Choosing a pet healthcare provider is an important part of pet ownership. Not only will the vet help keep a pet healthy and up-to-date with vaccinations and checkups, but the vet may play an important role in the care of the pet should injury or illness befall the animal. Owners shopping around for a healthcare provider for their pets should look for the following:
Friendly, Caring Attitude
Good customer service skills should be a given at any business, but it's not always a guarantee. Good customer relations at a pet healthcare provide is important because it's an indication of how the workers interact with animals when their owners are not around. Pet owners should feel that they and their pets are welcome, that there are no annoying questions when it comes to animal healthcare and that the workers genuinely love animals. That way, if the owners must leave their pets in the vet's care, the owners can trust that their pets are being treated kindly.
Flexible Scheduling
It's more convenient for most pet owners if appointments can be made outside of normal work hours. Many pet healthcare providers offer evening appointments at least once a week and are sometimes open during the weekend.
Expertise in the Animal
It's typically not difficult to find vets who are practiced in treating cats and dogs, although pet owners may want to request a specific vet at the office who specializes in cats over dogs (or vice versa) or a certain breed. However, owners of more exotic and less common pets, such as rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians, need to be especially sure that a vet had treated that type of animal before.
Provides Services During Emergencies
The best pet healthcare providers will instruct pet owners on how to reach a vet on staff at any time of the day, even on holidays. Pet emergencies can occur at any time and a stressed pet owner may be left wondering what to do if the vet is closed at the time. The best animal healthcare providers will provide pet owners with an emergency number and invite the owners to contact a designated emergency person on staff at any time in the event of an emergency.
Flexible Payment Options
Some animal healthcare providers are willing to work with clients to offer flexible methods of payment. Owners with pet insurance should make sure that the vet office accepts that insurance carrier before setting up an appointment. Owners may also want to look into payment plans, such as monthly statements or signing up for credit cards through the vet office that can help with no- or low-interest long-term payment plans. Vet offices that demand full payment immediately after services without any payment assistance can prove a burden to the pet owner if a pet needs expensive surgery or treatment performed.
Pet owners are free to change pet healthcare providers at any time if they find something lacking in their current providers. Still, taking the time to try to find an excellent vet office from the beginning can save a pet owner stress during a pet care emergency.