Q: We’ll be moving soon. We love the animal hospital where we’ve taken our pets for many years. Do you have any tips for choosing a new vet?
A: Moving can be stressful, with all the planning and so many details to keep straight. For pet owners, add the worry of finding a new animal hospital to provide trustworthy care. You have three good starting points for your search — your present vet, people you know and online information.
Your current veterinarian may have a network of associates and would be happy to refer you. For instance, clients of VCA Animal Hospitals may find another VCA clinic in their new hometown — VCA has 600 hospitals in 42 states and four Canadian provinces.
If you have friends or relatives with pets in your new location, ask if they recommend their own vets. A referral from someone you trust can help set your mind at ease.
And then there’s online searching. A good place to start is the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which has established a rigorous set of evaluation standards. AAHA accreditation provides an assurance that a veterinary clinic has voluntarily met standards measuring the facility, equipment and quality of care. You can search for AAHA-accredited hospitals at aaha.org.
The Humane Society of the United States notes that medical expertise is not the only factor; you’re also looking for a doctor with people skills. Since animals can’t talk, you have to be your pet’s advocate. You’ll want a veterinarian who understands that you are a pet-care partner, who takes the time to answer your questions, returns calls and e-mails, and helps you understand all information pertinent to your pet’s health.
Try to narrow down your choices to a few animal hospitals before you move. Once you arrive in your new town, make an appointment to visit each without your pet to meet the veterinarians and staff and see the facility. Take note of how clean it looks and smells, how friendly and caring the staff seems and whether the location was convenient.
If you maintain good medical records for your pet, bring those with you. At the very least, have vaccination records handy — especially your rabies certificate, which is generally required for getting a new dog license.
Depending on where you move, new health regulations regarding pets moving from state to state could come into play. Frankly, it has become somewhat confusing, and even health department officials could be unclear about the rules. Turn to your old and new vets to help you understand the legal requirements. If you’re moving overseas, it gets even more complicated — but that’s a discussion for a future column.
Generally, if you’re moving to another town or state, a little advance planning will enable you to find a new veterinarian without too much trouble, and you’ll know your pet will be in good hands in your new hometown.