Qualities to Look for in a Veterinarian

Our pets deserve the best care they can get, especially when it comes to their health and well-being. A veterinarian is aptly described as a doctor for animals. Like any good physician or medical professional, a vet should be well-rounded in animal healthcare. We often see our doctors when we are sick. When we notice something unusual with our body, when we want to take supplements or treatments, or even when we feel under the weather. Which means we need to trust our doctor. We need to feel comfortable speaking with our doctors and that same rapport should exist with our Vet. We should approach our vets in the same way for our pets. And it takes time and research in finding a good vet for our beloved pets.

To help you find the ideal vet for your pet, here are some essential qualities to look for in a veterinarian.

How to Choose Your Veterinarian

Picking the right vet for you and your best friend can be difficult. Choose your veterinarian based on these qualities:

Extensive Veterinarian Knowledge

A veterinarian must have the necessary skills and qualifications for the care and treatment of animals. A vet should not have limited services like consultations or vaccinations only.

A vet’s knowledge should encompass a wide range of services. Including emergency services, animal medicine, and animal behavior and psychological services. A good indication of a knowledgeable veterinarian is if they work part-time or full-time in emergency vet clinics or have surgical and biorepository equipment in their clinics. It means that they are capable of handling and providing emergency medical care and treatment for your pet. They can also readily conduct minor surgeries on your pet if needed. Your vet should also provide you surgical aftercare advice and the medicines to help your pet recover immediately.

Good Communication Skills

Good communication is important in the medical field. Medical professionals need to effectively relay the situation and health condition of the patient to the concerned party. Vets are no different. As they need to have a good grasp of your pet’s situation or health condition and clearly explain it to the pet owners. When vets speak to you it should be easy to follow. Medical terms should be explained in the most understandable way possible. Allowing you can digest the information about your pet’s health condition and decide what’s best for your pet with the help of your vet.

A vet’s good communication skill also extends to giving advice, prescriptions, and appointment reminders to pet owners. They need to be clear and concise with their instructions and advice so that pet owners are guided and can properly follow what needs to be done for their pets.

Compassionate and Empathic

Good social skills is a good trait that a veterinarian must possess. Your vet should be able to console and comfort you when you bring your sick or injured pet to their clinic. Even if your pet is perfectly fine and only needs to have vaccine shots or routine checkups, your vet should be able to make you feel comfortable and at ease in their clinic. Chances are you will be dealing with your vet during difficult and stressful situations. Choose a veterinarian you feel comfortable with.

Your vet should also be able to make your pet comfortable in the clinic and must have a friendly disposition and approach to animals. They should also be able to calm distressed or uncomfortable animals and play with your pets. Most importantly, your vet should be able to handle various animals and their different temperaments. Helping to nurture a harmonious atmosphere in the clinic.

Good Time Management Skills

Vet clinics can have off and peak seasons and your vet must be able to manage their time to give quality service and attention to your pet at any time. You may sometimes find your vet’s clinic jam-packed with other owners and pets or the clinic may have a few visitors or appointments at other times.

No matter the situation, your vet should be able to find time to examine or treat your pet properly. A vet’s versatility and flexibility in managing time should not just be limited to clinic hours. Your vet should also find time to respond to other forms of communication like emails, chats, calls, or text messages, especially when it comes to appointments and emergencies. Their availability for appointments, after-hour services, and the convenience of their set appointment schedules also show how good they are at managing their time for their work.

Good People and Business Management

A good vet must also possess essential soft skills to make their business thrive and stay competitive. Not only should you trust them as people, but trust the office itself.

Make sure you're comfortable with the office staff and other Vet Techs. Knowing how to handle different types of clients and having sufficient business know-how are vital skills in the smooth operation of a veterinary clinic. Clients have varying personalities and vets should be able to handle them. Especially when it comes to bill payments, services needed, and pet medication and equipment purchases. Choose a veterinarian that you have confidence in, as well as their staff, and their business.

Managing a vet clinic also extends to the financial and human resource areas of its operation. A vet must have enough know-how in handling financial and marketing matters. People management is also crucial in selecting properly trained staff, assistants, and efficient front-desk receptionists. These are indispensable that you should also find in your vet and should be reflected in the quality of service you receive.

Various qualities make a good veterinarian, and we shared some of the essential ones here. It requires extensive research and reliable referrals from family and friends to find a veterinarian that suits you and your pet’s needs. If you and your pet come out of the vet clinic satisfied and will want to return to that clinic again, then you have found the right vet for your pet.