What characteristic of a veterinarian makes you want to come back?

I am always loyal to my Vet! That is, if he is loyal to my animals. The best Vet I ever had was in Florida. He was from up North, and we had the same mind-set. The animals come first. He was super informed, stayed current with new medicines, procedures, and alternative healing, if that was appropriate.

He loved me, as I was in there with many, many animals! So, first name basis, knew all about my animals, talked to them, showed affection to them, staff always called the next day to see how my animals fared from the exam or procedure.

Got me in right away with an emergency, came to my home for visits for old dogs, and of course, always sent reminders to me as I used to get mixed up with "who needed what" every month.

His office was clean, fun, the staff was so friendly, helpful, nice, etc.....

He had an office cat that he rescued

He referred people to rescue leagues.

He was constantly learning, teaching, and showed me ear-mites in the microscope.

His office was opened long hours, and some weekend hours, with a referral vet offered.

I could go on and on......The most important thing is that he loves animals, dedicates his life to saving them, and he came to my home to put my loving GSD down. He cried.

This is actually a question I can answer quickly and that is so very rare.

The vet has to have a good interaction with the animals. They will respond to him and he cares about them. His caring is not just as a vet, but that it is an animal and in need. He cares that they are in pain. He tells me what he is doing and listens to what I say. He knows I know my dog better than anyone else and respects what I say. He reacts politely and acts as if he has no other patients waiting when he is with my pet.

I will never return if a vet tells me a test is too expensive to run on a pet or acts the opposite of the above. Also, something bothers me about a deer head hanging on a vet's wall.

My dog is very aggressive towards strangers and she especially doesn't like the vet's office. But for some reason she feels at ease with the new vet. She's very patient and calm with my dog. She's never rushed and she always reassures my dog that everything is ok. Unfortunately my dog still has to be sedated if they need to do blood work.

I had a bichon that had to be put down last year because of cancer. When the vet told us they didn't really seem to be sympathetic or reassuring. All I needed at that point was a hug and some understanding. I didn't really get any of that. Finding out your dog has cancer is rather traumatizing. Especially when it's the dog you grew up with.

My last veterinarian took care of our dog for 7 years, before her passing at age 13. He was excellent in so many ways - caring, gentle, didn't push unnecessary tests, really got to know her, charged very fairly, etc. The one thing that made us go to a new vet with our new dog was his lack of knowledge in nutrition. Our last dog suffered so many allergies and I often said I suspected a food allergy but he always brushed that off and gave us more medicine. I surely wish I knew then what I know now about canine nutrition!

Do's- Has a vet assistant to hold my dog while the doc checks them out, make us feel comfortable, has receptionist that are polite and friendly, has a large enough clean office, offers and reassures the best service to my dogs.

Dont's- is rude and unfriendly, has receptionist that are shy and doesnt talk to clients, vet isnt willing to help with prices, also vets who dont try to get to know my dogs.

Well I'm 15, and my vets always include me in explanations, they always let me hold the animals if they're getting medicine or a shot etc. because they know I'm an animal lover, and want to, I've had vets just pretend I wasn't there, and only talk to my mum, we don't see them again. We use all the vets at our local clinic, because they're all wonderful, they're just genuinely nice people who remember your name etc.

Not having to wait forever

Genuine compassion - this is key, the Dr. must show that they really love the animal they are working on...

I have always appreciated a vet willing to work with me financially, (I've always repaid in full) and not returned when they didn't, I am trusting them with my baby, they can't trust me?? I understand the business (as a former mang) yet you can get a feel for people, or find some protocol for paymt arrangements.

I had a vet once ask if I wanted the glands squeezed, not telling me it costs $20.00 bucks, I was there on an emergency, so I didn't appreciate the extra dollars, only $20. yet it was the principle. he ended up "up selling" me a lot, (over $100) I have never been back. dollar disclosure!!

I once went to a vet with my bird (who had been attacked by my dog) she didn't give me trash about it and she really helped my bird... I could tell she had a preference for birds... she may not have but she gave me that idea, made me feel good.

I go back to my veterinarian because he knows what he is talking about and the conncection Between him and my dog is good and i feel that if my dog can trust him I should. Also when i ask a question he has the right answers and he tries to make sure i go home happy and i don't burn a hole in my wallet. So he was very attentive to my dog, Knowledgeable about the health of my dog and he was trustworthy.

The old vet clinic i used to go to would act impatient and i felt he was trying to get me out of there as soon as possible. And he wouldn't even pet my dog and when he did it was because he needed to check her out and make sure she was healthy and good. So to add it up, he was pushy and not very attentive to my dog.

Hope my opinion was helpful

My vet talks me through every thing he does or has to do to my dog he tells me in details if there are any risks associated with the procedure he is going to perform this regards surgery my dog has had a lot of operations.

My vet also makes me feel at ease any questions i have he answers like he wants to answer and does not use technical terms that i cant understand.

MY vet is very friendly and treats my dog kindly sounds daft probably but he treats him like i treat him.

any problems i have and i phone up about my vet will phone me back and explain over the phone for as long as it takes for what ever the problem is .

I saw one vet once who put my dog up onto the table in the surgery and my dog backed off the table and he shouted to the vet nurse get a muzzle that dog cant behave

My dog was just scared i refuse to see that vet again !

I am a loyal client to my VET clinic, because they are always professional & kind, they help me with any problem I may have, they are also my groomers as well for my kitty. They will see any of my animals no matter what or refer me, promptly. They are very clean & organized.

I no longer use my other VET, because he is very rude, someone actually told me he hit their dog once because it wouldn't hold still during an exam & to be honest, I know VET's have to make a living as well, but VET's that go into the business with money in mind are worthless & If they are more worried about money than the health or well being of an animal in suffering, then I have no use for them. I know if I were a VET, I would see someone's animal regardless of ability to pay or not, I would do it to help the animal. Not everyone can afford unexpected VET bills, sometimes sh*t happens when you least expect it, for anyone to think they are above that, is foolish & karma will get you one day. We once took a dog in for a c-section to this same "rude" VET & he argued with his wife on the phone for like 10 minutes & then was very rude to us, complaining that he was not happy because he had to come in & deal with us at 9:00 at night. I've not been back since & I really hope his clinic goes out of business, he is clearly not what I consider a "good" Veterinarian.

I like when my vet has a sense of humor and seems to like my dogs as much as I do.