Choosing a VeterinarianWhen you have a new puppy, choosing a veterinarian is an important task. 
He or she is going to be your partner when it comes to keeping little Fido healthy and well. Choose someone that both you and your puppy like; making the right choice now will be more than worth the time and effort involved I promise.
What to look forTalk to friends, work-mates and family, see who they trust with their precious pets. Word of mouth recommendations are a great starting place. You can also look through your local Yellow Pages or check online for suitable clinics, then drive over there and take a look. You can drop by to take a look around and get a feel for the place before you make an appointment.
Some important things to look at when you're choosing a veterinarian and visiting prospective clinics are whether or not the premises are clean and inviting, are the receptionists and nurses friendly and welcoming and whether or not the veterinary surgeon is properly qualified and if possible, affiliated with a professional organization such as the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association). If your first impression is good, you can move onto the second step - making an appointment to visit with the veterinary surgeon themselves. Meet & GreetWhen you go to meet with the veterinarian, take Fido along with you. It's a good way to introduce him to the sights, sounds and smells of an animal clinic - without the trauma of shots or procedures.The staff should be very willing to make a fuss of Fido, they may even have special treats for him and this will really help build up his self-confidence. Feeling comfortable in the veterinarians office will reduce the stress and anxiety of future appointments. When you speak with the veterinarian, be sure to ask all the questions you want - it helps to take a list with you so you don't forget anything. Things such as what vaccination schedule he recommends and his opinion on diet and supplements etc. are a good place to start. 
If you are interested in holistic, homeopathic or complementary treatments it's important to find out how the veterinarian feels about that. When choosing a veterinarian you need to be sure that you pick someone who shares your philosophies. There is one other point worth mentioning, and that is to check the charges made for regular visits, vaccinations etc. as costs can vary quite dramatically from one clinic to another. Although you should expect to pay a reasonable amount (and NEVER make a decision based solely on price) when you're choosing a veterinarian make sure that you're not being overcharged for routine procedures and appointments.
Veterinarian checklistWe've put together a quick check list that you can use when choosing a veterinarian and evaluating a veterinary practice. Feel free to add or take away anything you want, it's just offered as a rough guideline.
One other point to consider. Many veterinary clinics and hospitals carry a certain brand of dog and cat food which they recommend. These are usually good products but there are many equally good ones out there. Don't feel you have to buy the food the clinic sells, and even if you do decide to use that brand you'll often find it's a bit cheaper at the local pet superstore. Check out my Dog Food Comparisons page to find a great way to rate any puppy/dog food according to the quality of it's ingredients. If you have questions about your puppy that relate to behavior, training, housebreaking or non-urgent health issues, you can submit them to me on my Puppy Questions page. For health questions where you'd like an answer from a qualified veterinarian, use my Ask A Vet page. You'll get a professional opinion for the fraction of the cost of a veterinary clinic visit. Of course, this is not a substitute in any way for the medical care and assistance of your own veterinarian. If your pup seems unwell or you have real health concerns, please talk to your own vet as soon as possible.
You can search for holistic veterinarians by state (and Canada).
Check it out here.
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