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The
Right Veterinary Doctor
For You and Your Pet
Choosing
Your Veterinary Doctor:
Interview with Dr. Becky Wind
Rebecca Wind,
a
veterinary doctor
in
practice in Montgomery, Texas with the Lake Conroe Veterinary
Group, P.C.
She
lives with her husband Derek and daughter Audrey. She has a Cocker
Spaniel, a Dachshund, and two cats. Dr. Wind obtained her bachelors
degree in Biomedical Science and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from
Texas A&M University. 
Since her graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Wind has worked for an
equine practice and a small animal/exotic
practice in the Conroe, Texas area before joining her current practice.
When not working, she enjoys being
a mom, horseback riding, and outdoor activities.
Veterinary doctors are as unique as people themselves. Choosing the
right fit for you and your pet's and their long term care,
calls for careful consideration. Whether you're moving or
you've just
brought home a new pet, choosing your veterinary team doesn't have to
feel like picking a needle from a haystack.
If
you live in a rural or
isolated area, you may not have many choices available. In remote
places there may only be one veterinarian servicing an area.
But if you live in a more populated area, your choices may be
overwhelming. First ask yourself what your needs are? What are the
needs of your specific pets? Do you have
a limited ability to get around?
You may need a veterinary doctor who provides mobile
service for routine exams or makes house calls. Have an aging dog
or cat?
Then your
needs may be better met in a larger veterinary clinic which is
equipped with the ability to perform diagnostic procedures and surgery.
It's also beneficial to ask about any extra services offered
such as
boarding or grooming.
So
what should you be concerned with when looking for a new
veterinary doctor? Let's ask an expert on the subject!
Q: Dr. Wind,
what made you decide to become a veterinary doctor?
A: It's what I've always wanted to
be, ever since I can remember.
Q: What do
you enjoy most about your career?
A: The animals of course!
Especially when I can help them; and their owners who count on me.
Q: What would
be important to you
when choosing a veterinary doctor?
A: Good
communication between the vet and the owner is very
important. Obviously your vet should enjoy animals - but they need to
have good people skills as well; this is very important to the
relationship between veterinarians and pet owners.
Q: What
should a person look for the first time they visit a new vet clinic?
A: Well
the office should be clean, organized, and smell good. If it
smells bad, looks untidy or is otherwise unprofessional, that could
be an indication of how the overall practice is run. Also the support
staff should be friendly to the animals and
helpful to pet owners. Good customer service is essential in developing
trust for a good on-going relationship that benefits everyone.
Being
greeted when you first come in the door, concern for your needs and the
needs of your pets, these are all very important qualities to look for.
Being able to
talk directly to your veterinarian about test results or procedures in
case you have
questions would be important also.
Q: What types
of questions would be appropriate when interviewing a perspective
veterinary doctor?
A: The questions aren't as
important as simply being allowed to ask questions of your vet.
If a veterinarian or the staff are unwilling to answer your questions,
then you may want to keep looking. Again,
good communication is
foundational. Also asking what types of animals they treat
is
important. If you own a horse for instance, then you would want a vet
who treats equine. If you have a pet with special needs, then make sure
your new vet can accommodate those needs.
Q: How
important is it for a veterinary doctor to be available after hours for
emergencies?
A: Some
are available, especially if they care for horses or livestock or live
in a
remote area where there may be only one vet and no emergency services.
However, in most populated areas today there are veterinary hospitals
or clinics for after hour's emergencies.
Emergency clinics are important because they're set-up and
ready for any situation. Your vet should have that information
available to you, but if not then you should make it a point to locate
one in your area before there's a need.
Q: Why is it
important for pet's to have regular preventative care such as exams,
vaccines, and dental cleanings?
A: It's extremely important!
Serious
diseases or conditions can be discovered through
routine exams. I once uncovered
cancer in a patient through an annual visit. If you can catch
something early enough it can often be treated before it becomes
serious or life threatening. Also things like heartworm or parvovirus
can be
avoided by regular check-ups and the proper preventative medications.
Q: What can
pet parents do to help their veterinarian better care for their animals?
A: Good
question! It's about relationship building. By
developing trust and good communication with your vet, it insures that
any take-home instructions we give will be better carried out. Such as
asking that an animal finish an antibiotic completely, even if the
animal seems better.
When a pet owner lets you know what their needs are up front, such
as a limited budget for instance, then the
veterinarian
can tailor treatment to best utilize your resources when planning
treatment and care for the pet's needs.
Another
important thing pet owners can do when getting started with a new vet
is to collect
all their pet's medical records from their previous veterinarian, along
with a complete list of the pet's medications and the type of flea
&
heartworm product they use. This helps us get right on track with
their pet's normal care.
Q: What are
your thoughts about pet health insurance?
A: It's important! It saves people
a lot of stress and heartache if
they don't have to worry about the budget over treatment. It's also
important for their pets because it insures they will receive the
treatment they need, when they need it most.
Q:
Any thoughts
or advice about holistic veterinary medicine?
A: Holistic practices have a place
alongside traditional medicine as long as there's a balance.
Traditional veterinary
medicine shouldn't be replaced, but many holistic practices
today can
be complimentary to traditional medicine.
If
you find yourself looking for a new veterinarian, start by
making some phone calls.
Ask friends or family who live in the area for
referrals. Contact an organization that lists veterinarians by
geographic location. It's important that you play an active role in
choosing the right vet for you and your pet's before you have an
emergency.
* A very special thank you to Dr.
Wind for her
valuable help and advice.
Lakeview
Veterinary Clinic, P.C.
17156 West
F.M. 1097, Suite 12
Montgomery,
Texas 77356
Phone: (936)
597-6039
http://www.lakeconroevet.com
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