Vets for Pets: How to Choose a Good Veterinarian

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When it comes to the furry, scaly, or feathered members of our family, we want to do the best we can. This is especially true when it comes to veterinary care.

We want to make sure that our animal companion is healthy and happy, which means finding the best vets for pets. The question is how…

How do we find a veterinarian that we’re comfortable with and believe will offer the best care possible? What kinds of things should we watch out for?

The good news is that we’re here to help. Keep reading for some great advice to help set your mind at ease! 

1. Ask People You Know

One of the best ways to find the right vet for you is to ask people you know and trust. These can be friends, family, co-workers, or anybody you’re close to.

The people around you can offer some advantages that will save you a lot of time in the long run. The first is that you since you already trust them, you don’t have to second-guess their suggestions. 

Secondly, you can choose to only ask people who live somewhat close by. This means that they’re likely to recommend a veterinarian that’s within a reasonable distance from your home. 

2. Look Around

Before committing to anything, you should look at the clinic and talk to the staff. You need to make sure the clinic meets your standards.

Do they share the same beliefs as you? Do they seem to enjoy their jobs and like animals? Are they willing to take emergencies after hours if need be, and can you afford them?

These are some of the questions you should be asking, although you’ll likely come up with more as you look around and talk to people.

You’re going to be seeing these people at least once per year, so you’ll want to make sure you’re a good match.

If you live in the area of Sykesville, Maryland, don’t be surprised if some of your friends recommend  Sykesville Veterinary Clinic. It has a great reputation and offers and offers a whole range of services for pets and pet owners.

3. Check Certification

As with any medical service, you’ll probably feel better if you know you’re going to an accredited veterinarian. 

Veterinarians are verified through the American Animal Hospital Association, often referred to as AAHA. A veterinary practice verified by the AAHA has proven committed to excellence in animal healthcare.

The good folks at the AAHA take their jobs very seriously. Hospitals literally have to meet over 900 criteria. 

Keep in mind that while AAHA accreditation is proof of a good animal hospital, a lack of accreditation isn’t proof of a bad one. In fact, between 80 and 85% of animal hospitals aren’t accredited. Some of those are bound to be low-quality places that offer subpar care, but chances are that a lot of them are decent places that will take your pet’s health very seriously.

The Best Vets for Pets

How do you find some of the best vets for pets? Most of it comes down to asking for advice and checking out a few places. You may also want to check for certification, but if you can’t find any, don’t panic.

We want to do everything we can to help keep your furry friends happy and healthy. Before you go, check out this list of dangerous things to keep away from your pets.

About Author

LaDonna Dennis

LaDonna Dennis is the founder and creator of Mom Blog Society. She wears many hats. She is a Homemaker*Blogger*Crafter*Reader*Pinner*Friend*Animal Lover* Former writer of Frost Illustrated and, Cancer...SURVIVOR! LaDonna is happily married to the love of her life, the mother of 3 grown children and "Grams" to 3 grandchildren. She adores animals and has four furbabies: Makia ( a German Shepherd, whose mission in life is to be her attached to her hip) and Hachie, (an OCD Alaskan Malamute, and Akia (An Alaskan Malamute) who is just sweet as can be. And Sassy, a four-month-old German Shepherd who has quickly stolen her heart and become the most precious fur baby of all times. Aside from the humans in her life, LaDonna's fur babies are her world.

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Bree Ward
4 years ago

It’s true that it’s always best to look for an accredited veterinary clinic to ensure the safety of your dog. My sister adopted a malnourished and sickly dog from a shelter, and she plans to have it hospitalized to regain its weight. I’m gonna advise her to look for accredited ones just to make sure that the dog is in good hands.

