.

1) Collect a List of Possibilities

o Ask friends for referrals. Be sure to ask what they like about their vet and what they wish they could change.

o Ask at your local pet store. Pet store owners and employees are an un-tapped resource, but they talk to pet owners all day and often have several of their own.

o Look through the phone book.

2) Make an Initial Call

o Did they answer the phone quickly?

o Were you placed on hold and, if so, were you attended to in a reasonable amount of time?

o Was the receptionist friendly and informative?

o What are their general rates for a check-up?

o How many vets are on staff? Will you be assigned to a specific one?

o Do they offer evening and weekend hours?

o Do they provide emergency services?

After this first call you should be able to narrow your list significantly.

3) Visit on Your Own

o Schedule a visit or drop by to see the office and meet the staff.

o Do you find the waiting area comfortable?

o Is the staff friendly and helpful?

o Does the overall image evoke your trust?

o Is the location accessible for you and your pet?

After this visit you should be able to narrow your list down to two or three clinics.

4) Visit with your pet

o How comfortable is your pet in the office?

o Are there many other animals in the waiting room?

o Do they have separate waiting rooms for cats, dogs, and small pets?

o Does the staff respond well to your pet, and does your pet respond well in return.

o Does the vet seem comfortable and confident handling your pet?

There are few animals that enjoy visiting the vet, so don't be too concerned if your pet doesn't appear to like any of the clinics on your list.

For the best advice on pet supplies and information, look to Pet Insurance Comparison at http://www.pet--insure.co.uk/index.htm to find out more information.

Use Good Veterinary Practice Marketing to Be Your Own Boss and Open Your Own Vet Clinic

Even while you were studying at veterinary school, you were formulating your master plan. Upon graduation, you would make your bones, no pun intended, while learning the ins and outs of the veterinary health industry. Next, you would strike out on your own with the nest egg you carefully built up and start your own veterinary practice.

You are feeling pretty proud of the business plan you drafted all by yourself. But, ask yourself this: when 9 out of 10 businesses fail within a few years, is that money and a good business plan actually enough to keep the vet clinic of your dreams open?

Good Veterinary Practice Marketing is key to being a profitable business as a veterinarian. Deciding you want to open your own clinic is one thing, but actually having a market for your service is another! The area or neighborhood in which you want to establish your vet clinic plays a big part in the success of your practice. Do many pet owners live there? Are there other vet clinics in the vicinity? What do you have to offer that makes your own clinic stand out from the others? It would be an exercise in futility to open an animal clinic where there is no demand for it.

It may an affront to your noble sentiments, but you need to think of your veterinary practice in terms of career, business and profits. A career brings in money while a hobby spends it. A clinic is a business, not welfare. If you want a profitable business career, it means that your efforts need to be profit-oriented. Profits ensure that your clinic will survive and thrive. Having a business plan is a good start and then get whatever training will help you to become a Master at good Veterinary Practice Marketing. Doing what you love can be used to your advantage if you get paid a commensurate amount for your skills and services.

You must always know the basic rules. There is much paperwork involved in starting up a vet clinic, which also depends on the location. It generally includes obtaining business permits or licenses from the state or city as well as the registration of the name of your business. You should also be aware of the county or town's legal requirements. To avoid any confusion, consult a local official.

Of course, there is more to starting up your own veterinary clinic that what you have read. Getting paid to do what you are good at is every person's dream job, but always be prepared for any speed bumps along the way.

BIO:

If your Vet Clinic is not as profitable as you need it to be, then learn the basics of Veterinary Practice Marketing before your business suffers any more. You can get the free DVD showing you how you can Double, Triple and Quadruple the profitability of your Veterinary Business, prepared by a successful Vet and small business marketing coach who knows exactly what you need.

Vet Prices - 14 Tips to Help You Reduce the Cost of a Vet Visit

Vets aren't cheap...in fact in a lot of cases they are more expensive than doctors. However, the are a necessary part of owning a pet. Listed below are 14 tips to help you reduce your vet care costs while still ensuring your vet is adequately looked after.

Tip 1: Look for affordable vet care: Don't limit yourself to private veterinary clinics; there are other options such as humane societies that offer vet treatments at a discount. DIY isn't advised. A three legged dog really isn't that much fun!

