I have been seeing numerous threads where people have not been sure that their vet is a good vet or not. I have also been noticing that the experts have mentioned tests that the vets have missed. My purpose of this thread is for things we need to look for when choosing a vet. I guess I am lucky that I found a good one with the first one I went to.

The one thing I can think of is know your vet's expertise. For example my vet refers bunny owners to someone else as she does not see them.

Looking forward to the answers

Susan and Owen

I think a good vet should be based on how good they can talk to you. If they just run tests on your dogs that really have no meaning to the condition the dog is in, then the vet is just taking your money. There are a lot of those around here unfortunately.

I also think a good vet will talk to you. They will tell you exactally what they are doing and why they are doing it.

A good vet will also not charge you for a test that showed no results, but the other, more expensive test does. Like the vet I'm working for :)

I have some pretty interesting vet stories from dealing with the rescue.. One lady returned their newly adopted dog because they couldn't afford its medical care. The dog had a baseball size abcsess on her neck. The vet ran x-rays of her abdomen, a full dental and much more. That vet drained these people's account.. The vet we took her too drained the abcsess and charged us $100, which included the meds.

I think that people on here need to ask questions so they can talk to their vet about. Vets are people, they do overlook things. I talk to my vet all the time when we take in rescue dogs. And its OK... Not asking questions is where you're going to be paying out the nose.

How do you chose any professional person: Doctor, Dentist, Mechanic, Preacher, Realtor, you name it? It is not much different for choosing a Vet. You want success in whatever you seek, and only you will know when you get it.

I guess the most accurate answer would be that you'll have a good start finding one when you try one of the above. You have at least an even chance of finding one on the first try. May just be 'adequate', not great, and you will have to decide if that's enough, or keep searching.

There are vets who are interested in your pet, and those interested mainly in your dollars. How to tell for difference? Unfortunately, in a hurry there are not many ways to tell. But, fortunately, the vast majority of vets have the interest of the animal at heart and will endeavor to provide adequate service. Price is not always a good evaluator of quality.

In a larger metro area you can look for clinics, or hospitals, that are certified by the AAHA, the American Animal Hospital Association. This logo (AAHA, in big letters) is prominently displayed in advertisements and signage, so it is hard to miss. The AAHA promotes excellence in both facilities and services offered. It is voluntary, but certification requires meeting demanding specifications and is generally accepted by the Veterinary profession as indicating a quality facility, of both structure and staff. There are some exceptions, unfortunately, but fewer than there are bad vets.

Some of the most qualified vets I have known have difficulty communicating with clients, unless they also speak 'technical'. This makes them bad communicators, not bad vets. If you meet one of these, ask them to explain in terms you can understand.

Animal and people medicine is really quite similar, once you get past all the hair and extra legs. Most people don't stop to consider that an animal's problem often has some similar human condition, something you may have even experienced yourself? If you are seeking help for a specific problem of your pet, and the vet is talking about things that are apparently not related, ask how those apply to your pet's problem. A defensive or nonsensical answer should make your ears perk up.

On a site such as this, our criticizing the performance of a client's vet is almost the dumbest thing to do. Almost... there are a rare few exceptions to criticizing... but whether to have or have not done a particular test?

The vet, however inept he is, or not, has one huge advantage that we don't... he has the pet there to look at and feel, as well as an owner to answer his questions. And we have what?. the owner's description.. of.. what? First, an accurate history and description of their pet's problem and , Second: everything the vet did, presuming that person really understood what the vet saw, and thought. This is not to criticize you, the client, but that does require quite a lot from you. Most people capable of doing that, accurately, would not be here to begin with, I think.

So to answer your question there is no really good way to accurately tell, other than by trial and (hopefully no) error. I could have said this to begin with, but would that have been an answer, or just a smart-aleck response?

I also agree with the statement of "trial and error".

I have been lucky in that my mum found the perfect vet 20 years ago and now that I have my own dogs we take them there as well.

The reasons I love my vet is that he doesn't do unnecessary testing, and he is darn good at what he does.

I'll use one of my mums dogs in an example. She has a Miniature Poodle, he's 12 years old.
One night he was whining, lethargic and his stomach was as hard as a rock.
Mum rushed him off to the vet thinking either a blockage or bloat. She couldn't get in to see her usual vet so she had to see a different one, fresh out of school.
This lady ran every test under the sun, cost hundreds of dollars and long story short... the dog had a bad case of gas.
He was given some DeGass medication and he was fine.

Mum called her usual vet the next day to have a chat and he couldn't believe the tests this other vet had done.
He knew what was wrong just from mums explanation over the phone.
Not only that... but she had negelected to mention that yes, the was indeed bloating and there was a good chance it could/would happen again and to give the DeGass medication at the first sign of it happening.

So if he had have seen the dog first, it would have cost $50 instead of nearly $400.

Experience is great when looking for a vet... that doesn't mean avoid the newer vets, some of them are excellent at what they do as well, I will book in to the newer vets for things like vaccinations or ear infections. But for something more serious, or something that needs diagnosing, I'll always try to go for experienced vets.

Shaz I too have lucked out with a vet. What I like the most is she has always told us our options and cost involved before doing anything. If there were choices between tests she explains both options to us. I think that my pets like going to see her and trust her helps too. Well most of them. My scaredy cat Sookie does not like many people. She is so timid.

Susan and Owen