Jocelyn McDonald
4 years ago

My family really wants to get a pet cat, and your article had some great tips for choosing a vet that we can take her to for check ups. I liked how you said to make sure the doctor is accredited and verified through the American Animal Hospital Association, as this is a sign of commitment to excellence in animal healthcare. Thanks; we’ll keep this

Jocelyn McDonald
4 years ago

My family wants to get a new dog, and your article had great tips for choosing a vet we could take her to for check ups. I liked how you said to ask a potential hire if they will take emergencies after hours if needed, and if they share similar beliefs. Thanks; we’ll keep this in mind when choosing veterinarian.

steele honda
4 years ago

I like that you said that one of the best ways to find the right vet for you is to ask people you know and trust. I just got a new puppy and I am trying to find the right veterinarian to take him too. I think that asking my friends that also have dogs would help me find one that I know I could trust and that was going to do a good job.

Brooklyn Johnson
4 years ago

I like how you mentioned that when choosing a vet you should ask people you know for recommendations. I just got my first cat and want to make sure I choose a good vet for him. I will make sure I will follow your tips when choosing a suitable vet for my cat.

Bob
Bob
4 years ago

I like your tip about looking at the clinic and talking to the staff. That makes sense considering you want to know with certainty that the staff is competent enough to take care of your dog. I’ll have to consider your tips so that I can fix my dog’s broken leg.

Sam Li
4 years ago

I love what you said about finding a vet that shares the same beliefs as you. Working with the right vet can ensure that your pet stays healthy. My best friend wants to find the best vet in town, so I’ll help her find a facility that cares about filling her needs.

Shayla Cademis
4 years ago

Thanks for the suggestion to make sure I like a vet, clinic, and staff before committing to one since I’ll be visiting them at least once per year, as you mentioned. My husband and I have talked about getting a puppy for our son’s birthday and have never had to find a veterinarian before. Hopefully we can find a good one in our area!

Rosie Beckett
4 years ago

I recently accepted a job in a new area and that means I will be moving with my dog. I need to find a new veterinary clinic for her to visit and you make a great point that I should visit the clinic and get to know the staff. This way I can ask about their practice and make sure they provide the quality care my dog needs.

Jenna Hunter
4 years ago

I like what you said about checking certification. My sister has a dog that gets sick a lot. Getting a professional to see him would be really helpful for her.

Daphne Gilpin
4 years ago

Thanks for the tip to visit the vet clinic first so we can make sure they meet our standards, which is important because we’ll be visiting often. My husband and I want to get a kitten for our daughter soon because she’s always wanted one and is finally old enough to help with the care. I’m glad I read your article because following your tips will m

Mindy Jollie
4 years ago

Who knew that about 80 percent of animal hospitals aren’t accredited! That’s a crazy statistic, so it’s good to know that you can check on that if you need to. My husband and I have been considering getting a pet, and if we do we want to make sure that our vet knows exactly what they’re doing.

steele honda
4 years ago

Thanks for pointing out that one of the advantages of asking the people you know for recommendations when choosing a vet clinic is that since you already trust them, you don’t have to second-guess their suggestions. I am trying to find the right vet for the dog that I just adopted because I want to make sure that he is healthy. I think that asking

Carly Mckeen
4 years ago

Thank you for stating that before committing to anything, you should look at the vet and talk to the staff. I just recently bought a new dog, and need to find a great vet that will be able to provide her with great care. I will definitely keep all of your great tips and information in mind
when trying to find the best vet possible for my new dog.

Shayla Cademis
4 years ago

Thanks for the suggestion to make sure we’re going to an accredited veterinarian. My husband and I recently adopted a dog, and we want to make sure we give her the best care possible. Hopefully we can find a great, accredited vet in our area!

Mia Stewart
4 years ago

I like how the article explains that you should make sure to check the certification of the vet. We are needing a vet for our new puppy. We will make sure to check their certification.

Kate Hansen
4 years ago

I like how you included that one of the best ways to find the right vet is to ask people I know and trust. My dog has been really sick recently and I want to find a good vet for him as soon as possible. I’ll keep this in mind while I look for a veterinarian.

