Choosing a Veterinarian
If this is your first dog, or some time has passed since your last dog departed, you'll need to find a veterinarian. You should plan to take your Yorkie for a health check soon after you bring him home, and you want to have someone to call if problems should arise during the often-rocky adjustment period.
Finding Veterinary Possibilities
If your breeder lives in your area, she can provide a reference for the veterinarian the kennel uses. The bonus here is that you can be sure the veterinarian has some experience with toy dogs. However, many people travel for hours to pick up their new Yorkie, or even have the pup shipped by air. If this is your situation, you'll have to find another way to choose a vet. As with any service you may need, the Yellow Pages provide a good starting point. You can find veterinary clinics in your area by listing, and some will have display ads with their hours, any special services, and so forth.
One of the details you may see in a display ad is the AAHA logo, for the American Animal Hospital Association. This group certifies veterinary clinics that pass their standards regarding sterilization, twenty-four-hour care, isolation facilities, and more. They can provide a list of AAHA-certified clinics in your area
Of course, personal referrals may be the best route. If you have friends with dogs, especially friends with small dogs, ask who their veterinarians are and what they like (or don't like) about them. You may even choose to accompany a friend and his dog on a visit to the vet to meet the individual. This will give you the chance to observe the vet's office environment and her interaction with dogs and to ask any questions you might have.
Choosing the Right Veterinarian for You
Once you've developed a list of possibilities, take the time to visit each of them, tour their facilities, and meet the veterinarians. Make an appointment or else be prepared to wait — good practices are always busy.
While touring the clinic, note how clean everything is, how noisy or quiet the kennel area is, and the demeanor of vet techs and office staff as they go about their jobs. There should be no bad smells or dirty corners, and while dogs confined away from their owners may bark and whine, it shouldn't be bedlam. If you notice any staff members who look disgruntled, overworked, or unhappy with their jobs, take that into account as well.
Of course, have a list of questions prepared. You may have specifics of your own, but people often want to know these basics:
A schedule of fees for office visits, annual exams, vaccinations, spay/neuter, and pest preventives
Acceptable methods of payment, including payment plans for large expenses
Office hours and procedures for emergencies outside of office hours
Facilities for recovery, and if they are staffed around the clock
Percentage of the practice devoted to dogs, and specifically to toy dogs
Veterinarians schooled in the United States generally have the title DVM, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The exceptions are graduates of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, who are VMDs, Veterinary Medical Doctors. Veterinarians can also be board certified, the same as human MDs, in various specialties. If a clinic is approved by AAHA, it will usually sport a decal to that effect.
Depending on your own philosophy, you may also want to ask if the clinic is open to alternative medicine (acupuncture, massage, herbs, and so on), has a specialty in veterinary nutrition, or offers boarding or training. If you are visiting several different places, take notes about your visits — you won't remember everything, and you want to be able to compare your choices. Rank your options, and keep your notes in case you make a mistake in your first choice.