Tip 2: Vets with payment plans: If you don't have the cash up front there are some vets that offer payment plans. If the rates are still good and there is an interest free period then it is worth considering. Be careful however, as you may pay a premium for using a payment plan.

Tip 3: Don't buy pet food from your vet: It is generally overpriced. If you do prefer the top quality pet food, shop around for a wholesaler. Craps from the butcher are a good cheap alternative.

Tip 4: Get all of the proper vaccinations and treatments for your pet: While this costs you money up front, it is definitely less than curing a condition if your pet gets sick.

Tip 5: Go to a pet welfare agency etc for your pet vaccinations: Check out if there is a welfare agency in your local area that offers cheaper vaccinations. Their prices will be considerably cheaper than a normal veterinary clinic.

Tip 6: Treat your pet's ailments straight away: Fixing an initial problem straight away is generally cheaper than trying to fix the problem once the ailment has progressed.

Tip 7: The very cheapest vet isn't always the best: Just like with Doctor's, there are good and bad vets. Going to the cheapest one could cost you more money, or worse your pet, if they make a mistake. Costs are definitely a factor when choosing a vet, but also consider the quality of the vet as well. A full waiting-room is generally a good sign.

Tip 8: Consider vet schools: Taking your pet to schools where people are learning to become vets is a great way to save some money on vet fees. And don't worry all students are under the command of a fully qualified vet.

Tip 9: Don't rush into decisions: Don't feel pressured to agree to high priced treatments. Ask that you have a few days to think about it (this gives you time to research the issue and to see if other options are available). If they say no, then walk away and politely say you will be using the services of someone else. If they want a decision straight away it generally means they will be making a lot of money from the treatment.

Tip 10: Keep up to date with flea, tick and heartworm prevention: These proactive measures save you money in the long term.

Tip 11: Ask for generic prescriptions: As with prescriptions for humans, there are generic prescriptions for your pets. Ask for these and save yourself some money.

Tip 12: Urgent medication: If your pet needs medication urgently, use the vets one for the first three or four days and then order the rest online.

Tip 13: Not all vaccines are necessary: The number of vaccines depends on where your pet lives and the interaction they have with other animals. For example, things like "kennel cough" may not be required if your dog doesn't spend much time with other dogs.

Tip 14: Ask your vet how you can reduce costs: Always ask your vet what alternatives there are and if there is any way you can save money. If you don't ask you don't get!

Rusty is an affiliate marketer with eight years experience. His areas of expertise include SEO, articles, ezines, blogs and PPC. Rusty is particularly interested in the areas of goal setting, time management and financial and money management. Rusty is married with three young children, is an Australian national and currently lives as an expat in the Middle East. If you want to check out all his money saving tips visit http://www.1000moneysavingtips.com or http://www.1011moneysavingtipsebook.com.

Bait and Switch by Vets

From past experience we have had GREAT veterinary that always took care of our dogs. We have two golden retrievers who we take great pride in. Our vet's husband passed away so it was the wife and a couple other vets who would rotate in and out to help them with the process of selling the clinic.

We get a letter in the mail said that one of our dogs was due for a shot. I said ok that sounds good and we phoned the vet to see when we could get our dog in for the shot. They set a date with us and that day woke up and went into the vet's office to get the shot. I sent the wife to deal with it because I was currently working that day.

I got a phone call around 3pm at work and it was my wife. I asked what the matter was and she WAS PISSED! She told me that the vet has taken advantage of her and this one shot turned into a $400+ bill. I asked why the bill came out so high. This is where their bait and switch scheme comes in affect. If you do not know the definition of Bait and Switch here is it. An illegal sales tactic in which a consumer is lured by a low price only to be told that the "special offer" is no longer available and steered to a higher priced product.

What happened was that they sent the letter to have a shot done; when my wife went in she told my wife that the dogs needed, TWO BLOOD TESTS, TWO WORM TESTS, and some other odds and ends. My wife asked do they really need this and the vet responds with "YES, I strongly suggest you to!" My wife was a little hesitant by the Vets PUSHYNESS pretty much telling my wife if you do not get these other shots and tests you don't care about your dog.

