Check out prospective clinics and veterinarians by paying them a visit, with or without your pet. Is the clinic/hospital clean and orderly? Ask if you can take a tour of the clinic. You may be asked to return at a time convenient for the clinic staff, as they are likely busy taking care of their patients and have a limited window of opportunity to give a tour.
**Check out our virtual tour at www.suburbananimalclinic.com! You can also view our staff profiles, check out our blog and newsletters, and more!
Pay attention to how the veterinary team talks to clients and how they act toward the animals in the clinic. Are team members readily available to answer your questions or address your concerns? Do they answer your questions in a way you can understand? One of the most important considerations is how the veterinary team makes you feel – ask yourself if you would be comfortable having your pet in their care. Trust your gut feeling – if you like a veterinary team but can't pinpoint why you like them, you're probably in the right place. If you're there with your pet for an actual visit, do the veterinary team's explanations of the exam findings and treatment plans make sense to you?
When choosing your family's veterinarian, use the same care and criteria that you would in selecting a physician or dentist. Think about what is important to you. Location, office hours, payment options, and the range of medical services provided are all important considerations.
Are the clinic's office hours compatible with yours? How do they handle after-hours emergencies – do they see them, or do they refer you to an emergency clinic (it's best to find this out before you need to know it in an emergency situation)?
**Suburban Animal Clinic is not staffed 24 hours a day. We recommend contacting an emergency clinic which is staffed 24/7 for after-hours emergencies:
MedVet (
Capital Veterinary Referral & Emergency (
Do they accept your preferred form of payment?
**Suburban Animal Clinic accepts Care Credit (www.carecredit.com), Credit Cards, Cash and Check. Please note that all charges are due in full at time of service.
If you have pet insurance, does the veterinary hospital accept that plan?
**Please let a staff member know you have pet insurance and have a blank form ready. Our staff is happy to fill out any insurance forms and give an extra copy of the receipt printout for you to turn into your insurance company. Please note that all charges are due in full at time of service.
For many pet owners the most important factor is the friendliness and commitment of doctors and staff. Your goal should be to find the veterinarian who you believe can best meet your pet's medical needs and with whom you feel comfortable in establishing a long-term relationship.
Suburban Animal Clinic is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association and is also a certified Cat Friendly Practice (as well as a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners). Both certifications involve periodic voluntary inspections in a variety of areas of veterinary care and practice, and also require that staff participate in continuing education to stay on top of the latest advances in veterinary medicine.
Moving? Find an AAHA Accredited Veterinarian near you by going to www.healthypet.com & searching by city or zip code.
You can also search for Cat Friendly Practices or Veterinarians who are members of the American Association of Feline Practitioners by going to http://www.catvets.com/cfpandpractitionersearch/ and searching by city or zip code.
Brought to you in part by the American Veterinary Medical Association for National Pet Week 2013: Love Your Pet, See Your Vet!