What is a Veterinarian?

Veterinarians are medical specialists who are trained in the protection of health and wellbeing of animals and people. Their specific responsibilities include diagnosing and controlling animal diseases, treating injured or sick animals, preventing the spread of animal diseases to humans, and teaching pet owners on proper care and maintenance for their pets. Though many veterinarians enter the clinical practice, there are many other important career tracks that veterinarians might choose, including exotic animal medicine, reptile medicine, laboratory animal medicine, or research. Research veterinarians have played a critical role in the defeat of diseases like malaria, and have developed some important surgical techniques like limb and organ transplants for humans. Veterinarians will have gone through numerous years of post-secondary education and training.

It is important to consider contacting a vet as soon as you get your new pet. Do not wait until there is something wrong with your pet before finding a vet. You will want your pet to be seen as quickly as possible and finding a vet may not be as easy as you would imagine.

Choosing a veterinarian for your pet is just as important as choosing a doctor for your family. Even the criteria you should use to select one are similar. You will want to make sure that you and the vet have similar values, that the location of their office is convenient, that they have good hours of operation, and that you feel comfortable with them treating your pet. Aside from yourself, your pet will see their vet more than anyone else. If you feel comfortable with the vet, chances are your pet will too. You will also want to ensure that the facility is clean, that dog and cat cages are kept separately, that the clinic staff are caring and competent, and that you can afford the fees proposed by the vet. You may even choose to have a consultation with several of your choices, so that you can analyze their personalities before making your decision. Since choosing a veterinarian can be difficult, you may want to begin by searching online. Online searches allow you to search by practice and location, so you can figure out which vets are closest to where you live. Other methods include asking other pet owners (friends and family who own pets), consulting breed clubs, and looking in phone books.

As the pet owner you are responsible for letting your vet know if you have seen any changes in behavior or health in your pet. Some signs of illness are very subtle, and your vet may not recognize it unless you tell them you’ve noticed irregular behavior. It is also up to you to ensure that your pet visits the vet for regular check-ups, not just when they are sick or injured.

The fees for veterinarians will vary depending on your veterinarian of choice, the kind of pet you own, and the type of procedure being done.

For more information on pet care or veterinarians, contact a vet in your area.