by Laura Hageman

Created on: May 20, 2008

If it is your first time having a pet you may have some very important questions you will need to ask the veterinarian. The type of questions you will ask will depend on the age of your pet as well as the type of animal you have. You must be sure that the veterinarian you choose can take care of the type of pet you have. For instance, if you have a pet bird then you will want a doctor that is highly educated about birds. Most veterinarians handle dogs and cats and sometimes they will deal other animals such as horses or rabbits.

In order to find the right veterinarian you will want to ask them what animals they specialize in. From there, you can ask how many years they have been a doctor and then see if they have a large clientele. Ask for recommendations or referrals that you can call and ask questions to. Many times customers will not mind telling someone else how great the doctor is if they love their work. Once you have decided which veterinarian is best to take your pet to then begin asking questions when your pet receives a check-up.

Some essential questions you will need to ask is how often you should bring your pet for a check-up. The next few questions will be as follows:
Which shots will your pet need?
What are the vaccines preventing?
What steps will you need to take in order to keep your pet healthy?
How often should you give your pet a bath?
How often should your pet get their teeth cleaned?
How can you help in keeping their teeth cleaned?
What food would be recommended for your pet?
What are the steps to take to prevent diseases?
What types of diseases are out there for your pet to get?
How can they catch these types of diseases?
What preventive measure should you take in order to prevent diseases?
What can you do in order to make sure your pet never gets fleas?
What are the fees for dentals, check-ups, blood work, etc.?

Depending on the sex of your animal and if you are breeding them you will want to know how often they can reproduce and how long the gestation period is. You will also want to know how many they can have in a litter. If you do not want to breed your pet then you will need to have them spayed or neutered. Then find out the cost of the for these services.

By asking all of these questions you should become well educated in what is needed for the best care for your pet. You may get answers to questions that will lead to more questions and feel free to continue asking what you want to know. A veterinarian that is willing to offer all of the information you ask about will be a good choice of doctor for your pet.

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