Choosing the Right Vet for You and Your Pets

When a couple is expecting a new baby, they are urged to interview and assess potential Pediatricians.

So why is it that the typical pet owner "settles" for whatever Veterinarian they happen upon?

 

 

 

 

• You're the one who will have to work with the Vet and the clinic staff - so ask yourself, do you like the atmosphere, the way you're treated, the waiting room, the exam rooms? Are you treated with courtesy and respect?

 

• Is the potential Vet open at hours that work for you? Can you drop in with a sick pet or is the next available appointment 6 days from now?

 

• How do the Vet and the staff interact with you and your pet? Do they strike you as animal lovers or just there for the paycheck?

 

 

 

 

 

Bigger is not necessarily better! Are you able to see the same staff when you return or is there turn-over that means you have to introduce your pet to a whole new group each time?

 

Animal Hospitals with emergency rooms are not always right for typical Vet visits. You wouldn't go to the hospital if you had a cold - you'd go to your general practitioner or internist. Then he/she would send you to the hospital if needed. The same holds true for Animal Hospitals - they have all the equipment on-hand to run tests and do work-ups (often to the tune of hundreds or thousands of dollars) and so that's what they do. A good Vet in a clinic typically starts with the simplest (and most common) explanation for your pet's symptoms - saving you and your pet the stress of a full battery of tests.

 

 

 

 

• Ask people who treat their animals well for recommendations. Ask some pointed questions about why they're recommending a particular Vet.

 

• If you can afford to, make an appointment to meet with a Vet you think might work for you - for a wellness check-up. Make a list of questions and take them in with you.

 

• Take the time to find the right Vet - knowing you can trust him/her is worth the effort!

 

 

Veterinarians We've Had Good Experiences With:

 

Value Vet Dr. Kathryn Harrison 11314 Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles 310-444-3114   Westside Animal Emergency Dr. Gary Adams 1304 Wilshire Bl., Santa Monica 310-451-7425	Petville Animal Hospital Dr. Robert Goldman/Karen Heard 12108 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles 310-313-9118   So Calif. Veterinary Hospital Dr. Mark Rigoni 5421 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills 818-999-1290
Emergency Services
Westside Animal Emergency Dr. Gary Adams 1304 Wilshire Bl., Santa Monica 310-451-7425 T-Sat 11 pm – 8 am	ASEC Animal Surgical Emergency Center Dr. Gary Anderson 1535 S. Sepulveda, Los Angeles 90025 310-453-1561
Low Cost Spay and Neuter Veterinarians
Value Vet Dr. Kathryn Harrison 11314 Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles 310-444-3114 Spay - $75; Neuter - $65   Holiday Humane Veterinary Hospital 7301 Fulton Ave, N. Hollywood 91605 818-765-8196 Spay - $40; Neuter - $35	Dr. Raphael Villacana Gateway Animal Hospital 431 Los Feliz Blvd., Glendale 91204 818-244.2934 Spay - $50; Neuter - $40   Ken Jones 1708 17th St., Santa Monica 90404 310-477-4400 Spay $75; Neuter $65