Taylor Anderson
4 years ago

I love how you said to look for a vet that is verified through the AAHA, as they will know how to properly care for animals. One of my friends loves animals and has a dog and a cat. Because of this, she’ll need to find a great vet to help her. Thanks for all the wonderful tips on how to choose a great vet.

Elisabeth Southgate
4 years ago

I appreciate your tips on finding a good vet. I found it helpful when you said to ask people you know and trust for a referral. My husband and I are thinking of getting a pet sometime soon. Knowing how to get a good vet when the time comes is comforting to know.

David Johnson
4 years ago

That’s a really good point that one of the best ways to find a vet is to get referrals from those you know. Recently, I’ve been looking at buying a dog from my friend. I’ll have to ask them about pet care as well.

Amy Winters
4 years ago

Thank you for pointing out that veterinarians are verified through the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). I’ve recently moved to a new area and haven’t had the time to take my pets in for their yearly exams. It’s good to know that I should find an animal clinic in my that is certified with the AAHA.

Randy Chorvack
4 years ago

I love how you said to make sure the vet you go to meets your standards. You want to be comfortable with bringing your pet in if there’s an emergency. If the clinic doesn’t meet your standards, you’re less likely to go to the vet, even if you really need to.

Faylinn
4 years ago

I really appreciate that you mentioned that, when looking for a vet, you should make sure that they enjoy their job working with animals. My brother and I live together and we are thinking about adopting a puppy, but we are worried about finding someone that will help us keep him healthy and happy. Thank you so much for this article and these great

Sam
Sam
4 years ago

I completely agree with you that you have to choose a good and trustworthy animal hospital for your pets. I’m sure this blog will help many pet lovers. Thanks for the post.

Jane Burt
4 years ago

Thank you for explaining that when you are looking for a veterinarian for your pet, you need to make sure that you find one that is certified as it shows they take their practice seriously. My daughter has a bunny and it has been acting sick recently so we are wanting to take it to the vet to make sure it is okay and we want one that will take thei

Jenna Hunter
4 years ago

My aunt owns an older golden retriever that is having a lot of problems as she gets older and wants to make sure that she is taken care of. She wants to make sure that if anything dangerous happens she can take her right to an animal hospital. I’ll be sure to tell her that she should look around and know where one is and then she should talk to the

Carly Mckeen
4 years ago

Thank you for stating that when looking for a veterinarian, you should look at the clinic and talk to the staff before making an appointment. I just bought ym very first dog, and need to find a veterinarian because my dog needs her vaccinations. I will definitely keep all of your great tips and information in mind when looking for a suitable vet fo

Oliver Ray
4 years ago

It is good to know 80%-85% of pet clinics might not be certified but will still offer good health care to your pets. My daughter just got a dog, and he has been acting weird and been sick a few times and we need to find a vet. We’ll be sure to keep this in mind while looking for a clinic here in town.

Mindy Jollie
4 years ago

I didn’t know that the AAHA had a verification process. My husband and I are about to get a dog, so we need to have a vet in mind when we do. WE’ll have to look into the animal hospitals in our area.

Sophia Slate
4 years ago

Thank you for your great article on how to find a veterinarian. I just bought my first puppy, and need to find a great veterinarian to take care of her. I will definitely utilize all of your great tips and information when trying to find the perfect veterinarian for my dog.

Erika Bradey
4 years ago

Thanks for the advice to visit potential clinics so you can talk to the staff. Before visiting them, it might help to come up with a list of questions. Preparing a list of questions could help you get the information you need to determine which veterinary clinic best fits your pet’s needs so you don’t forget anything.

Callum Palmer
4 years ago

I’m needing to take my dog to the vet. I think it would be good to find one that people recommend. That way, I will know for sure that they do a good job or not.

Sophia Slate
4 years ago

Thank you for stating thats when choosing a veterinarian, you should look at the clinic and talk to the staff. I just bought my first puppy, and need to find a great vet for her. I will definitely utilize all of your great tips and information when looking for the perfect vet for my new dog.