For many people who are moving across the country (or just across town) finding a new veterinarian is a somewhat minor issue. Fluffy and Fido go to the vet once a year for their vaccinations, but outside of that, they never see their vet – although finding a good doctor is important for them, too. But for breeders who spend considerably more time and money on veterinary care than their own health care each year, finding a vet is a much higher priority.
So how do you find the perfect partner in caring for your cats?
A common way of finding a new veterinarian is by asking friends, family, or co-workers where they take their pets. Unfortunately, recommendations aren’t always available from a trusted source when you’ve just moved 800 miles. Even if you do ask your new co-workers or neighbors who their veterinarian is, you have no idea of their expectations for a care-giver. You may take your cats to the same person and come away unhappy and unsatisfied. However, you might also find wonderful veterinarian. It’s worth asking people you know for recommendations. If you are moving to a well-populated area, you might be able to get recommendations from members of cat clubs or breed clubs. While they may not have the same breed as you, other breeders’ needs and concerns when choosing a veterinarian will be similar to yours.
Another way to find a new vet is to spend some time on the internet. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has a search feature for locating a doctor in your area. Some of these veterinarians may be board certified feline specialists, but it is not a requirement, nor is having a cats-only practice. However, belonging to AAFP does mean that the veterinarian has a special interest in the health of cats. The link for searching AAFP is:
http://www.aafponline.org/findadoctor.php
You can also look in the Yellow Pages or online phone directories. Some of these will have ads providing useful information like hours, services offered, and a website address.
So now you have the names of several veterinarians in your new town. What next?
While it may seem obvious, the next thing you’ll want to look at is location. If you’re living in a small city or town, all your choices may be close by. But if you’ve just moved to a large metropolitan area, the “perfect” veterinarian you’ve chosen may be 45 minutes or an hour away – more in rush hour. Who wants to drive an hour to the vet with a mom-cat having problems birthing or a sick kitten? So make sure the clinics you are considering are within a reasonable distance. You may also wish to check out the neighborhood. If you’re taking a cat to the vet in the middle of the night you’re stressed enough without worrying about getting mugged in the parking lot.
Office hours are another consideration. 8 to 5 Monday through Friday isn’t a big problem if you’re a full-time cat-mom (or cat-dad.) But if you’re like many of us, you need to be able to drop cats off before work or take them in after work or on weekends. Also keep in mind that cats get sick or hurt all hours of the day and night, so make sure the clinic either has 24 hour emergency service or has a relationship with an emergency clinic. It’s more convenient to have a vet with 24 hour emergency service and you have a greater comfort level knowing your regular veterinarian and his/her staff are taking care of your cat in an emergency, but that shouldn’t be the most important factor when making your decision. Much as I loved my vets in Colorado, they did not have 24 hour emergency service. They referred clients to two emergency clinics in other towns. But their other outstanding points made up for the few times I had to go to other clinics with sick cats.
Okay, you’ve narrowed down your list a little bit more. The offices are convenient and work with your schedule. Now it’s time to think about what you need to know to pick the right veterinarian for you and your cats. Yes, I do mean for YOU, too. A good breeder is a partner with his/her veterinarian in caring for the cats. If your vet doesn’t make you feel that way, then you are likely in the wrong place.
How many veterinarians work at the clinic being considered? What other staff work there? A bigger staff of doctors and technicians means better odds for having extended hours and after hours coverage. It also means that if you don’t hit it off with one vet in the practice, you might be comfortable with one of the others. Another benefit is having more heads to discuss difficult problems. A larger staff also means that if your cat is kept over night, there will likely be someone there with him. On the down side, a few practices insist you see whoever is available and you don’t get to develop a relationship with just one or two doctors.
What kind of practice is it? Do the vets see just cats, small animals, or everything from iguanas to cats, dogs, horses, and cows? If Fluffy is terrified of dogs and your only choice is to go to a small animal practice, do they have a separate waiting area for cats away from the dogs? Are cats and dogs kept in separate areas if they have to spend an extended time (all day, over night, etc.) at the hospital?
There are advantages to cats-only practices. Some cats get very upset around other animals. Even the smells and sounds can be stressful. At a cats-only practice, that’s not an issue. Veterinarians who treat only cats may be more up to date on treatment options since they are focused only on treating cats. However, don’t assume that a vet who chooses to treat just cats is the best choice. A vet who also sees other animals may have a special interest in felines and be just as up-to-date. You should interview a cats-only vet just like you would any other you’re considering. And in some areas, a cats-only practice is not an option.
