Choosing the right veterinarian for your pet can be an arduous and stressful situation. We wanted to create a list of helpful hints, tips and locations to ensure your beloved animal has the premium health care experience.
What We Look for in Veterinarians
When choosing a veterinarian, it is important to decide if they are the right fit for you and your animal. We have made a comprehensive list of what questions to ask and what pet owners should look for when choosing their veterinarians.
Products and Services
First off, being sure that a clinic offers everything you need for your pet is a key feature when choosing a primary veterinarian. Do they do checkups? Do they spay and neuter? Do they have emergency care? Do they have microchipping? Do they have preventative care? Dental Care? Pain Management? X-Rays? Behavioral care? Nutritional care? In-house pharmacy? Each pet owner needs to figure out what they want for their animal and make sure their veterinary office offers the same thing.
Friendliness
Obviously everyone wants a positive and easy-going experience when going into an often-stressful situation like a veterinarian. Take note of the scheduling process and staff’s reaction when booking an appointment. Is the scheduling stress-free and easy? Is the staff happy to help in any way possible? Is the staff happy to see you when you show up for an appointment? If the answer is no for any of these questions, you might have the wrong veterinary office.
Website
An intuitive website is key when choosing the correct veterinary practice. Can you schedule appointments online? Can you see your pet’s chart through their website? Does their website provide all their different products and services? Is there helpful information on their site like a blog page? Being able to access your pet’s files, schedule appointments and receive information on their site is key to making the veterinary process as smooth as possible.
Certifications
Make sure your veterinarian has the proper certifications. The most common is from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). This accreditation guarantees veterinary practices met or exceeded the more than 50 mandatory standards from the AAHA, including veterinary medicine, pain management and medical record-keeping. Other certifications include accreditation from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) and the American Medical Veterinary Association (AVMA) which also ensure proper veterinary training, experience and health care.
Hours of Operation/Accessibility
Does your vet work evenings or weekends? What are their policies on emergencies? Do they have 24/7 urgent care? Will they do home visits? These questions will help pet owners better understand how their schedule will fit into the schedule of their primary veterinarian.
Cost
Pricing is always an important factor when considering the correct vet for pet owners. How much is an emergency visit? How much is a standard checkup? Are there extra fees for specific animals/breeds? Are fees subject to change? These questions will prevent pet owners from experiencing financial hardships and unexpected bills.
Busy Can Mean Better
Just like a restaurant on a busy Saturday night, nobody wants to go into a place of business when it’s empty. When first entering a new vet be sure to take notice of other pet owners in the waiting room. Don’t let a busy waiting room deter you from choosing a specific veterinary clinic. Busy usually means better. If there isn’t anyone in the waiting room, it could be because the care isn’t as good as other vets around. Even talking to the other pet owners in the waiting room will give you a good idea of the quality of care of that veterinary office.
Pet Philosophy
When first talking to the new vet, ask questions about their philosophy when it comes to animal care. Are they for or against euthanasia? If your pet has cancer, what options would they recommend? Are they pro or against spaying and neutering? Is pain management a priority? It is important for pet owners to share a similar philosophy with their veterinarians to prevent future arguments or disagreements.
Location
Location is a very important part of choosing the proper vet. Is the location easy to get to? How far from your home is the vet’s office? If the veterinary clinic is too far away, it not only becomes an inconvenience, but potentially a health concern if your pet needs emergency care. Choose an office that is nearby and easy to get to.
List of Veterinary Practices We Love
Basking Ridge Animal Hospital – 340 S Finley Ave. Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Telephone: 908-766-4211 https://www.facebook.com/baskingridgevet/
Belle Mead Animal Hospital – 872 US Highway 206 Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Telephone: 908-874-4447 https://www.facebook.com/BelleMeadAnimalHospital/
Oakland Animal Hospital – 86 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ 07436
Telephone: 201-337-7090 https://www.facebook.com/oaklandanimalhospital/
Whippany Veterinary Hospital and Animal Laser Center – 539 Route 10, Whippany, NJ 07981
Telephone: 973-386-1380 https://www.facebook.com/people/Whippany-Veterinary-Hospital-and-Animal-Laser-Center/100063648099166/
North Star Vets – 315 Robbinsville-Allentown Road, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 / 2834 Route 73N, Maple Shade, NJ 08052 / 507 Route 70, Brick, NJ 08723
Telephone: 609-259-8300
https://www.facebook.com/NorthStar-VETS-Robbinsville-98279254547/
https://www.facebook.com/people/NorthStar-VETS-Brick/100057200869381/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Veterinarian/NorthStar-VETS-Maple-Shade-793401987453916/
Sayrebrook Veterinary Hospital – 1400 Main St., Sayreville, NJ 08872
Telephone: 732-727-1303 https://www.facebook.com/Sayrebrook/
New Bridge Veterinary Practice – 452 New Bridge Road, Bergenfield, NJ 07621
Telephone: 201-384-4699 https://www.facebook.com/newbridgevets/
Flanders Veterinary Clinic – 270 Route 206S Ste 301, Flanders, NJ 07836
Telephone: 973-927-4948 https://www.facebook.com/FlandersVet/
Cinnaminson Animal Hospital – 2498 North Route 130, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077
Telephone: 856-829-1145 https://www.facebook.com/cinnaminsonanimalhospital/
