What to look for when choosing your vet

Do the rounds!
Once you have a shortlist of possible practices, the best thing to do is to call them up or pop in and visit. The service you receive and the general atmosphere and surroundings will probably tell you much of what you need to know. Is there someone available to talk you through what the practice has to offer?

Book a tour
Most practices are busy places, but are usually very proud of their facilities. If you would like a tour behind the scenes it may be possible to organise this by booking a visit at a quiet time, or visiting on a designated open day. Have a sneak preview of our facilities.

First impressions count
Does the practice live up to your expectations? Is the practice clean and tidy, do the staff appear to be happy? If pets are kept in, what are the in-patient facilities like? Is there a vet on-site to regularly check on inpatients through the night and at weekends?

Cost of services is important too
Is the pricing structure clear? Can a practice tell you the prices of routine procedures such as vaccinations and neutering?

Does the service offer good value for money?
That will depend on which part of the service is most important to you. Most people will choose a surgery where they feel happy with team who are caring for their pets. Other important factors include good modern facilities, and convenient location and parking. You have to think about what is important to you and your pet. The key element is what level of service and pricing represents value for money to you.

If the services seem cheap, are there any drawbacks?
Keep an eye out for long waiting times, understaffing, poor customer service, lack of customer parking etc.