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Choose a vet who you feel comfortable with and who will answer all your questions. Especially if you are a first time dog owner it is very valuable to have a vet you can trust yourself to turn to in case you suspect something to be wrong with your dog. Check out the office and see if the animals seem just frightened or if they are also out of control. Is the way they behave reasonable for the number of different animals there. Keep in mind however that a lot of pets do not like to go to the vet and have some sixth sense that tells them that this is exactly where you are going to take them. Some dogs can get so nervous or upset when just entering the vets waiting room that even trying to bribe them with a doggie treat will not help to calm them down or will only work for just a little while. See if you can get some local recommendations from friends and see if you can find out if the veterinarian specializes in small animals as opposed to bigger animals like horses and cows or other livestock. Try to get word of mouth recommendations. Asking other pet owners is not always effective because they may not have had any unusual or challenging health problems with their pets, and vets who can deal very well with routine check ups and everyday stuff often are less impressive when something not so very ordinary occurs.
You will see it really is worth the time you will have to spend trying to find a good vet instead of going through the phone book and just pick one to see how it will work out. And never ever hesitate to go and find a new vet in case you are not happy with the way they are treating your dog or when you see your dog does not feel at ease with the person who is treating it.
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Call veterinarians in your area and ask the people who work there, not the vets themselves, who they would recommend other than their own current employer. Another good source to get information is the dog groomer, as they usually hear a lot of stories about vets and any other pet related subject from their clients. If you find the recommended vet is very expensive, he or she probably owns the practice. Try one of the associates. They tend not to run up the bills so much, and a good veterinarian will usually hire good associates as well. Look for a vet who is willing to refer you elsewhere if they do not know the answers. A good vet will either be associated with a 24 emergency care plan or be able to give you the number of a good place in your area. Keep this number on your refrigerator and check regularly with your veterinarian when you visit, that this number is still up to date.
