Finding a good veterinarian is not as easy as it seems, and you might not know how good was your choice until push comes to shove. Handling routine tasks and diagnoses is different from facing a patient with a complicated, hard-to-diagnose issue. Today, our White Settlement vets discuss seven signs to look out for in a great vet.
1. Continued Learning
The dedication of a veterinarian to continuing education displays a passion for the profession and patient care–the patient being your dog or cat. This is a crucial and telling yardstick since medical developments, breakthroughs, and corrections of outdated views occur on a daily basis. A competent veterinarian learns from both their patients and their clients. Learning should take place on a daily basis, not just in schools and at seminars.
2. Diagnostic Skills
Diagnostic abilities account for at least 60-70 percent of what distinguishes a good veterinarian. Unfortunately, you rarely get to analyze them (the vets) until your pet is very ill. The larger and more diversified your veterinarian's toolkit, the more likely it is that they will figure out what is wrong with your dog or cat.
3. Communication Skills
By 'communication skills,' we mean the capacity to explain findings, laboratory results, and therapy alternatives to the client in a way that the client understands. Bedside manners are important too, and our vets will always be as professional as possible, but being able to articulate clearly and simply is what is most important,
4. Listening Skills
We cannot overstate how important it is for your veterinarian to be a good listener. Nobody can make an accurate diagnosis during a routine exam without a thorough examination of the patient's history. It is vital to be able to take a detailed history like it is all other diagnostic techniques. A good veterinarian will listen to what you say and, with the correct questions, can elicit information from you that you were unaware you possessed.
5. Commitment
Being committed to your pet's well-being is a sure-fire way to tell you've found a good vet.
Commitment can manifest in many ways, including:
- finding unorthodox solutions
- customizing treatment plan
- consulting with colleagues or specialists
- referrals to specialists
- working with veterinarians from different fields
- allowing or encouraging second opinions
- accessibility via email or phone
Or just said simply: whatever it takes to make your dog or cat better.
6. Credentials
Credentials are clearly important for any vet. You may readily examine the credentials of your short-listed veterinarians online. If you wish to be more specific, the American Veterinary Medical Association maintains a list of approved veterinary colleges. Online profiles often include a history and experience section. That information is more likely to be useful in practice.
7. Priorities
A vet can become a vet for many different reasons: personal success, academic interest, and we;;-being of the patient. But of those listed, what would you want for your pet? A vet that may arrive at the correct diagnosis because they enjoy the process, the vet who arrives at the correct diagnosis because he wants (most likely needs) to keep his image in tact, or the one who genuinely wants to see your dog or cat get better?
Now, we're not saying that academic interest isn't a good reason to become a vet, but the one who genuinely cares about your dog or cats health will most likely be the one to go above and beyond to give them a better life. They are the ones who may think outside the box and come up with a creative solution to your pet's needs.