Pamper Your Pet What to Look for in a Veterinary Clinic

When you are looking for a doctor for yourself, your children, or your family, there are many things that you take into consideration. One of your concerns may be the location -is the hospital or office located nearby? Secondly, you are probably wondering about insurance. Will your insurance cover the services that this doctor provides for you, and if so, how much will be your responsibility?

However, your number one concern when choosing a doctor should be their qualifications. Do they come highly recommended? Will they provide quality treatment? These same questions should be kept in mind when you are selecting a veterinary clinic for your pet. It may not seem as important as choosing your doctor, but in fact, it could at some point be the difference between life and death for your furry friend. So take the time to select a veterinary clinic that you feel will provide the best service for your pet.

Some Questions to Ask Your Veterinarian

When you are visiting a veterinary clinic, there are some questions that you should be sure to ask your veterinarian in order to get a feel for how the clinic operates. Make sure to inquire about office hours. This important information could help you to determine when your check up appointments would typically be, and if the hours of the veterinary clinic are convenient for you. Ask what the regular office hours are and determine if they are well-suited to your own schedule.

Also make sure to ask who runs the practice when the regular doctor is on vacation or not available. The second most important question to ask is regarding fees and payments. Ask the veterinary clinic what methods of payment they accept, and when the payments are expected to be made.

It is important to also evaluate the facilities and procedures of the veterinary clinic you visit with your own eyes. You should determine whether or not you feel comfortable with the veterinarian, and you should also find out whether or not you can request specific veterinarians or not. Look around the office and facilities. Is the setting orderly and clean? Are there any undesirable smells or odors? Is the office in total chaos?

You Are the Pet Parent

As a veterinarian, the vet has the responsibility to honor the oath that he has taken which states that I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. However, you also have a responsibility as a pet owner to discuss all concerns and observations with the veterinarian. Make sure that at any appointment at your veterinary clinic, you are honestly communicating with the vet about symptoms and any behavioral changes.

Talk to the Animals What You Could Do With a Veterinary Career

Have you always had a love for animals? Then perhaps you should consider a veterinary career. Many people choose to become veterinarians, not only because of the rewards that come along with helping animals, but due to the versatility that the veterinary career provides as well.

Step One: Getting Into School

It is common to know early on that you want to be a veterinarian, and due to the competitiveness of the field, it is also extremely helpful to know this as well. Veterinary school is very competitive; in the United Kingdom, for example, there are a mere seven veterinary colleges. What do you have to do to get in? Well, there is more to it than simply having a love for animals. It is important that anyone considering a veterinary career show a natural aptitude for science, especially biology and chemistry.

You should also try to gain experience working with animals. Maybe you can obtain an internship at a local practice, or volunteer at your local zoo. Whatever experience you are able to get will be looked favorably upon. It is also important that, as an aspiring veterinarian, you have formed opinions on certain moral issues. For example, are you a vegetarian? How do you feel on the topics of hunting and fishing? What is your opinion on the use of animals for scientific experimentation? These opinions will shape your character as a veterinarian.

What Does a Veterinarian Do?

If you are considering a veterinary career, it is important to know what exactly your responsibilities and duties would be. A veterinarian provides medical care for livestock, pets, zoo, sporting, and lab animals. Most veterinarians work with small animals, like dogs and cats, in a lab clinic setting. However, other people with a veterinary career work with much larger animals at zoos. Still others are on call at horse races in case of any injuries that might occur to a race horse.

A veterinary career provides a lot of versatility for the types of animals that you will be working with.
In a typical day, a veterinarian will diagnose animal health problems, administer vaccinations against diseases, give medications to animals with infections or illnesses, treat wounds and set fractures, perform surgery, and give advice to pet owners about all aspects of animal care. Veterinarians typically begin their career as an employee of a local practice. Then, however, as they gain more experience, they establish their own practice elsewhere. The typical salary for a veterinary career in 2004 was $66,590.