So my wife said ok if you say so, usually before they sold the clinic they will discuss how much or around how much everything will cost. This lady didn't say a word about money so my wife thought it wouldn't go over 100 dollars. After all is said and done it came out to $400.00+ so what they did was Baited my wife in and switched everything on her. They had multiples of the same tests but different ways of doing it. Double charging for the same test.

Here is the run down if you think it is a bait and switch from a vet. If you get a letter in the mail that says you need to get a shot for your animal. Call for the animal to get taken in for the shot. Secondly, go to your clinic on the day of your appointment and MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOU ARE THERE FOR AND ONLY FOR THAT REASON. If they keep telling you that you need this and that, either Walk out or be VERY stern and say "I AM ONLY HERE FOR THE SHOT NOTHING ELSE" if they keep trying to push other shots, meds on you, simply just walk out. Do not fall into a Bait and Switch from a Vet.

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Vet Websites

You should look into vet website to see if one can benefit your veterinarian practice. In the business world today every business really needs a website to thrive. Today there are more and more veterinarian websites online than ever. Veterinarians are waking up to realizing the potential that websites can afford them.

Innovative websites are providing important services for the clients of caring veterinarians. You can attract more clients to vet clinics when vet places are established online. Vet places can provide a fantastic avenue for advertising your services as well. These types of websites can let the people in your community know of your presence. When new people search for vet websites a list of vets will come up for them in their local community.

There is all kinds of information that can be shared on vet places. All of the critical information that new client would want to know about a vet clinic can be shared on websites. People who have all kinds of different pets can go to the vet places that are online now to learn all kinds of information about them. Certain vet websites will have detailed information about the day to day care for certain breeds of animals. People who love animals are happy to find vet places online that give detailed information on how to take better care of their animals. When websites are intelligently designed they will attract more clients for the veterinarian. Vet places that are interactive are the most popular ones on the Internet.

Vet websites are also a fantastic marketing tool. Veterinarians send out information about their current specials on vet website. New clients will be less hesitant to come into veterinary clinic when they see your vet websites online. A new patient can get a good feeling about what type of veterinarian clinic it is when they read what is on these websites online. Other kinds of pet care products can be offered for sale on vet places. A easy way to boost income revenue is to offer other pet care products on vet places. Making the website interactive so the customer can contact the veterinarian is also beneficial. It is a good business practice for the vet to be able to have easy communication between them and clients. A new client that can have instant communication with a veterinarian through a website is more likely to follow through and bring it in for pet care. The vet clinic clients can also they their payments with credit cards via veterinarian websites.

Arslan writes about vet websites.For more information on vet websites see http://vethubs.com/?p=Find_A_Vet

Vet Clinic - One Important Place for the Pets

A Vet clinic is the place where pets either go for general checkups or for the treatment of some grave ailment or after having met with some accident. There are some tips that you can keep in your mind before selecting and choosing a vet-clinic beforehand so that you can take your cat or dog or any other animal for occasional or regular checkups and in order to save the hustle if your pet has met with an accident or it needs urgent and special medical care.

Searching for the repute of a specific vet clinic

You are supposed to look for those vet clinics that tend to have a repute of their own. There will be many such in your locality and you might come across a problem as how to choose one. The first and the foremost step that you are to take, is to check the repute of that pet clinic. This you can know by getting in touch by certain pet breeders, other pet owners, pet service providers etc because these people come in contact with the clinics on the regular basis. You can ask their references and then, go and checkout on your own to have an idea about the suitability of that vet-clinic for your pet.

Visiting shortlisted vet clinics to make an idea

After you have short listed the clinics depending on their repute, the next step that you are to take is to pay a visit to those selected ones. It is very essential as it will help you out in knowing what kind of facilities, a specific clinic offers and how it gets to be different from the services being offered by so many other ones. You can also have an idea related to the facilities, environment and professionalism of that very place.

Knowing the veterinarian

The next step is to make sure that the veterinary doctor operating in that vet clinic is highly skilled, experienced and educated. It is very important to know because that counts as significant for the well being of the pets. It goes without saying that a veterinary is supposed to be very gentle and loving in order to share a bond with the animal, he or she is supposed to treat. After paying two to three visits to that vet clinic, you will also be able to know whether your pet goes well with that vet doctor or not. It will help you to either strengthen your decision or to make you to re decide it.

