Changing veterinarians, for us, was a long time coming. Just as it’s important to find a family doctor you trust for yourself, it’s equally as important to find the same level of trust with your pet’s vet. Veterinarians have different personalities and styles—ultimately it will come down to whether or not you feel it’s a good fit.
Before we brought Archer home, we already lined up a veterinarian and a veterinary clinic at the recommendation of a friend. Our first checkup there was great. I knew immediately why my friend trusted him—he was awesome with a very no-nonsense approach. What we didn’t know: he was also in the process of accepting a position out of the country in a specialized field, which was wonderful for him but left us in the lurch.
We didn’t like the approach of the other vet at that same veterinary clinic, but lacked an alternative to turn to. We didn’t want to just go to another clinic (we’d rather the devil we knew) so we waited. We waited an exceptionally long time. The vet we were with wasn’t bad per se, we just didn’t think it was a good fit for us. Nothing critical.
We started asking other pup-parents about who their vet was, and if they liked them, and as time went on we started to hear a great deal about one vet in particular at the animal hospital down the road. We made the switch and could not be more pleased. Everything about Archer’s visit with her was wonderful, and her approach put us at ease.
We frequent off-leash trails and because of that we often run into many of the same people (and their pups!). Whenever I was chatting with another dog owner and the topic of health came up, I would always inquire about their vet and what they thought of him or her. As time went on, I gathered first-hand accounts of at least a dozen different veterinarians in the city.
We heard a lot from the veterinarians at the clinic nearby our house over the years. One vet we dealt with (on an emergency basis for Archer’s ) left a lot to be desired. We felt she was a little cold with us, and overly aggressive with assessing Archer. Her assessment wasn’t wrong, but her approach did not put us at ease.
But when our neighbours brought home Sirius and ended up going to that same nearby veterinary clinic, we prompted them for their opinion. They ended up with a different vet—one who owned English Pointers, hunting dogs much like Vizslas—and could not say enough good things about her. To me, this was high praise because Meagan (Sirius’ mom) is a nurse. Beyond that, I know her to be very particular and critical of the manner and care with which things are done. Hearing praise from her about one vet was enough for us to make the switch.
What do you want in a veterinarian? Is it important that they are familiar with your dog’s breed? (That was a huge factor for us.) Maybe you want a vet who has knowledge of the raw diet, or alternative medicine like acupuncture.
Some factors will be more important to you and your pup than it is to others. You can take recommendations from friends, but you won’t know if it’s a good fit for you until you talk to the new vet or at least inquire with the clinic they’re with. Be honest about what you’re looking for specifically, and see if they can accommodate.
More than anything, I have to preach that intangible “gut feeling” we all talk about. Quite honestly, if a veterinarian is gelling well with you and your pup—you’ll know. If it seems strenuous and forced, you’ve probably sensed it. You’re there for their expertise, yes, but it’s also about being a team. You, your vet, and anyone else in your dog’s life—you’re there to make sure your pup is on the right track for a happy, healthy life!
If you make the switch and aren’t happy, that’s okay. There are no hard feelings when trying to find that perfect fit. Carry on with your search, but never at the expense of your pup’s health. Be mindful of their needs, and find a veterinarian you can count on and trust.
Everything will be well worth the effort once you find that perfect fit. We did, and we hope you do too! We’d love to hear your own experiences with finding the right vet, so be sure to share in the comments below!