They say dog is man’s best friend. This is more than a little true. Many of us actually consider our pet to be a member of our family. If you are one of those people, you know it is very important to find the right veterinary surgeon. If your fur baby’s medical needs exceed that of a normal veterinarian, finding a veterinary surgeon could be the difference between life or death for your four-legged baby.
That being said, here are a few tips for finding the best veterinary surgeon:
- Look for a surgeon who specializes in veterinary diagnostics.
No matter how great a veterinary surgeon is, what’s actually matters is that the procedures that are performed on your pet fixes the problem. Veterinary surgery is not a trial and error type of thing. This is where veterinary diagnostics comes in.
When you use a surgeon who specializes in veterinary diagnostics, it helps ensure that the right problem is identified and fixed immediately to give your animal the best chances at good health. A veterinary diagnostics specialist will use veterinary laboratory services like virus antibody test kits, heartworm antigen test kits, and other tools to diagnose your pet and develop the best course of action. - Ask for a referral from your regular vet.
When the care that your pet needs are not offered by your regular vet, they might know a vet surgeon who will be best for them. Your vet works in the animal care industry every day, and will know who is good to work with. They might have a relationship with a surgeon who they regularly refer their patience to. This benefits you as your pet-baby will get a seamless transition in care.
By all mean though, do your own homework before blindly sending your pet to the surgeon your vet refers you to. If you trust your vet, you’re probably in good hands. However, you’re your pet’s caretaker and your gut instinct matters most. Read ahead for more ideas to do that. - Look to the interwebs.
The internet is a wealth of information. Turn to the world wide web for ideas for what to make for dinner. You can buy literally anything on the internet. Before you do that, you can ask the great WWW machine for reviews before you purchase it.
Looking for a veterinary surgeon is no different. Before you entrust the care of your pet-baby in the hands of a veterinary surgeon, do a quick Google search on the experiences that other pet owners have had with them. Some people are impossible to please (especially in the veterinary care industry, where many factors are outside of anyone’s control), however, if you see the same complaint over and over, it’s a good idea to keep looking. - Go in for an initial consultation.
We know that if your veterinary need is urgent, you might not have time to do this. However, if the procedure that your pooch is going in for allows, go in for an in-person meeting. Many vet surgeons are willing to do this at no charge. Come with a list of questions, and pay attention to more than just the answers. Is the surgeon good at listening to your questions? Do they take the time to understand what you’re asking? Do you understand the answers the vet surgeon gives, or do they get caught up with tech lingoDo you feel comfortable with the way the surgeon communicates? Meeting your surgeon in person and getting a feel for his office will give you a picture that you just aren’t able to get through all the referrals or online reviews in the world. - Trust your gut.
Your gut instinct is one of the most powerful tools in the world. Before entrusting your fur baby in the hands (and scalpel) of someone new, trust your instinct. Even if your vet says they’re great. Even if the internet says they’re great. Even if the president of the United States released State of the Union address that suggests they are the greatest veterinary surgeon in existence, if you gut tells you no, don’t do it. Your fur baby’s well-being isn’t worth it.
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