For the past two decades, World Veterinary Day has fallen on the last Saturday in April and is a day to honor the men and women who treat those precious non-human household members. But what if you don’t have a family veterinarian? How should you choose one?
Obviously, a vet should demonstrate an exhaustive knowledge of animal medicine. A vet must also display compassion and immediately put you and your pet at ease with a caring and gentle kennel-side manner. A vet who greets potential clients with a stun gun strapped to his or her belt will fail to build a bond of confidence with a pet owner.
When first visiting a new vet, casually scan the premises for modern diagnostic facilities. The clinic should be equipped with an X-ray machine and ultrasound, and have the capability to perform EKGs, endoscopy, and other important procedures. It may be disconcerting if the shelves are stocked mostly with rolls of duct tape and all the medical equipment is labeled “As Seen on TV.”
A vet must also be familiar with the new medications available to treat common animal ailments. If the vet recommends the latest de-worming tablet because “it worked on the neighbor’s kid,” you might be suspicious of his or her ability to conduct valid clinical trials.
Closely monitor the vet during the initial examination of your pet to determine whether the vet employs traditional or unconventional veterinary procedures. You may not feel comfortable with a vet who applies WD-40 to your aging collie with hip joint problems or who uses a dowsing rod to locate your hamster’s bladder. Also, avoid vets who attempt to dislodge a cat’s hairball by using the Heimlich maneuver.
While older vets may boast many years of experience, remember that faculties such as eyesight and memory can diminish with age. For example, if the vet sits on your Chihuahua or loses the thermometer whilst taking its temperature, your confidence level will plummet. The same could be said for an overcautious vet. Avoid any animal practitioner who approaches your grumpy Siamese cat while decked out in full hockey gear, including the mask and stick.
Finally, while vets with a sense of humor may calm an anxious pet owner, they should practice clinical comedy judiciously. Not everyone will be amused if a vet tells YOU to “Sit and Stay” or giggles uncontrollably for ten minutes after suggesting “lab tests will be needed on your Labrador.”
Armed with these guidelines, selecting a veterinarian should be a walk in the park.
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for many magazines and newspapers. See GetNickT.org.
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