Are you looking for a good veterinarian? Maybe you recently adopted a new puppy or an adult dog and you need to find a veterinarian. Or possibly you just moved to a new town because you just got married or you needed to relocate for a new job. A new Yorkshire Terrier puppy will probably need a check up soon after coming into your family. It is a good idea to find a veterinarian before you bring your new puppy home.
Here is a helpful list of some important things to think about when looking for a new veterinarian.
1.You may wish to contact your local Humane Society or animal shelter and ask if they can give you a list of veterinarians in your area.
2.Talk to other dog owners that happen to live in your neighborhood about their veterinarian. You can ask a friend, a dog groomer or even a pet sitter for a good recommendation.
3.The phone book is a good resource of information. You can easily search for Veterinarians and Animal Hospitals.
4.You can also do a search online for local veterinarians in your area.
5.It is important to check if the veterinarian has a membership in the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
6.If you happen to be looking for a specialist, you may want to check if the vet is board certified in the specialty you are interested in for your pet's needs.
Once you have narrowed down your search for a veterinarian, there are some questions to think about at this point.
1. Do you have a flexible schedule that would allow you to go to an office appointment during the morning or afternoon hours of the day? What are the veterinarian's regular office hours? Is the office open on Saturdays or open in the evenings a few days a week? It may be very important to know if there are after-hour emergency services available.
2.Do you mind driving a little distance across town to get to a good veterinarian or would you prefer an office nearby?
3.How many veterinarians are actually in the office practice?
4.Do they routinely offer any boarding services?
5.Does the veterinarian have any areas of specialty in his practice?
6.Are services like x-rays, bloodwork or other diagnostics done in their office?
7.What is their normal procedure for scheduling appointments in advance for your pet?
8.What forms of payment are accepted and do their fees fit your financial budget at this time?
Next, you may want to schedule a visit to meet the office staff and learn about their specific policies. You can check to see if the office is clean and if the receptionists and assistants appear caring and knowledgeable. It may be helpful to know if they offer products like specialty dog food or items that are routinely used for grooming purposes, like specific dog shampoos.
Hopefully, this information will be of some help to you when you are looking for a veterinarian to take the very best care of your dog! I will include some additional information about helping a dog stay calm and relaxed when going to the veterinarians.
Your dog’s visits to the vet can be calm and pleasant. There are some helpful ideas to make the experience a positive one. Taking your dog to the vet isn’t always the easiest thing to do. A little planning ahead can help to make the trip much easier. You may want to have your Yorkshire Terrier go to the bathroom before getting into the car to go to the vet's office. (Some offices have a place outside the building where you can take the dog if he needs to go to the bathroom.)
You may wish to bring a favorite dog toy or your Yorkshire Terrier's favorite blanket for him to have in the car when you are riding to the vet's office. Having something familiar may help to relax him. Many people use a dog leash or dog carrier when they take their dog into the office. It is helpful to give your dog praise for his good behavior while he is in the vet's office.
If you act like you are confident and in control during the visit you will reassure your Yorkshire Terrier that it’s routine and fine and nothing to get worried about. Keeping your Yorkshire Terrier occupied will take some of the attention away from any other pets, owners, receptionists, assistants or technicians that may be in the office area.
Occasional praise for being a well behaved dog helps to make it a positive
experience. In the examining room if you have conversation with the vet or his assistants, the dog will hopefully feel calm and relaxed.
You may decide to stop by with your Yorkshire Terrier and make an informal visit to your vet's office at another time just to say hello or to purchase a dog supply, like dog shampoo, so that your visits can be associated with routine, positive experiences for your dog.
