Every pet needs a good vet, and ideally, the same vet for their entire life. After all, if you have the same vet the entire time, that specialist won’t just know pet healthcare but also your specific pet. This way, they’ll know how to handle your dog, how to comfort them, and what to watch out for in their health. You aren’t starting from scratch, which means better and more in-depth care and advice throughout their life. 

If possible, try to keep the same vet. This way, your pet will be more comfortable and at ease when going to the vet and build up a better relationship with the people who work there. You will trust them more and be able to get better advice and recommendations. 

A good vet is like a good personal physician. Once you find one, you won’t want to let them go. To help your first search go better, use these guidelines to help.

Start Local 

You may know the best vet in the world for you and your pet, but if they’re not easy to get to, you will not use them or be able to rely on them. It doesn’t matter if you loved your previous vet or if you’ve moved a state or even country over. You need a top option near you. Those in Des Moines, WA, for example, can go to saltwateranimalhospital.com. Those in other cities will need to find an option closer to them. 

A good compromise is to take note of the nearest 24/7 clinic and then broaden your search a bit further for your general vet. Even with that in mind, you won’t really want to have to travel further than an hour to get to your vet, so look well within that radius. 

What Pets Do they Specialize In? 

Most vets will happily care for cats and dogs. These are the most popular types of pets and, most importantly, the pets that people will pay for vet care for. However, if you have another type of pet, you may need to start your search here. If you have a rabbit, for example, start by looking up vets that care for your animal near you. The same applies to larger animals, from horses to even farm animals like goats. Not every vet will specialize in those types of animals, so it’s important to find one that will cater to your pets first. 

However, if you do have a dog or cat, you’ll want to carry on through this guide to find the top option for you. 

Do They Offer All the Services You’ll Need? 

If the vet closest to you can only cover regular check-ups, you’ll need yet another vet to go to in case your pet needs surgery. This is an unnecessary amount of juggling when there are so many great clinics that offer it all. This way, your pet can be cared for by someone familiar. You can do more work to help desensitize them to the vet clinic if they always go to the same place, and the people there will know more about your specific pet which can help massively during the more touchy treatments, like neutering or splinting a broken leg. 

The more services and treatments they can offer, the better. This way, you can have one clinic handle their needs and will know exactly where to go in case of an issue.

Even though on the surface, it would seem that all you need to do to ensure a dog is happy and healthy is to take them on walks, feed and water them and give them toys. But if you want to truly connect and bond with your dog, then you need to do more.

So, with that being said, continue reading to discover some fascinating facts to help you understand and empathize with your beloved pet pooch.

Study the Movement of Their Ears

Your dog’s ears are one of the easiest ways to tell how your dog is feeling and to better understand what scares them and, conversely, what excites them, as unlike human beings, their ears are used for much more than hearing and balance. 

If your dog’s ears are pointing backward, then this almost unequivocally means that they are scared and anxious, so the key here is to make quiet and soft movements toward him/her and start to pet their head to calm them down. 

When their ears are erect, your dog’s interest has been peaked, usually by something outside of the room, and they will be doing everything they can to listen to what is happening and decide their next move. When training your dog, if their ears are erect, then this shows that you have their complete attention. If you would like more information about training your dog as well as properly caring for them, you can contact a reputable veterinary clinic, such as ortinganimalhospital.com.

Dogs Have Facial Expressions Too!

You may well have noticed in the past that once you have caught your dog in the act of doing something naughty, such as chewing your favorite shoes or stealing a slice of ham from your dinner plate, they tend to look down to the floor with their head and look sorrowful. 

This is, to be honest, can sometimes be an act of manipulation on the part of your dog, who has learned that the classic ‘puppy dog eyes’ will always get them out of trouble or, at least, reduce the level of trouble they have found themselves in. 

Taking the time to study the facial expressions of your dog will greatly extend the level at which you can better understand them. For example, if their facial muscles are tense and their pupils are constricted, then this shows anger, and it would be a good idea to stop what you are doing and let them calm down. 

It’s All About the Tail!

Finally, the third thing you should focus on when observing and interacting with your dog is the tail. There is perhaps no better way to judge the mood of your dog than the position of their tail, which is why it is hilarious to see dogs in movies that appear to be aggressive in a scene, wagging away in front of the cameras – the tail tells the truth!

A pointed doggy tail means your dog is happy, confident, and enjoying the moment; a tail tucked between the legs of your dog means they are scared or, at the very least, uncertain, and essentially, a wagging tail equals a happy dog!