by Charlotte Howard

Created on: June 27, 2008

Seeking veterinary advice is something that as responsible and caring owners we all do at one point in our pet's lives. However, it is not always practical to ring your local surgery, so we have become more reliant of the internet. But how do we know that the information we are reading is reliable and truthful? The last thing we want is take some supposedly good advice and risk harming our pets. There are many sites out there on the world wide web that are completely reliable and trustworthy, but finding them can be difficult. Typing your query into google or yahoo can throw up many different sources, and determining which one you should read and use can cause a monsterous headache.

*Surgeries - a lot of veterinary surgeries now have their own website to answer frequently asked questions and give basic advice.

*Veterinary colleges / universities - www.rcvs.org.uk is the website for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and can provide you with a list of recommended surgeries, and practical advice on referrals and second opinions.

*Animal charities - www.rspca.org.uk can give you the answers to frequently asked questions, provide you with leaflets and information on basic care and point you in the direction of a specialist or expert if required.

*Specialists - most exotic pet specialists now have their own websites. For example, www.reptileexpert.co.uk has a wide variety of information regarding the health and wellbeing of domestic reptiles.

*Zoos - most zoos now have their own websites not only giving you an insight into their opening times and practices but also into the care of their animals and training of their staff. They usually have links to other websites that may be useful.

All websites should provide you with their qualifications and experiences that allow them to advise the public. They usually have links or recommendations by universities, colleges or veterinary surgeries. They should also be free. If any site asks you to make a payment, avoid it. When you are next at your veterinary surgery with your pet, ask them for a list of websites that they regard as reliable. If they have been recommended by a professional then you cannot really go wrong. However, you should remember that no matter what the advice, you are always entitled to a second opinion and if you are truly concerned, ring your vet and make an appointment for a consultation.

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