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Keeping my pet healthy and well cared for is a prime concern. Not only do I want to feed her the right foods and ensure that she gets the proper care but I also want to make sure that the veterinarian I choose for her is the best one possible. This brings me to the next issue: Is my vet the right person for the job?

Since this is a new veterinarian whom I am choosing for my cat, I am a little unsure whether or not my choice will be the right one. Here are some points I am going to have on my mental checklist to determine whether our first visit will be one of many or the last visit to this particular doctor:

• Availability: Availability will be the first point on the new vet checklist. If I have to wait weeks or months to get my faithful feline in for a checkup, this will not be ranking high on my score sheet.
• Bedside Manner: Even with pets and doctor visits, bedside manner is EXTREMELY important. After all, you want your pet to feel comfortable and relaxed in what is oftentimes a stressful situation in and of itself. Therefore, I will be keeping a close eye on how the doctor treats my pet during the examination.
• Thoroughness: I also will be looking at the thorough nature of my pet’s new doctor. If the vet just glosses over the main exam aspects and is not very thorough, then chances are that I won’t be bringing kitty back for a second visit.
• Cost: Last but not least, cost is extremely important because if you can’t pay for a certain vet then you shouldn’t choose the doctor as your pet’s primary care physician.

After the first visit to the vet, I will evaluate all of these factors and then decide to either stay with the vet, if I find all of my expectations have been met, or choose another vet for the next visit, if the results were unfavorable in the end.

My pet is my number one concern and I owe it to her to thoroughly examine her vet so that she gets the best treatment possible.

-Kristen

Being a pet owner for many years, I have learned the ins and outs of caring for my beloved friend.  With that said, there are always areas where I find myself stumped and need some help with basic pet care issues.  This happened just the other week.  I was getting ready to go on vacation and found out that the hotel which I thought I was going to be staying at didn’t allow pets.  This would have been fine had I not been bringing my cat along with me.  At this point, all plans changed. 

At the last minute I found myself searching for another hotel alternative, one which was pet-friendly.  My help came in the form of the Internet.  By searching online reviews of different pet-friendly hotels in the area, I was able to easily cancel my current reservation at the pet-not-so-friendly establishment and book a room at the resort where my friendly feline would also be welcome.

This incident taught me a few lessons which I will be certain to retain for future travel plans.  First, always check with the hotel to see if pets are allowed.  Secondly, use the Internet to get the inside track on pet-friendly lodging in the city/town where the vacation will take place.  Lastly, always assume that a hotel will not allow pets and this way you won’t be surprised if you get to your vacation destination and there is a “No Pets Allowed” sign on the door.

I don’t always travel with my pet.   Sometimes I leave my cat at a pet boarding establishment in town or have a pet sitter come to my house to care for my furry best friend.  However, when the desire and/or need arises where I have to bring my cat with me on vacation or business travel, I will be certain to remember this incident and plan accordingly.

- Kristen K