What services are offered by the clinic you’re considering? Do they do ultrasounds and x-rays on the premises? Do they do their own lab work or send some/all of it out for processing? Do they do laser surgery? Do they do early spay & neuter? If your cat has special treatment needs, can they be handled by this veterinarian? Do they refer clients to specialists when necessary?
What associations, if any, do the veterinarians belong to? Do they attend seminars and conferences to keep their skills and knowledge current? Does the clinic belong to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)?
When you take your cat in, are you allowed to watch routine procedures like giving vaccinations, drawing blood, clipping nails, etc? Some veterinarians may let you to watch when they do ultrasounds or other tests. If that is important to you, ask if it will be allowed.
If lab work is done on your cat, will the vet give you a copy of the report? Will they give you a copy of the notes in a cat’s file? You never know when you’ll need a copy to give to a new vet or an emergency clinic. I also provide a copy of each kitten’s complete file to his/her new owner when my kittens go to their new homes.
Does the veterinarian work with you in trying new or alternative treatments? Often as breeders we’re exposed to situations that aren’t especially common in pets. If we join discussion lists or talk to other breeders we may also read or hear about treatment and research that our veterinarians may not have seen yet. While I believe my veterinarian almost always knows more than me about how to treat my cats, I also want to be listened to when I bring in information I’ve gathered elsewhere. A year ago a cat of mine developed open pyometra. My vet knew that it was treatable, but admitted that she had not ever treated a case. Usually they saw it in pets and the treatment was to spay. I brought with me a detailed treatment protocol when I brought my cat in and after discussion, we followed that. The girl recovered nicely and is now pregnant with her second litter.
You may want to ask if the practice has other breeders as clients – cats or dogs. I think everyone has heard horror stories of vets that think breeders are bad people who just contribute to animal overpopulation. Besides being much less likely to condemn you for being a breeder, vets who count other breeders among their clients are often more in touch with the special concerns of breeders.
What are the fees for common services? Are there any discounts available for litter visits? Are vaccines priced separately from the visit or is it a package deal? Will you be paying per kitten or for the whole litter as a group? While price shouldn’t be the deciding factor when choosing a veterinarian, it does help to know what to expect when you take Fluffy in. If you go in for a routine exam expecting the visit to cost a certain amount and find out you have $40 more in vaccines or tests, you won’t be happy. If you are comparing prices, do make sure you’re comparing the same services.
Also ask about payment options. Most practices will state that payment is expected at time of treatment. In some cases, they may ask for a deposit if the treatment is expected to be expensive. Will they take credit cards or is cash or a check your only option? Do they have payment plans or do they accept plans like CareCredit? The time to find out is before Fluffy has an expensive surgery and hospitalization.
Another thing to consider is how busy the office is. Can you get well-kitten/cat appointments with just a day or couple days notice? Will the office get your cat in right away if you think there’s a problem? And how quickly will they call you back if you have a question? A busy office might mean a good veterinarian who is in demand. But it can also mean long waits, hurried visits, and feeling like just another anonymous face. No matter how busy, the staff and doctors should have time to answer your questions and return calls without you feeling like a bother.
As good as a clinic or veterinarian might look on their website or in an advertisement, nothing beats a personal visit to check things out. Some clinics encourage new clients to come by for a tour of the facilities. If so, take advantage of the offer and call to make an appointment for a tour. While you may be able to take a tour if you just drop in, be polite and let the office know you’re coming. That also helps to insure that they will have time for your questions.
An alternative would be to schedule an appointment to meet with one of the doctors in the practice. Be prepared to pay for their time, as you would for a routine office visit. Or you could consider taking one of your cats in for a well-cat exam. You do have at least one that is due, don’t you?
Take your questions when you visit the office. Use them as a guide for asking about the practice – but try not to come off like you’re conducting an interrogation. Observe the surroundings and the interaction of the staff with the animals. If you’ve taken Fluffy with you for the visit, watch how she reacts. Is the visit rushed, or do the veterinarian and staff take time to answer questions and make you feel welcome?
Once you’ve visited the offices of the veterinarians on your list, it’s time to make a decision. If you decide later on that your choice isn’t working out, you can change veterinarians. But hopefully doing your homework in advance will pay off in a partnership that lasts for years – or until you move again.