10 Questions to ask a new vet

 For many people, finding the right veterinarian is just as important as choosing a personal physician.  To that end, PawNation has recently posted a list of ten questions to ask a potential veterinarian.  After perusing this list, I realized that it’s a good list to ask even your current veterinarian; you may not know the answers, no matter how long you’ve been with your pet’s doctor.  I intend to fix that now…

1.    How many vets are in the practice? Will you see the same vet every time or do the doctors switch or rotate without notice?

• West Ridge Animal Hospital currently has five (5) full time veterinarians: Dr. Colin Combs, Dr.    Rebecca Hubert, Dr. James Ebner, Dr. Jody Engel and Dr. Gwendolyn Reyes-Illg.  The doctor you seefor each appointment is completely up to you.  Some animals get attached to a single doctor, while some pet parents like to see all the doctors at one time or another; we will indulge your preference!  Aside from illness or personal emergencies that may arise, our doctors are on a set schedule and you will see the doctor with which you scheduled.
• Having several veterinarians in the building creates a couple benefits for you as a client.  The first benefit is that each doctor has his/her own personality and you are welcome to choose the one you relate with best.  Also, our doctors all work as a team to ensure your pet gets the very best possible care; especially in the rare instance that he/she is hospitalized with an illness.  Five different doctors present us with experience on a variety of conditions, as well as diverse areas of special interest.  For instance, all doctors see and treat all issues with cats and dogs but Dr. Hubert has an affinity for orthopedic cases, while Dr. Engel enjoys the dental arena; Dr. Ebner is remarkably well versed in diabetes, Dr. Reye-Illg is learning advanced ultrasound techniques, and Dr. Combs has a marked passion for birds and exotics!

2.    How far in advance does the practice typically schedule appointments?

• Appointments may be scheduled up to four (4) weeks in advance.  Depending on the urgency of the situation, we can get you in that same day.

3.    If you need same-day care, will the practice see you or refer you to an emergency vet?

• We are aware of the need for urgent care appointments and can see your sick or injured pet that same day.  Emergencies, of course, are always seen immediately.  If you would like a wellness or non-critical appointment, we may be able to get you in depending on how that day’s schedule looks.

4.    What are the qualifications of the technical staff? If your pet needs a simple procedure (like a blood draw or an anal gland expression), can you see a tech or do you need an appointment with the main vet?

• At this time, we have five (5) Certified Veterinary Technicians who are supported by eleven (11) Technician Assistants.  In the state of Colorado, a person must attend two (2) years in an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited school, then pass the strenuous VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination) to be considered “certified”.  Many appointments, such as booster vaccines, anal gland expression, and nail trims may be scheduled with a CVT when requested, as long as your pet is current on twice-yearly wellness examinations.

5.    If your dog has a specific disease or ailment, does the vet have experience treating that condition?

• As mentioned previously, having five doctors gives us many more years of experience in different ailments.  We regularly treat diabetes, cushings disease, thyroid cases, orthopedic injuries, allergies, FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease), ear infections, digestive upset, arthritis, bladder infections, kidney disease, dental disease and prevention, foreign object ingestions, skin growths, and a whole slew of other issues. 

6.    Are the vets open to alternative treatments like chiropractic care or acupuncture?

• Not only are our doctors open to them, we provide them!  In fact, four of our veterinarians are trained in acupuncture and Dr. Combs is educated in VOM (veterinary orthopedic manipulation, the equivalent of human chiropractic).  Besides that, we also have a water treadmill for dogs and technicians who give medical massages, which are especially nice for animals recovering from surgery.

7.    Does the practice offer emergency or after-hours care? If not, where would the practice send you?

• Knowing that illnesses and injuries do NOT follow any sort of regular schedule, we are open until 9 each weekday evening, 5 on Saturdays, and 1 on Sundays.  Our regular hours are: 

8am to 9pm Monday through Friday
8am to 5pm Saturday
9am to 1pm Sunday

• In the event that your animal needs to be seen outside of these hours, we recommend you call PETS Emergency Clinic, 970-339-8700, 3629 23rd Avenue, Evans

8.    Does the vet or practice have a referral network in case you need specialized care (for instance, from a veterinary dermatologist or an oncologist)?

• Our veterinarians play very well with their colleagues.  Okay, it sounds like we’re talking about little kids, but we really mean it!  We have a network of several specialists that we work with whenever it is needed including a cardiologist, dental specialist, specialized surgeons and radiologists.  In fact, all of the above even come to our location when the need arises to ensure that your pets get the very best care!

9.    What is the best way to contact the vet during the business day and after hours?

• West Ridge has many avenues for communication; the best of which is usually the phone.  Our contact info is:

970-330-7283, phone

970-313-4527, fax

info@wrah.net, general e-mail

Facebook: search for West Ridge Animal Hospital

Or you may find answers to your questions on our website at www.wrah.net

10.    Is he or she willing to answer questions via email?

• Each of our doctors has an individual preference on how they communicate with clients.  When you meet with your doctor, we encourage you to discuss the best way to contact each other.

Above and beyond all these questions, we would like you to know that we also provide boarding and grooming.  We have staff here 24 hours a day so that hospitalized patients are monitored and cared for around the clock.

We hope that our answers have made it clear to you just how very much we care about your pets!  Come see us and “let our family care for yours”!