Choosing a vet Tips on choosing a vet

There are around 13,400 vets working in almost 4,000 premises across the UK. You can shop around to get the best deal each time you visit a vet, but many people are reassured by a familiar face who knows their pet and their medical records and can send reminders for regular treatments.

Checklist

Only a third of vets we contacted offered consistent prices for services

Standards

Choose a practice that’s a member of the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme. Go to www.findavet.org.uk to find one in your area.

Costs

Find out the costs for routine treatments and medicines. Consider taking out pet insurance.

Convenience

Check opening times and the appointment system are convenient for you. Can you get an appointment at short notice?

Emergency care

Ask about emergency provision and contacts. If it’s at a different location, is it convenient?

Which pet

Check the range of animals the practice deals with. If you have an unusual pet you might want to find a specialist vet.

The practice

Look round the practice before signing up. Any good practice will be happy to show you round at an agreed time, and while you may not be able to enter the operating theatre, you should be able to peek through the door.

Prices vary greatly across the country, so shop around

Firm fees

Once you select a vet, agree a price up front for any treatment your pet needs.

Specialist care

If you need to visit an animal hospital, choose one recognised by the RCVS.

Best practice

All vets should have the initials MRCVS or FRCVS after their name, which means their qualifications are recognised by the RCVS and they’re licensed to practise.

In addition, since January 2005, practices have been able to apply for RCVS Practice Standards Scheme accreditation. This requires practices to meet standards in surgical equipment, hygiene, training and emergency cover and to provide accurate cost estimates for treatments. For the scheme, the college inspects premises every four years and carries out spot checks.