Although their education rivals that of physicians, not every veterinarian is an animal lover and not every vet is reliable or responsible. Finding a good vet for your pet should be approached the same way you'd look for a good family doctor. This page gives helpful tips and resources on on How to Find a Good Veterinarian.http://education-portal.com/articles/Animal_Doctor:_Requirements_for_Becoming_a_Veterinarian.html

Not every vet is an animal lover and not every vet is reliable or responsible. Finding a good vet for your pet should be approached the same way you'd look for a good physician. This page gives helpful tips and resources on on How to Find a Good Veterinarian.

• Whether you consider your dog or cat to be your baby, your best pal, or merely a respected associate, you are the one person on earth who is ultimately responsible for its health. This means choosing a veterinarian the same way you might choose a physician: with references, research and inquiries.

• The most valuable information you'll get—both complimentary and cautionary—will be from other local animal lovers. Don't be too shy to ask around: people who truly care about animals will be eager to share their experiences, good or bad.

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  The local dog park is a great spot to ask around about local vets. (Creative Commons photo by John)
• Grab a notebook and pen and visit or contact the following:
  • Dog parks
    • AnimalShelter.org has an online database of dog parks around the country.
  • No-kill animal shelters
    • SaveOurStrays.com has a nationwide list of no-kill shelters in the US.
  • Animal rescue organizations
    • SidyBoysFoolin.com provides a list of dog rescues nationwide, according to breed.
  • Pet shops
    • Ask the patrons in particular, as owners may have business connections with a local vet.

• Here's a handy basic script when casting out for a recommendation.
  • The approach: "I'm sorry to bother you, but do you know of any good veterinarians in the area?"
  • The follow-up: "What in particular do you like about this vet?"
  • The most important part: "Have you dealt with this vet in a medical crisis? How did they handle it?"
  • And don't forget: "Is there anything about the vet or his/her office that could be improved?"

A trip to the vet can be scary enough for an animal; don't let a less-than-professional vet make it even worse. (Creative Commons photo by marya)

• It's time to dig a little deeper. Notebook in-hand, go online and research the vets on your list. With online resources, you can cast a very wide net. Keep in mind that not every testimony is reliable—occasionally, a pet owner will unfairly blame a vet for their animal's health troubles—but multiple negative reviews will be a stark warning.
  • The following free sites feature user-contributed reviews of veterinarians, listed by region.
    • VetRatingz.com
    • VetReviewsOnline.com
  • The following chat sites offer discussion forums for animal lovers.
    • TerrificPets.com
    • ChatterHead.net
    • CyberPetChat.com/
    • Animal-Chat.com
    • Note: After registering, run a search for the veterinarian, or the name of your city, in order to find references to local vets.
  • Also Google the name of each vet and see what you find. Dig deep enough into the results to get past directory listings.

• Time to make your own impressions. Refer to your remaining list of recommendations, call each vet office and ask the following questions:

1. "How long has the vet been in practice?"
   • A vet who's been in practice for 50 years may be more experienced, but not necessarily better informed of the latest treatments and procedures."
2. "Does the office have an on-site Ultrasound machine?"
   • This can be crucial in case of emergency.
3. "Does the vet do home-visits?"
   • If you have an easily frightened or elderly pet, this can be a great convenience.
4. "Does the vet have a policy of excluding the owner from euthanasia procedures?"
5. "Is the vet on-call for emergencies."
   • It may not be something you want to think about, but if your vet becomes terminally ill, you may want the option of being present for the procedure.

A great vet will be not only professional and informative, but also gentle with your pet. (Creative Commons photo by Eirik Newth)

• Narrow your list down to two vets. At each, make a first-time appointment for a check-up. During each the appointment, make a close assessment of the vet. Keep the following points in mind:

1. Is the vet gentle with your pet?
2. Does he or she communicate clearly and seem to care about your pet?
3. Ask the vet if he has pets at home him or herself.
4. Do you find the vet informative?
   • While the vet is examining your pet, casually ask him or her to explain what they're doing. This can be a good gauge of their professionalism and openness.
5. Ask the vet if he has pets at home him or herself.
   • Follow up with more specific questions and note whether the vet seems to love his or her pets as much as you do.
6. Is the vet's office clean?
7. Are the receptionists and vet techs polite to you and gentle with your pet?

• You might like both of the vets you've visited, or neither (if neither, go back to Step 2). However, if both seem like caring professionals, it's a good idea to maintain both relationships: choose one primary vet and go for an annual check-up with the other.

• BestFriends.org: Finding a Good Vet

• 2ndChance.info Choosing the Right Veterinarian For Your Pet

• p>PetCareTips.net 5 Tips For Choosing the Best Vet For Your Dog

• eHow: How to Find a Veterinarian

• The Humane Society: Choosing a Veterinarian

• NaturalHolistic.com: Tips on Finding A Trained Holistic Veterinarian

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• Introduction
• Step 1: Find Other Animal Lovers
• Step 2: Research Online
• Step 3: Ask Questions
• Step 4: Observe
• Resources for How to Find a Good Veterinarian