General Business Listings:
Businesses listed below are not TAILS411 members or sponsors and therefore have not been vetted by TAILS Foundation Inc. If your business is listed below and you would like to become a member or sponsor, please Contact Us today! Emergency Pet Care - CdA 208-930-1888
Emergency Pet Care - Post Falls 208-777-2707 Coeur d’Alene: Alpine Animal Hospital 208-664-2168 Dermatology for Animals 208-944-0377 Inland NW Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery 208-930-1753 Lake City Pet Hospital 208-664-5629 Lakewood Animal Hospital 208-772-9669 Midtown Animal Medical Center 208-667-3418 Prairie Animal Hospital 208-772-3214 Sunset Animal Hospital 208-765-4608 Aspen Veterinary Service (mobile) 208-659-6825 Hayden: Doc Holly Pet Vet 208-772-3221 Hayden Pet Medical Service 208-772-3288 Mountain View Veterinary Clinic 208-772-7484 Post Falls: Inland Northwest Veterinary Specialty Care 208-777-2707 VCA Kootenai Animal Hospital 208-773-6000 VCA River City Animal Hospital 208-777-9178 McKinlay & Peters Equine Hospital 208-457-8813 Athol: Northwoods Veterinary Hospital 208-683-2708 Rathdrum: Rathdrum Animal Clinic 208-687-2200 Rehab/Therapy (Post Falls/Hauser): Springwater Veterinary Services 208-651-0973 |
Choosing a Veterinarian
A veterinarian is your pet's second-best friend. When selecting a veterinarian, you're doing more than searching for a medical expert. You're looking for someone to meet your needs and those of your pet, a doctor who has people as well as animal skills. The worst time to look for a vet is when you really need one, so plan ahead and choose wisely. Veterinarians often work with a team of professionals, including technicians and qualified support staff, so you'll likely want to evaluate the entire vet team's competence and caring. You should also consider the hospital's location and fees when making a decision. Driving a few extra miles or paying a bit more may be worth it to get the care you want for your cat. How to find the right veterinarian The best way to find a good veterinarian is to ask people who have the same approach to pet care as you. Start with a recommendation from a friend, neighbor, animal shelter worker, dog trainer, groomer, boarding kennel employee or pet sitter. Check for membership in the American Animal Hospital Association. AAHA membership means that a veterinary hospital has voluntarily pursued and met AAHA's standards in the areas of facility, equipment and quality care. If you're looking for a specialist, ask about board certification. This means the vet has studied an additional two to four years in the specialty area and passed a rigorous exam. Once you've narrowed your search, schedule a visit to meet the staff, tour the facility and learn about the hospital's philosophy and policies. This is a reasonable request that any veterinarian should be glad to oblige. Write down your questions ahead of time. What to look for:
Be a good client Having good client manners encourages a happy relationship with your vet.
Breaking up is hard to do If you feel that your veterinarian isn't meeting your needs as a client or the needs of your pet as a patient, it may be time to find a new one. But sometimes simple misunderstandings cause conflicts, which you and your vet can resolve by talking things out and looking for solutions. If you can't resolve a fee or treatment dispute with your vet, you may contact the ethics and grievance committee of your local or state veterinary association and/or the American Veterinary Medical Association. For serious issues of medical competence, you may file a formal complaint with the Veterinary Licensing Board in your state. And finally, you can take up the matter as a civil suit with your attorney. You can avoid these experiences by carefully and thoughtfully choosing your veterinarian. The Humane Society of the United States http://www.humanesociety.org/ |