Choosing a Veterinary Hospital for Your Family

Choosing a veterinary hospital may seem like an easy choice when you welcome a new dog or cat into your family, however there are many aspects associated with choosing the best healthcare provider for your needs. Not only should your pet vet animal hospital be located in a convenient location for you and your family to access, they should also have hours of operation that fit into your schedule. Most veterinary hospitals have evening and weekend hours to accommodate individuals who work during the day, as well as access to emergency veterinary care outside of general office hours. In addition to location and business hours, you should also consider the services the animal hospital of your choice offers to clients. For example, many veterinary hospitals offer special programs and appointments to new clients, as well as specific care for elderly animals, or patients with special considerations, such as anxiety or chronic illness. It is important to discuss with your veterinarian upon your first meeting exactly what your expectations of them and their health team are for your new pet.Puppy and kitten wellness programs are available from many veterinary hospitals. These programs offer your new animal with their initial series of important vaccinations against diseases such as rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and canine cough for puppies and rabies, panleukopenia, leukemia and upper respiratory infections for kittens. Both programs also perform early warning tests for puppies and kittens, inspecting for internal parasites and other diseases, and subscribing the appropriate medication if tests return positive. You, as the new pet owner, will also be provided with an abundance of literature and veterinary tips, providing information on topics such as diet options, recommended vaccination programs, preventative care against heartworm disease and fleas and spaying or neutering your pet. These wellness programs will ensure your new pet has the best possible start to their new life with you and will help establish a positive relationship between the veterinary team, your pet and you.Having a clear understanding of the different procedures offered from your veterinary care provider will also encourage your role as your pets' wellness ambassador. Knowing what medications, tool and techniques your vet employs will help you in choosing not only what procedures are best for your pet, but also which veterinary hospital to choose. For example different veterinarians choose different surgical techniques when spaying and neutering dogs and cats. The traditional approach to this surgery requires your animal to have an incision in the lower abdomen. This requires a longer recovery period for your animal and is more invasive. This surgery can also be performed laparoscopically, where a laser is used on the abdomen with small incisions. The recovery period is shorter for this procedure and less invasive and painful for your pet; however it is generally more costly. The surgical technique employed by a veterinary hospital may help you choose which hospital is best suited for your family.There are many aspects associated with choosing the best veterinary hospital for your family when you welcome a new dog or cat into your family.