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.