Choosing The Right Veterinarian for You and Your Dog

by Dr. Mikel Delgado, PhD

Your veterinarian will take care of your dog’s behavioral and physical health throughout their entire life. They will help you with general wellness, breeding services, preventative care (such as vaccines and deworming), as well as be there for you when your dog has urgent health needs. Here are some suggestions on how to find the perfect veterinarian!

Searching for a Veterinarian

Where do you start your search for a veterinarian? Personal recommendations from people you trust, such as family, friends, fellow breeders and co-workers, are a great place to start. We also ask our Good Breeders to recommend veterinarians to help our Good Breeder community get the support it deserves. 

You can also check with:

• Search for a board-certified theriogenologist in your area via the American College of Theriogenologists (ACT) website
• Breed clubs
• Online directories, such as Angi, Yelp, Nextdoor or similar sites
• Pet insurance companies
• Local animal shelters or rescues
• Your current veterinarian or dog trainer

When selecting a veterinarian, consider a clinic that has accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and a Fear-Free certification. AAHA accreditation indicates that a veterinary practice has been independently assessed on multiple standards of safety and care, including anesthesia, pain management, emergency response, and surgery. Fear-Free certification means that the members of a practice have undergone additional training on working with companion animals safely and effectively, while minimizing fear and stress during veterinary visits.

Checking Out Veterinary Practices

Here are some questions to consider as you get started. You can get answers to many of these questions by calling or visiting the practice, or from a clinic’s website.

• Do the location and hours of operation work for you? Is the practice relatively convenient for you to get to? Are they open at times that you can make appointments?
• Is the clinic accepting new clients? Some practices are closed to new clients so call before you need an appointment.
• What are their fees for care? You’ll want to have a rough estimate of what to expect to pay when you take your dog in.
• Does the clinic accept your pet insurance plan? If you have or are considering pet insurance, make sure that your plan is accepted there.
• What medical services does the practice provide? Does the practice offer reproductive services? Does the practice offer only routine care or do they also do diagnostics or have specialty services? Some practices refer out to specialty hospitals for some types of care.
• What is their recommendation for veterinary emergencies? Some practices have an established relationship with a particular emergency practice. Your regular veterinarian may or may not be able to take on urgent or emergency cases during regular hours of operation.
• Do they offer in-home services? If you have limited mobility or if your dog does not travel well, look for a veterinarian that offers housecalls.

What about telemedicine?

Telemedicine refers to the practice of providing some form of medical care or advice remotely using technology. 

If you are an established client at a veterinary practice, your veterinarian may be able to provide telemedicine, depending on the laws of the state in which they practice. This could include assessment or diagnosis of your dog via a video call or mobile app.

Increasingly, teletriage services are available, including outside of a standard veterinarian-client relationship. Teletriage is conducted by a licensed veterinary professional (e.g., a veterinarian or veterinary technician) to help determine if a pet is experiencing a medical emergency that needs immediate attention. Teletriage cannot diagnose, treat or prescribe medication, but can help determine if owners should bring their pet to the emergency veterinary clinic, or if they can wait to meet with their primary care veterinarian.

A lifelong relationship

Your dog’s veterinarian will be one of the most important people in their life! Taking the time now to find the right veterinarian is the first step in providing your dog with excellent, life-long health care.