When it comes to your pet’s health, there can be no lapses or oversights. Availability of the proper health care for your pet could very well mean the difference between life and death. It is therefore of the utmost importance that you register your pet with the right veterinary practice.

We all know the immense importance of regular appointments with a doctor. The same principle goes for your pet as well. When you have the perfect veterinary practice at your disposal, you can be certain that your pet will live a long full life baring and unforeseen accidents.   

Finding the perfect veterinary practice is a somewhat tricky task as there are numerous veterinary practices to choose from, each with its own strong suits and weaknesses. 

Some attributes of one veterinary practice may be perfect for you, but how do other attributes affect your pet?  

It is quite important to consider the pros and cons as well your pet’s position in it all.  So, when choosing the perfect vet practice, you must consider which is best for you as well as for your pet. These are the major things to consider in your search for the perfect veterinary practice.

Distance

In the case of an emergency, the difference between survival and death could boil down to minutes, and if your pet’s life hangs in the balance, every second count.

You would not want a veterinary practice that is a couple of hours drive away from you, in an emergency, the distance becomes a very real threat to your pet’s survival. Think of the time it would take you to get to the veterinary practice, after all, fewer hours on the road can only be good for both you and your pet.

Opening hours

Every normal office has their opening hours; the veterinary practice is no different. As a pet owner, you should consider a veterinary practice open during the time where you would be off work. It would not be entirely ideal to take time off work just so you can take your pet to the vet.

Personal Recommendations

Just like any other service, you may require, one of the most reliable ways to assess the perfect veterinary service for you is by personal recommendation from a fellow pet owner either a friend, an acquaintance, colleague or even neighbor. They would better tell you about their experience when they took their pet over to the veterinary practice.

Specialization

For most veterinary practices, typical medical and surgical procedures are easily done, but there are instances when the services of a specialist are required. For instance, in the case of a compound fracture, MRI scan, or other complicated procedures. While searching for the perfect veterinary service it is imperative that you consider their specialty.

Range

You must also consider the range of animals the practice caters for. This is a very important aspect to consider especially if your pet is unusual, rare or exotic. It would be worth finding a vet who has experience with the species.

Other Services offered

Apart from the primary medical care offered by every veterinary practice, some veterinary practices also offer additional services that may just be the thing you need for your pet. Extra service could be obedience classes, training, grooming and lots more.

Animal Handling Practices

Every pet owner or animal lover naturally want their pets treated as humanely as possible, and would always make sure that their pets are in the best hands possible. It is, therefore, necessary to verify the way the staff of your veterinary practice handles your pet. Nobody wants their pet rough handled.

Also, if your pet was being treated and held for observation, you would naturally be concerned about what is going on, the staff of your veterinary practice should be able to provide you with the information you so badly need.

Registration Status

This should be one of the first things to consider when selecting the perfect veterinary service as it is illegal for anyone who isn’t registered to practice as a vet, just as it is illegal for anyone without a medical license to practice medicine. Be sure to verify your vet’s status before settling for the best veterinary practice for you and your pet.

 it is also worth knowing that there are certain standards by which you could assess your veterinary practice. For example, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accreditation shows that the veterinary practice meets or exceeds the AAHA standard and it would be safe to assume that they would provide top-notch healthcare for your pet.

Waiting Period

This is another question to which you need an answer. You need to know how long it would typically take to schedule an appointment for a routine appointment and an emergency as well.

Price

When it’s all said and done, the price of a veterinary practice plays a very vital role when searching for a perfect veterinary practice for you. No matter how much the other characteristics of the veterinary practice suits you, if the price lies beyond your reach, it becomes unattainable. And unattainable is far from perfect for you. So it is quite important to find out the price for routine appointments and some other services as well.