You love your pet. Needless to say, he deserves the best veterinary care around, so your vet needs to have the right qualifications. So, which qualifications should you look for? Our Albany vets provide insight.
Choosing the Right Vet
We understand that choosing a new vet for your pet can be stressful - there are so many things to consider. Will you and the vet have a good rapport? Do the hospital hours line up with your availability? Beyond the day-to-day practicalities of choosing a vet, there are also a number of certifications an individual vet may hold. So, what do these qualifications mean? Here are a couple of the most common.
Mandatory U.S. Veterinary Qualifications
When you are seeking a vet, confirm the veterinarian you are considering is licensed both in your state and in the U.S. You may also want to take the time to find out if other people working at the hospital are licensed, such as registered veterinary technicians. Pop into the vet's office and look around. If you don't see the certifications hanging in the reception area, simply ask to see their licenses or contact your state board of veterinary medicine for more information.
Here are the two certifications to look for:
DVM (VMD) - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - First, check that your vet is qualified to practice in the U.S. When a vet graduates from an American veterinary school, they receive a DVM — Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (sometimes called a VMD degree). All vets practicing in the U.S. must have this degree. A DVM degree means that the person you are thinking of bringing your pet to is, in fact, a qualified veterinarian and is fully qualified to perform the duties of the profession.
State Veterinary Licensing - To practice veterinary medicine, in some states a veterinarian is also required to pass a state-specific examination. These exams usually test the vet's knowledge of the state's regulations and laws governing veterinary medicine. To maintain a state veterinary license, vets must complete continuing education courses and may need to renew their license on a regular basis (often every three years).