So, these are some tips that can be kept in mind while going to select a clinic for the pets as this place counts as very significant for them.

LEO'S PET CARE is a full-service veterinary medical facilities like vet clinic and animal hospital Indianapolis. LEO'S PET CARE seeks to provide the best possible medical care for their patients.

Veterinary Costs - Tips to Lower the Vet Bill For Your Dog Or Cat

Did you know the average American dog owner spent $785 last year on veterinary costs? Cat owners got off a little cheaper spending $516 according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

Veterinary costs have skyrocketed in the recent past thanks in part to improvements technology that require expensive equipment that was not part of a vets resources as little as five years ago.

With all kinds of pressure on the family budget during these difficult economic times, money spent on your pet's health may become a real burden. You love your pet but the vet bill falls into one of those "do we really need it" categories. That means shots and exams may be missed.

It doesn't have to be that way.

If you really think about it, is there anything that you can't get for less if you really look?

Did you know you can probably reduce the cost of veterinary inoculations by nearly 50%?

Shots are probably the most common vet expense that you have. Typically an adult dog will need on average, $145 worth of inoculations each year. That doesn't mean that's what you have to pay for it if you shop around.

Remember the good old days when many vets had "shot clinics"? These were usually scheduled once per week on an evening or weekend day. Shots were half price. So what happened?

Many vets have stopped this practice but that doesn't mean all of them have. Call around to the vets in your neighborhood and see if they have discount shots. If the answer is no, find out what they do charge for inoculations.

Did you know if you don't mind driving a bit you could get all veterinary services at a lower cost? Vets typically set their prices according to the average household income of their service area which is typically no more than 5 miles from their office. For example a vet in Beverly Hills will charge much more than a vet in East Los Angeles.

If there is a neighborhood near you with a lower household income, call the vets in that area and see what they charge.

Another great resource for finding lower veterinarian costs is your local animal rescue organization. Often times they are already working with vets or a clinic that offer discount care.

Aside from shopping for services, there are a number of other things you can do to treat your pet at home if you know how. Take the time to research home remedies for your pet and save some more money without sacrificing your pet's health. You'll be glad you did and your pet will love you even more.

Did you know that not all pet ailments need to be treated by a vet? Do you know which ones can safely be treated at home? I have to admit I didn't and ended up spending a bundle on veterinary costs when I didn't have to. For the answer to these questions, plus a FREE Home Pet Care Mini Course visit http://homeremediesfordogs.info

Finding the Best Local Vet

When finding the best local vet for your pet, choose someone who makes you feel comfortable, who spends time to talk to you about your pet's needs, and who answers your questions completely. In the end, you are entrusting your pet to this professional and paying for the service that is why they should better be good.

Evaluate the cleanliness of the office, as well as the exam rooms, and the concern of the staff. If the staff is impatient with you, or does not want to respond to your questions, move on and keep searching.

Some owners prefer to go to vets who specialize in a particular animal, like for cats only or dogs only. Such veterinarian has plenty of experience with canine or feline health issues and knows the latest studies, procedures, and other cat- or dog-specific medical information. These veterinarians also keep the appropriately sized medical equipment and supplies on hand for cats or dogs, which makes the visit much less traumatic for your pet. In addition, there would not be any dogs barking in the office if you own a cat, or cats meowing if you have a dog. When you find a feline only or canine only veterinary clinic in your neighborhood, it is worth checking out to distinguish whether or not it meets with your approval.

Subsequent to finding the vet whom you like for your pet, keep his/her name, address, phone number, clinic schedule, and the directions to the clinic. If you or another family member needs to take your pet in for a checkup, all the information will be easy to get.

Find a local vet using our complete local vet directory. Visit LocalVet.Com today.

Outraged at the Size of Your Last Vet Bill?

Did you spend more on your last vet bill than you did on rent? Are you always worried that you are being over charged for unnecessary procedures at the vet clinic? If you are you are definitely not alone.

