Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Vet Visit

If you have more than one pet, frequent visits to the veterinarian are part of the care of your companion animals. We have three dogs, and we are at the veterinarian’s office at least once every month. We either have to go for regular checkups or to address urgent issues, such as allergies, skin infections, or ear infections. As much as I appreciate our vet, I like to maximize each visit, so I can minimize my trips to the vet clinic. Below I share some tips to get the most of your vet visit.  

🐾  Clear communication is essential. Make sure you discuss with the veterinarian your concerns, provide as many details as you can, and also discuss the expectations for your pet’s care. Bring any medical records that can help the vet assess the situation. This will prevent repeating unnecessary tests. Most vet clinics will offer a quote for the different diagnostic tests and treatments. Also, most veterinarians will discuss with you the different options available. Feel free to share your financial limitations and the level of care you expect, so the vet knows what level of care she or he can provide.

🐾  All questions are important. If there are certain things you want to ask, write a list of questions, and your vet can go through them systematically. The list will prevent you from forgetting anything during your vet visit.  If your pup has a change in his/her behavior that you are concerned about, it is safer to call the vet and ask whether you need to bring your pup to the clinic or not. Never hesitate to call a veterinarian to ask for some advice.

🐾  The sooner you call the veterinarian, the better. If you are concerned about your pup, do not wait long to address the issue. For many health conditions, early treatment can save your dog and decrease the suffering. If you think about calling, that means you should call. 

🐾  If you don’t understand something, ask. If you have questions related to a diagnosis or a treatment, it is ok to ask the veterinarian to explain as many times as needed to help you understand. If you need a second opinion because you do not feel comfortable with the options you were given, or do not understand, it is entirely appropriate to ask for a second opinion. Many vet clinics also provide handouts and written materials, so you can read about your pup’s problem.

🐾  Consider pet insurance. Health care and medications for pets can be quite expensive. Urgent surgeries and other treatments can add up. Health insurance of pets are typically inexpensive and can save your pet’s life. Our Stanley needed knee surgeries, and we were fortunate that the insurance reimbursed most of the cost.

🐾  Prevention is the optimal way to keep your pet healthy. Regular physical exams, dental hygiene, flea/tick/heartworm medication, proper diet for your dog, and exercise can prevent your pet from developing many common illnesses, and improve health. Since treatments can be challenging and costly, it is best to prevent diseases. Ask your vet about preventive steps and wellness care.

🐾  Do not treat or self-prescribe. Before you give any medication to your pup, always call your vet and discuss it. Even for over the counter medications, the dosing is different for dogs. Also, some medications are not meant for pets and can be harmful or deadly to dogs. For instance, aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofen can be dangerous in dogs and fatal in cats.

Below I share some books on wellness and health guides for caring for your pet that you may find useful.

The Nature of Animal Healing: The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat by Martin Goldstein D.V.M.

The Ultimate Pet Health Guide: Breakthrough Nutrition and Integrative Care for Dogs and Cats

by Richter MS DVM, Gary