Finding The Right Vet

If you own horses, it's important that they have access to proper health care. Horses can be susceptible to injury and disease that can be life-threatening if not treated properly. When it comes to finding the ideal veterinarian to care for your horses, there are several pieces of vital criteria to consider.

Access And Availability

If you live in a more remote, rural area, getting good access to veterinary care for your horses can be difficult. You need to choose a practice that allows emergency visits and can get to you quickly. While choosing a solo practice is a good thing, a single vet may not be able to get to you in the timeframe you need if they have other commitments. Consider looking into a multi-practice veterinarian that can dispatch one of several doctors in their network to you with a phone call. Since your horses may need emergency treatment outside of normal business hours, finding a veterinarian who makes after-hours house calls is essential.

Focus

While all veterinarians have a working knowledge of how to treat animals for a variety of ailments, it's recommended that you choose one who specializes in equine and/or large farm animal healthcare. Vets who treat dogs and cats might not fully know the scope of proper treatment of horses. Look for veterinary practices with extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with horses and larger animals so you know your animals are getting the best care possible. A one-size-fits-all approach to animal care does not always work, particularly when it comes to horses.

Handling

A knowledgeable horse veterinarian knows how to work closely with horses and exudes confidence when dealing with an ailing horse. They should be calm and soothing, and know how to approach your horses without fear or getting bucked or kicked in the process. Pay close attention to how your veterinarian interacts with your horses to get a better idea of how well they handle different situations. Horses can be especially skittish when they're not feeling well or injured, so you need to find a veterinarian who knows how to approach these situations with a calm demeanor.

Personal Character

A quality veterinarian provides dignity and professionalism in everything that they do, regardless of the animals they treat. Find a horse vet who understands how important your animals are to you, and who is willing to give you sound advice in an understanding way. Veterinarians who portray a positive attitude and a willingness to help will be there to guide you throughout your horse's life. They also express a genuine concern for the well-being of your horses and follow up with phone calls to make sure things are progressing well. When it comes to finding the ideal veterinarian for your horses, be sure to look for all of these qualities so you know your animals are getting the best care possible.