How to Choose a Diet
Choosing an appropriate, satisfactory, economical diet for your pet may feel daunting, with so many choices and so many different opinions on pet foods. By appropriate we mean one matched to your pet’s species, lifestage, and activity
Conventional Commercial diets are most commonly fed. Common commercial foods are made with chicken, beef, lamb, or fish products and by products, grains such as corn, wheat, rice, barley and/or oats, and added vitamins and minerals to ensure that the final diet is satisfactory. These foods may be formulated for specific life stages such as puppy/kitten, adult, or for “all life stages”.
Veterinary therapeutic diets are used to manage a variety of health related issues and diseases in cats and dogs. They are available through veterinarians and made to be fed under their supervision because of one or more variations in nutrient content from typical balanced diets.
Home-prepared diets – owners occasionally prefer to prepare food for their pets themselves. Nutrition consultations are available to discuss this option for individual pets. Guidance for these individuals is also available from other websites to ensure the ongoing health of their pet.
Key Tips for Choosing The Best Veterinary Clinic
People often neglect visiting a vet because they don’t know what to look for and are unsure of when to go. You should visit one at least once per year to ensure that your pet is healthy.
Location Matters
When you’re choosing a clinic, it’s best to find a local vet. Choosing a clinic near you will allow you to get your pet to them quicker, but there may also be better services with another vet that’s further away.
Visit Several Clinics
One of the most important tips is to go and visit various clinics before you decide which one you want to settle on. Equipment varies depending on the clinic, so you need to ensure that you find the one with optimal gear.
Vet Personality
When you visit clinics, you can instantly pick up on the general mood that they have. Some clinics are friendly and easy-going, while some are all about business.
Can You Afford Them?
Find a veterinarian that you can afford. Some vets charge more for their services if they’re well-known, and some offer cheaper services when they’d like to build a clientele.
Choosing the Right Equine Veterinarian
Consider these nine qualities when choosing an equine veterinarian.
Own horses long enough and you’ll experience that dreaded gut-wrenching moment. You know the one: When you arrive at the barn and your horse just isn’t acting right. Maybe he’s showing signs of colic. Or perhaps he’s not putting weight on one of his legs.
If the situation is serious enough, you pull out your phone, call your veterinarian, and make the plea: “Please come now!” But have you chosen the right person to answer that call? Or have you settled for simple convenience or the cheapest cost, without any regard to the practitioner’s background and suitability for your particular needs?
Communication
“Being able to explain options and the advantages and disadvantages of particular diagnostic and treatment paths is one of the most important abilities for a practitioner to have,” Thal says.
Education and Experience
A candidate veterinarian’s background can be as important to you as a job seeker’s resume is to a company’s human resources official. Where and when did a veterinarian receive his or her degree? How much experience does he or she have? Has he or she specialized in a particular field?
Character
Thal ranks character as his No. 1 item of importance. He calls it “that combination of intangible factors, coupled with intelligence, integrity, hard work, desire to serve, and all the other factors that make us who we are on a personal and professional -basis.”
WHY CHOOSE US AS YOUR VETERINARIAN?
It’s a big question, with a simple answer: we’re veterinarians who care. Our philosophy has always been to show animals the care, respect, and compassion that they deserve. Every aspect of our practice speaks to their needs, from the decor to the special way we interact with each pet as an individual.
A MEMO FROM THE OWNER
From my early childhood days of raising “Bobbin the Robin,” the orphaned baby bird that one day appeared in my backyard, I somehow knew that caring for animals was my natural calling. I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian as a young boy, and what a great decision that was! My career as the owner and medical director of the Melrose Animal Clinic is a dream come true.
I’ve had my own menagerie of pets, from fish, hamsters and guinea pigs, to parakeets, dogs, and cats. I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the many ways pets enhance their owners’ lives. Animals seem to understand, demonstrate, and remind us—clearly and simply—what is truly important. Pets love deeply and unconditionally. They don’t care how we look or how successful we are. They sense when we are happy and comfort us when we are sad. Pets are naturally forgiving and will give us as many second chances as we need. They know instinctively how to care for their young: lovingly and with just the right mix of encouragement and firmness to prepare them to venture out on their own when their time comes. We can learn many life lessons from our pets.
This genuine love and respect for animals are at the heart of the Melrose Animal Clinic. Each and every member of our team is a pet parent and avid animal lover. We view our pets as our furry family members and treat them accordingly. We understand the important place your pets hold in your hearts and recognize the trust you are placing in us when you come to the Melrose Animal Clinic for their care. As a fellow pet lover and pet parent, you have my promise that we will care for your pets with the same love, compassion, and commitment that we give to our own
Tips for Choosing the Right Vet
Choosing a vet to care for your four-legged best friends should not be something that you take lightly. While we hope that most pet parents will be thrilled with our care and expertise at Total Veterinary Care, we know that we may not be the perfect fit for everyone. With that in mind, we would like to provide this guidance for anyone looking for a veterinarian.
Location
When your pet needs to visit the vet, most people prefer a hospital that is close to their home and doesn’t require too much of a drive. In fact, most people with pets have a veterinarian that is within 5 miles of their home!
Referrals
One of the best ways to find a vet is to ask your friends and family who they use, as long as they are happy with their experience. Most people are more than happy to refer you to their own vet hospital and will tell you what they love about their provider.
Reviews
In today’s age of online everything, it is a good idea to look at the reviews a veterinarian gets on sites like Google My Business, Yelp, and other location-based sites. Additionally, you can learn a lot by visiting the social media pages for a hospital, particularly Facebook since it allows visitors to provide reviews directly on the page. While you are there, look to see what sort of information the practice is posting on its page to see if it is valuable tips, fun pictures and other things that create a real community for pet parents.
Take a Tour
It is perfectly acceptable to ask for a tour of a veterinary hospital to meet the vet, as well as the techs and assistants. While you are there, take note of how clean the facility is and what types of equipment they have as well. Finding a personality match can be important for a long-term relationship, so see how you enjoy talking to the team and find out how they typically communicate with their patients. Since their patients will always have to take top priority, also be respectful of their time and understand if they have to step away to take care of a sick pet.