Veterinarians in florida

An attentive dog owner can be sure that they are finding the best health care for their pet by comprehending the best practices in veterinary medicine and ensuring that their pet's doctor is following them. Like a Veterinarian and who owns a busy animal hospital in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, I've noticed that many doctors have been taking short cuts and putting innocent pets in danger. Ask yourself the following questions about your current veterinarian, and ensure that your own pet is not at risk.

florida veterinarians

Does Your Veterinarian Use An Individual Record For every Patient?



If you are who owns multiple pets, it is important to be sure that each pet features its own medical record. Lumping all the pets together on one chart is considered to be an inferior practice and this shortcut can lead to confusion, putting all your pets at risk.



A proper record of the health insurance and history of each of your pets needs to be clearly noted on the chart which is dedicated to that pet only. Only by tracking each pet individually can the veterinarian and also the support staff make sure that all of the data about the record applies to that pet which pet only. Remember that you have a right to view and obtain a copy of your pet's medical record. A reputable veterinarian will not hesitate to share that information along with you. However, please keep in mind that many Veterinary offices charges you a small fee for this. Florida law allows Veterinarians to charge a service fee for a duplication of the pet's records.



Does Your Veterinarian Use Individual Vaccine Bottles?



Vaccines are for sale to veterinarians in either 'individual single-dose bottles' or 'large economy size tanks'. The single-dose bottles will cost the veterinarian a little more, but these bottles provide a safer, better controlled dosage and a good vet will opt for the single-dose vaccines.



Usage of the big economy-size tanks indicates a preference for the veterinarian to put profit ahead of the health of your pet. There are several reasons that the conscientious veterinarian will only use the single-dose bottles. Firstly, the single dose vials lessen the possibility of `technician error'. Multi-dose tanks require the support staff to measure the exact dosage for each patient. A slight human error in measurement could result in your pet receiving an excessive amount of or too little of the vaccine. Using a single dose vial eliminates the risk of human error.



Single dose rabies vaccines will also be an essential record keeping tool. Each single-dose vaccine will come with a removable label which contains a vaccine serial number and LOT Number. In the event of a vaccine reaction, the veterinarian is able to quickly retrieve the vaccine data and properly communicate with the manufacturer.



Lastly, the existence of an individual serial number from the single-dose vaccine is the best way for you to know that your pet actually received the vaccine. While rare, there has been cases where unscrupulous veterinarians have watered down vaccines to be able to increase profit margins. This could not be possible with the single dose vaccines, as each sticker must match up with a separate patient.



Does Your Veterinarian Care About Your Education?



Remember that a good veterinarian will care just as much about you as an informed owner as he cares about your pets. He should provide you with the information and resources that you need to take the best possible care of your animals. Allowing you to educate yourself about the needs of your pet is an important component of complete veterinary care.



After assessing your dog's health, a good veterinarian will be sending you home with informative handouts that explain your dog's condition and the proper course of treatment. Most veterinarians can also get educational videos and resources available for clients to review free of charge. Before selecting a veterinarian, check out his website. Are links to free resources being offered? Does the vet offer any type of client support? A well-rounded veterinary practice takes the education of its clients seriously. If the component is lacking, it might indicate that providing you with useful educational tools to help you care for your pet is not a priority. This is the manifestation of a substandard veterinary practice.

veterinarians in florida