Choosing the Right Veterinarian and Why It’s Not About the Money

The only thing more important than your furry best friend is choosing the right veterinarian to care for your pet in times of need, stress, injury and even annual wellness exams. It can be a challenging and stressful process, what with all the information available online as well as any input you get from family and friends. As you do the research and make your decision, here are a few things to remember.

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Veterinarian:

1. Education. Some vets go above and beyond Veterinary School and get board certifications like ABVP (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners). Also, if your pet has a complicated medical problem, you might want to go to a vet who specializes in that condition.
2. Bedside Manner. Just like human doctors, vets come with all different personalities. It’s up to the pet parent to decide if they want someone warm and fuzzy, a good listener, or perhaps someone who’s more to the point, efficient and gets the job done.
3. Medical Practices. Are you looking for a vet that can offer cutting edge medical practices with the latest technology, or do you just want basic medical care? That’s good too, especially for pet parents who are on a budget, but you always have to be prepared in case your furry friend will need more. That’s why it’s a good idea to have pet insurance, as well as a second vet in mind for when he or she may be needed.
4. Support Staff. Vets rely on their support staff to keep the clinic running, and ensuring the comfort of pets and their parents. Do you want warm and friendly staff that knows your pet by name? How important is it for you to know what goes on behind the scenes?
5. Location and Hours. Having a vet that is near your home is often the most convenient, however, it may not be the best clinic for your pet’s needs. Also, important to consider are the clinic’s hours. Often times, just like with humans, a lot of emergencies happen during the evening and weekend hours. If you work Monday through Friday, or perhaps even night shift on weekends, those are all things to consider when choosing a vet.

Once you’ve chosen a veterinarian, the bill you get at your next visit might shock you. But it’s important to remember that the most important reason someone goes into veterinary medicine, is his or her abiding love for animals.

5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Complain About Your Next Vet Bill:

1. It’s Not About the Money. Veterinary schools cost about the same as human medical schools, and they’re just as competitive to get into because there are so few of them, and the average veterinary salary is less than a doctor or even a dentist.
2. It’s A Business. Veterinary medicine is a business that has expenses, and needs to make a profit in order to keep the business thriving.
3. The Cost of Quality. Highly skilled and well-trained staff costs money, but they are worth it. Most veterinarians and their staff are underpaid for the quality of pet healthcare they offer.
4. Pet Medicine vs. Human Medicine. All supplies, equipment and facility costs of a veterinary clinic are very similar to their human medicine counterparts, but veterinarians charge their clients much less for the same services. Imagine getting the same test and procedures done without health insurance and then compare that cost with your last vet bill.
5. Pet Insurance. If the amount of love pet parents had for their furry best friends could pay out in dividends, we would all be millionaires. Unfortunately, sometimes those with the biggest hearts must bare the burden of a smaller wallet. If you are someone who’s on a fixed income, or have trouble paying veterinary bills for other financial reasons, consider investing in pet insurance. Most providers offer plans for as little as $30 a month, and coverage of up to 90%.

Having pets is a wonderful, joyful, and humbling experience. The unconditional love they give their pet parents is one of the purest forms of love that cannot be bought or even replicated. But just like everything else in life that’s worth having, there are certain contributions that have to be made. Pets cost money. Just as pet parents must buy food and toys, as well as provide shelter, water, affection, training and exercise for their furry best friends, veterinary services are part of the packaged deal that comes with being a good and responsible pet parent.