One of your responsibilities as a dog owner is to regularly take your pet to a veterinarian. Bringing them in for checkups will help keep your fur baby in good health and ensure that all of their vaccinations are up to date. Because it will play an important role in your dog’s wellness, you’ll want to choose a pet clinic that you can trust. Not all pet clinics are alike, so it’s important to find one that won’t just take good care of your pet, but also meets your standards.
While seeing a variety of personalized pet products being sold at the clinic is one good sign, there are other essential features and qualities a clinic should have before you decide to make them your pet’s medical provider. Here are five things you should consider when choosing a good pet clinic.
It’s Easy to Get To
As much as possible, you want to choose a good pet clinic that’s close to your place of residence. This ensures that you can get to the clinic quickly in case an emergency arises. If you can’t find a good pet clinic near your home, you can choose one that’s a little bit further out but still easily accessible. After all, you don’t want to be stopped or slowed down by inconveniences that can prolong your pet’s pain or potentially endanger their life.
It Provides Essential Veterinary Care and Emergency Service
Even though the list of services offered in pet clinics isn’t usually as comprehensive as the ones offered in full-service animal hospitals, pet clinics should still be able to provide you with excellent veterinary care. They should be able to perform a variety of exams, treat sick animals, and administer medications that control and prevent diseases. Pet clinics should also have adequate facilities for housing sick animals that require more stringent monitoring and round-the-clock professional care.
In addition to these services, a good pet clinic should ideally have after-hours emergency care available. Keeping their doors open for animals experiencing a life-threatening emergency gives pets a better chance of survival.
Its Facilities Are Clean and Hygienic
Before you take your pet to the clinic, it might be a good idea to visit the establishment first, so you can see for yourself how the facility is maintained. A sanitary environment shows that the people who run it care about the safety and health of the pets and their owners.
Apart from the cleanliness of the clinic, you should also observe how the staff engages with their patients. Do they keep pets separate from each other to prevent spreading diseases? Do they wash or sanitize their hands after handling a patient? Are their tools cleaned before use? These behaviors are important for determining the clinic’s hygiene protocols and if there’s a risk of your pet contracting an infection while in their care.
It Has a Professional and Compassionate Staff
Going to the pet clinic can be a stressful experience for your pet, so it’s nice to have clinic staff who can help your pet feel calm and relaxed during their checkup. Animal healthcare providers who are professional and compassionate know how to work with different pets and will always prioritize the welfare of their patients.
If you want to know how clinic staff treats their patients, ask if you can get a tour of their facility. Try to observe how the team works together to handle their patients. From the moment they get to the reception desk to when they walk out the door, pay attention to how pets are managed by the staff. Generally, you want to see staff members being gentle with the animals and treating pets like their own. When the people in the clinic have a generally friendly mood, it’ll be easier for your pet to feel relaxed.
It’s also important to see how the staff engages with pet owners. Are they respectful and show patience when explaining pet medical concerns? You’ll feel more comfortable dealing with staff members who can communicate with you clearly and show a level of professionalism that’s suitable for the workplace.
It Offers Quality Pet Products
Most pet clinics usually sell different kinds of pet products on their premises. From dog treats to cat toys, you can get almost everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy. However, before making a purchase, check the brands of the pet essentials and supplies that are on the shelves. Good pet clinics will only stock up on pet products made by trusted manufacturers to ensure that the accessories, food, toys, and grooming products are safe for pets. While cheaper options may be available in other stores, a pet clinic will not recommend products that can potentially harm pets.
There’s no question that you love your pet very much, so you do your best to provide them with everything they need to live a happy and healthy life. This includes finding a good pet clinic that can take excellent care of your animal companion. When you find a pet clinic that has a good track record and suits your pet’s needs, you can rest assured that your fur baby will be in excellent care, whether you’re going for a quick checkup or treating an injury.