Investing in pet insurance is a smart way to ensure that your furry family members always get the medical care they need for optimal health as they age. You won't have to worry about choosing between your bank account and your pet's health, and you can typically use any care facility that you want without having to worry about whether your vet bills will be covered.

Because of this, it's important to take your time and make sure that you choose the best care facility for your pet's needs. Not all animal hospitals are created equally, so look for the following features when choosing one to take care of your pet's needs in the coming years:

Safe and Convenient Parking

When visiting prospective animal hospitals to decide which one you'll take your furry family member to, pay close attention to the parking lot. There should be lots of lighting in place so it's easy to see while navigating outside of your vehicle when it's dark outside. To help keep you and your pets safe, security cameras should be in place, and all the surfaces you walk on should be non-slip.

The entrance to the hospital's building should be easy to find and get to from any parking space you may find yourself in. And clear signage around the parking lot letting you know where to park and how to get around should also be easily found.

Accessory and Product Availability

It's also a good idea to make sure that the animal hospital you utilize sells a variety of products and accessories you might need throughout the years so you don't have to worry about going to a third party to find what you need. In addition to pharmaceutical medications, your animal hospital should sell:

  • Pet food and supplements

  • Flea medications

  • Collars and leashes

  • Muzzles

  • Care guides

Product demonstrations should be available for anything you want to buy so you know exactly how to use it when you get it home.

Spacious Waiting Areas

Because there will be several animals and their owners in the waiting room at any given time, the space should be large and set up in a way that allows you to keep your pets away and safe from others. Seats should be spread out and feature small hooks so leashes can be attached to them. Muzzles should be available for free use in case dogs start acting aggressive toward one another. And a separate waiting room should be available for animals who simply can't get along with others.

Fully Equipped Exam Rooms

Some hospitals don't have the equipment needed for things like x-rays, in which case you'd have to find another provider to help you, which wastes time and money in the long run. As long as the animal hospital you choose to work with long-term to care for your pet's health has fully stocked examination rooms, you will avoid having to go to another facility for any care or treatments as time goes on. In addition to x-ray equipment, your chosen animal hospital's exam rooms should feature items such as:

  • A radiograph viewbox

  • An otoscope

  • A digital scale

  • A centrifuge

  • Microscopes

  • A gas and oxygen system

  • Surgery tables

  • An anesthetic machine

  • An ECG monitor

Luckily, you don't have to visually inspect the exam and surgical rooms to get an idea of what kind of equipment is being stocked. Ask the facility to provide you with a list of equipment they feature so you know what they can and can't do for your pet in the long term.

Keeping these features in mind when choosing a new animal hospital to care for your pets will help ensure that your overall needs and expectations are always met as time goes on.

Share