Several pet owners use different vets when bringing their animals to be checked throughout their lifespan. They switch from one to another for varying reasons without thinking about the consequences of using different professionals. If you don’t stick to the same vet, it can be detrimental to your pet’s health. Bringing your dog or cat for an annual check-up is important, but so is using the same vet.
If you bring your pet to two or more veterinarians, these reasons will make you think twice about doing that.
Losing Clients
There are many reasons why vets lose their clients, one of the main one’s being they simply move home and seek out another animal clinic. A recent survey in Australia suggests that on average 25% of veterinary clinics lose regular customers each year. Sometimes pets pass away, other times pet owners relocate to another city and start using another clinic.
Some other reasons why pet owners choose to move to another animal clinic include:
- More affordable services
- Better parking
- Availability
- Friendlier staff
There are many reasons why pet owners move to new clinics, but if possible, you should try to stay with the same vet. If you have a comprehensive pet insurance policy, you may be tempted to try out other clinics. It is better to nominate a single clinic that provides quality services and stick to that business.
Benefits of Sticking to the One Vet
There are many good reasons to stick to the same vet, even if you live in a populated area containing several clinics in proximity. Having a regular vet is important, especially for aging pets who suffer from long-term illness or injury. The more your vet knows about the condition, the easier it is to treat them and monitor their progress.
All Their Records in One Location
Moving from one vet to another makes it difficult to keep track of your pet’s health. One vet will know one thing, while another will know about something else. If you don’t stick to the one vet, background history gets lost and vet’s struggle to adequately monitor your pet. Using the same vet guarantees all your records are kept in the same place, this makes it easy to access history for future reference.
Building a Rapport
Apart from having all your pets’ details in the one clinic, visiting the same vet on a regular basis allows you to build a positive relationship. Your vet has time to learn about your pet, making it easier for them to detect any changes in their condition. In addition, your dog or cat will hopefully feel more comfortable going to the same vet for general check-ups and other treatments.
It is true that pet owners need to be better educated about the many benefits of sticking to the same vet. Going to a new vet for no reason can put your pet’s health in jeopardy, they may miss something your regular vet would have seen. By staying with the same clinic, you allow your vet to build a positive relationship with your dog or cat.
