How to Choose Vets for your Pets
You might have an adorable strong and sweet dog or a cute furry cat. The best friend your pet has is you and this means that you should make the best, well meaning decisions when it comes to their welfare. As a pet owner or keeper of any other domestic animal in the U.K, you must familiarise yourself with the basic pet care basics. This means that you should know a vet where you will be taking your animals to for regular checkups and treatment of any illnesses.

When it comes to picking the right vet to help you give proper care to your animal, it is of paramount importance that you check their qualifications. The good name and reputation of a great vet starts with academic qualifications combined with professional experience.

The qualifications of a vet in the U.K
RCVS certificate – A holder of the Royal College Veterinary Surgeon (RCVS) certificate has at least two years experience in a particular specialist area. Such a person is also a qualified clinician who has been proven by way of examination that he or she is capable of giving proper care to animals indicated in their certificate. This certificate is the first one in the postgraduate level and the certificates awarded encompass 30 different animal sections.

RCVS Diploma – A holder of this diploma has shown by way of passing examinations and experience that they are highly knowledgeable in their specialist area. Such a person should have at least five years working experience in their specialist area. Examples of the RCVS diplomas include the DEO, and DVA.

Fellowship of the RCVS – For one to be considered a member in this category, they must have shown or demonstrated a significant contribution towards the advancement of the knowledge in a particular veterinary area. For a person to be recognised as a member here, one doesn’t have to have been a holder of a RCVS certificate or diploma.

The advanced practitioners – A holder of the RCVS certificate or its equivalent can apply to be included in the category of the advanced practitioners. The main reason for having the advanced practitioners’ category is to help the public know and also distinguish between the general vets and the postgraduate ones who are considered to have attained a Masters level 7.

Veterinary nurses – There are RCVS nurses who are instrumental in the provision of the necessary vet services across the U.K. For a person to be registered as an RCVS nurse, they must be holders of a recognised veterinary nursing qualification.

When looking for the best vet who will give the best professional care to your pet, it is imperative that you check whether they are registered with the RCVS. This way, you will be assured of your animal getting the most standard medication if not the best that any vet in the U.K can offer.

Choosing the right vet
There is always the risk of coming across a vet who is not dedicated to their job. This would mean that your pet will receive less than satisfactory care which then means that your pet can die without you even knowing it. Such is the tragedy of having your pet treated by any other vet you come across. It is better if you take your time to research and finding the best vet to treat your animal rather than just hoping into the nearest animal clinic that you come across.

Some of the things that a person needs to look out when searching for the best vet in the U.K include;

1. Qualifications – Is the vet qualified to offer the vet services they are advertising? Such is the question that you must seek to answer whenever you are looking for the best vet services. One of the easiest ways to identify your vet is to log into the RCVS website and check out the registered vets.

2. Go to a well known vet – Ask your friends and family members about their vets. You will be surprised at how much information they have about good and bad vets that you didn’t know. Personal recommendations work best because the vet has been proven to be good and they will work even better because they have already been approved by their existing customers.

3. Visit the clinic – With our ever busy schedules, it would be hard to find time to just visit a vet clinic just to check it out. However, this is one of the easiest ways through which you can find your ideal pet vet. The ambience of the clinic and even the professionalism portrayed towards you during such a visit will serve as a good indicator of the type of service to expect when you bring your cat or dog.

4. Be objective about the vet – When you book an appointment with a vet it doesn’t mean that you are tied to that vet. You can always change vets anytime you want. When you visit a vet, pay close attention to the way the vet is handling your animal. Also, observe the equipment used to treat the animals and the cleanliness of the facility.

5. Their knowledge about your animal – A good vet is definitely the one who knows everything about your animal. As such, the vet should know all the diseases that might affect your animal. They should also know of all the vaccines available to help your animal live a healthy life. Such information will generally be displayed on the clinic or even on their website. At least, before going to a clinic, you should feel confident that such a vet or clinic has the experience and the expertise to treat your pet.

Finding the best vet in the UK today is a lot easier than it used to be two decades ago, but this is not to say that it is easy. You will need to arm yourself with the right information if you are to find the right vet who will guarantee your pet’s health, its not an excuse if you don't have time, you can always hire a dog walker.

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