Whether you recently welcomed a new pet to your household, moved to a new city, or your old veterinarian retired, it can be tough entrusting the health of your loyal companion with someone new. While everyone is different in what they look for in a pet healthcare provider, there are a few considerations to keep in mind when you start your veterinarian search:

Depending on where you live, there may be a plethora of options available to you, making the process of finding a new vet overwhelming. Follow the steps below to help you choose a trusted vet in your area.

There are several outlets for researching vet clinics near you. We always recommend using a combination of resources to gain the most comprehensive and reliable opinion of a practice.

Do they provide the services you are looking for? Does the clinic have a professional-looking website? Do they offer additional pet care information online, showcasing their expertise and patient/client care?

Ask friends with pets where they take their pet. What are the pros and cons of the clinic, would they recommend it for your pet? Do they have names of other veterinary clinics with good reputations? Does their current clinic have a referral bonus that both you and your friend could benefit from?

It is important to take online reviews with a grain of salt. Instead of looking for the quantity of positive versus negative opinions of the clinic, analyze the overall medical track record of the doctor. Are there any allegations of serious malpractice? Check the Better Business Bureau for licenses and quality standards.

As with many products and services, happy clients tend to be less inclined to write about their positive experiences online so try not to be discouraged by one or two negative experiences and look at the bigger picture of the clinic’s reputation.

Once you have narrowed down your choices for veterinarians in your area, it’s time to get some real-life insights. Call the clinics on your list and let them know you are looking for a new vet and have some questions about their clinic. There are several questions you can ask that will help you better evaluate your options:

It is a good idea to ask a potential veterinarian how they handle emergencies, both inside and outside of business hours. Most primary care vet clinics do not have the advanced resources needed to handle pet emergencies, so it is essential that the vet you choose can quickly point you in the right direction should an emergency occur. Bonus points if they have a partner or ‘sister’ hospital nearby for fast, easy transfers!

As an integrated network of primary, specialty, and acute care hospitals, our Thrive Pet Healthcare partners work together to meet the everyday and emergency needs of your pet. Your pet’s records will already be in the system (no tedious contact forms!) and your general practice vet can easily access their visit notes to provide any ongoing care your pet may need. *

Another great question to ask a veterinarian before you decide to partner with them is whether they have pursued additional internships, residencies, or training certifications. Try asking about any continuing education that your veterinarian might be participating in and if they have a specific area of interest within the veterinary field. If you have an exotic pet, or a pet that requires special care, you can ask the veterinarian if they have experience in dealing with that type of situation or animal. The more you can find out about the background of a veterinarian, the better decision you can make for the health of your pet.

Whenever you are evaluating different veterinary practices, it’s always a good idea to discuss the payment options and plans that are available. You never know when you might have to deal with unexpected vet bills to keep your pet healthy. This is especially true if you are dealing with a new pet like a puppy or a senior-aged pet that is more prone to illness or injury.

Enroll in Thrive Plus Membership at most of our primary care clinics to help make frequent, high-quality pet care more cost-effective! Budget better for the ongoing costs of your pet’s routine checkups and unexpected illnesses with unlimited wellness visits, 10% off services, and more. Learn more about Thrive Plus ->

The last question you should ask when choosing a veterinarian is how often they recommend wellness visits for your pet. Do they give you a generic answer or ask you some questions about your pet so they can personalize their response? Does the veterinarian seem knowledgeable and helpful in their answer? Do they seem like someone you would trust the advice of?

*Integrated network hospitals may not be available in all markets at this time. Find an updated list of all Thrive-partner pet hospitals near you by visiting our locations page.