Tips for Choosing an Equine Veterinarian

Choosing an equine veterinarian is an incredibly important component in taking care of your horse. When it comes to the health of your horse, it is important to do your research and focus on providing the best possible care for them. Certain aspects of choosing an equine veterinarian will be a matter of personal preference, while others are dependent on the services that you want for your horse. This is important whether you need a veterinarian for an older horse or a foal. Here are a few of the best tips for choosing an equine veterinarian to meet all of your specific needs.

Experience and Education

First and foremost, it is important to ensure that you look into the background of the veterinarian. They must be licensed in order to provide the appropriate treatment for your horse. It can be beneficial to look into their particular education and the amount of experience that they have in the field. You will also want to look into specific components of their education and experience, like if they have any specializations or other important considerations. This will help you to make the best possible decision for your equine veterinarian.  

Personality

Take some time to talk to your veterinarian. Everyone is different, so it will be important to ensure that you find a veterinarian that you work well with. You will likely have to work closely with them in order to provide the appropriate treatment to keep your horse healthy over time. It is valuable to ensure that you get along well with them, as well as other members of their office staff. This will help to provide you with the most positive experience possible.

Equine Focus

There are many types of veterinarians, due to the many different pets and animals out there. It is crucial to ensure that you obtain the services of a veterinarian with an equine focus. This will help to ensure that the veterinarian is experienced and capable of providing superior care for horses. You will also want to pay attention to the horsemanship skills of the veterinarian and their staff. This will give you an idea of the quality of services that they will provide to your horse.

Collaborative vs Individual Practice

There are advantages and drawbacks to working with a veterinarian in a collaborative practice or an individual practice. For example, when you work with a veterinarian in an individual practice, you will be confident that you know who will be providing your horse’s medical services. However, these veterinarians may have more limited availability because they are a single person. A collaborative practice will have more availability, but it will be more difficult to screen veterinarians to ensure that you are working with one that you like. This is ultimately your decision, which will depend on your preferences and your specific needs.

Referrals

Ask other horse owners that you know for referrals regarding veterinarians that they have had positive experiences with. This provides you with a start to your search for an equine veterinarian. Asking for referrals can go a long way toward providing you with more information regarding other people’s experiences with various veterinarians.

Interview Veterinarian

Take some time to sit down with the veterinarian and learn more about them. This will help you to learn about their personality, their approach to veterinary care, and many other things. During your visit, you should ask them whatever questions you feel you need to. It is important to ensure that you feel comfortable asking them questions. When you don’t, you may not ask them questions that are important to your horse’s health. Choose a veterinarian that you feel comfortable working with. This can help to eliminate problems over time.

Services and Prices

You will want to ensure that your veterinarian provides the services that you need for your horse. From emergency services to general care, this will go a long way toward protecting the health of your horse and helping you to choose the right veterinarian. While price shouldn’t be your overall deciding factor for choosing a veterinarian, it is still an important component. You should ensure that you are able to pay for the services that you need for your horse. Keep in mind that caring for a horse is an expensive undertaking. Keep veterinary expenses in mind before you get a horse to ensure that you are able to provide it with adequate care.

Your Horse’s Interaction with Veterinarian

Give your horse some time to meet and interact with the veterinarian. Through this, you will be able to examine how they interact. See if your horse seems to like the veterinarian and how your veterinarian treats your horse. This will go a long way toward helping you to choose the best veterinarian to meet all of your specific needs.

Communication

Communication is an important component of working with a veterinarian. Pay attention to how they communicate with you and if they are clear in their communication. You will also want to note how communicative the office is. Ensure that they respond to you quickly and answer questions thoroughly.

When you choose the best veterinarian for your horse, you will be able to ensure that they obtain the best care possible when health mistakes arise. To protect their health, it is similarly important to ensure that your horse remains hydrated. An automatic horse watering system, like our Bar-Bar-A Horse Drinker, can help to ensure that your horse has constant access to clean, fresh water. This helps to keep them hydrated, which can prevent many additional health problems from arising. For example, dehydration is an incredibly common cause of colic, which can be deadly for horses. It is also important to understand the signs of other issues, such as equine laminitis or signs of pain, so that you know when to consult with your veterinarian. To learn more about how a horse watering system can improve the health of your horse, contact our team at the Horse Drinker today!