Each year veterinary costs rise at twice the rate that your salary does. So if you think vet bills are becoming more costly you are right. Fortunately there are things you can do to get the power back. After all it is your money and you should have the power to choose how you spend it.

Before any procedures are done at the vet clinic make sure you always receive an estimate of the charges. More vets these days are providing estimates, but if you are not offered one, please ask for it, it is your right.

Starting with the estimate you can haggle with the vet about what is truly necessary. Ask them to explain each procedure on the estimate and what benefits it will have for your pet.

If money is an issue tell them to only do what is absolutely necessary. We love our pets, but most of the time they can get by with the basics.

There are lots of other simple techniques that can be used to prevent sticker shock at the vet clinic. If you are struggling to pay your vet bills it does not have to be that way. With just a little more knowledge you can get the care your pet needs at a price that will not leave you floored.

Outraged at the size of your last vet bill? Don't let it happen again. Visit: My Vet Bills.

Help with vet bills and learning how to prevent large vet bills is available.

Dog Vet Visit Tips

Vet visits do not have to be a traumatic and stressful one for your beloved pet. No matter how healthy and clean your dog is, the day will come when it will have to see a vet. Your dog must be vaccinated against rabies and other K-9 diseases by law. Only a licensed vetenarian is legally authorized to administer these and the certificates. No doubt there will be other times when your dog becomes ill and a visit to your local vet will be required.

Think about how much you like going to a doctor. The fact is, most people do not like this visit. By the same token, it only makes sense that dogs do not like going to the vet. When you add the fact this poor animal has to put their trust in a total stranger whom they cannot communicate with, it can be even more stressful. A vet visit can be very traumatic for your dog, but it doesn't have to be. There are several things that you can do to relieve your precious pet of this trauma.

First off, dog owners can start off right by bringing their dog into the vet office just to for friendly vet visits. The vet's receptionists should then have an opportunity to visit with your dog and this should be followed by the owner rewarding them for good behavior. Dog owners should also perform mock exams at home with their dog by checking ears, toes, tails, teeth, and touching their dog with a metal object, similar to the ones used at the vet clinic. Another tip is to enroll your puppy in dog kindergarten or basic training class. This is an excellent way for owners to get help with various technique as well as give their dogs the much needed practice of being around other people and pets before their visit to the vet. It's important that dogs learn that "Good things Happen" when people do certain things to me by giving them rewards which are associated with the various aspects of an exam.

The next thing you should do before scheduling vet visits is getting recommendations from others. Your friends and neighbors surely will have pets and will recommend a good vet. Often times the veterinarian itself can make the difference in a pleasant visit for your pet or one that results in a complete disaster.

Once you have located a vet you like make it a point to stay with that particular one. Dogs can easily develop relationships with people and this is something you want to have happen with the vet. If they are comfortable the vet, then their visit will be less stressful each time they go. If you have an emergency if may not be possible to go to your regular vet, but try as much as possible as it will be less confusing for your dog. Sometimes vet visits are a result of an emergency and this isn't possible, but try to stick to one vet. In these cases, ask if you can stay with your pet as it will be less confusing. Having you there with them can make all the difference in the world. Most vets will gladly allow this unless the treatment involves surgery.

Dogs must also learn to relax while being lifted onto the vets examination table. You can help this process by practicing at home, lifting your pet up on the counter. Once at the vet's office, stay positive and try to keep it fun for the dog by using treats and toys. You might want to practice the exam while your waiting for the vet to call your dog in. Using tricks can also help to reduce stress for everyone involved, including the vet staff. If you have to restrain your dog, remember that the least amount of restraint reduces the amount of stress for the dog. A dog that is confident, comfortable and relaxed will result in a more thorough exam for the pet. As the owner you need to understand that it is your responsibility to make sure your dog behaves while being examined.

Vet visits for dogs can be very stressful for both the owner and the pet. However, by using some common sense as well as the tips mentioned above, these visits for your dog can become less scary. In addition, the visit will become less traumatic for you, your dog, and your vet.

For more information about dogs visit our comprehensive website at "All About Dogs" or better yet... check out our ebooks "Dog Owner's Guide" and "Pamper Your Dog"