What to look for in a new vet

[Makovach]

We are moving sometime in March! We found a pet friendly condo about 20 minutes away from where my boyfirend works. But it is also almost two hours away from my vet :(

I don't take my dogs to the vet a whole lot. They go when i notice something going on that isnt normal. I don't give shots (except rabies as it is requiered by law every three years). I would like to find a new vet in the area we will be moving to because i want to start getting blood work & titers done regularly.

But I've always had trouble going to a new vet!

I was wondering if some could chime in and give advice. What kinds of questions should i ask? I know I want a PMR friendly vet, but what are good qualities to look for in a good vet? Should i be looking for a holistic vet since i will be feeding PMR and i do not give my pups shots?

I've never been to far out of the area i live in. This is the biggest move of my life. I'm quite honestly scared out of my mind!

[xellil]

Not sure - I just "interviewed" four vets and picked one of them. I am not great at knowing what questions to ask but I do carefully observe the way they interact with my dogs -
are they thorough?
Do THEY ask questions?
Do they handle her carefully?
Do they interact with HER and not just see her as another dog coming through their office?
Do they want to cart her off into another room without me?

And since I like to know every little detail, I am very interested in the time they spend explaining things to me.

If I take my dog in to get her heart checked and they don't look in her ears, take her temp, run their hands all over her checking for lumps etc. I don't really want them for a vet. And I've found that alot of times, they don't do a thorough exam unless I ask them to.

Remember, THEY are working for YOU. And since we started raw food, I always tell them. I think it's only fair. If they don't like it, that tells me I don't want them for a vet.

[MollyWoppy]

I concur with everything xellil said. :D Plus, it doesn't hurt to ask around, anyone walking their dog along the street, dog parks, Ma & Pa pet shops. The reason I say that is there is one vet in our area that sounds outstanding on the face of it. Ask around and you start to hear the horror stories, one's that make you realise she just can't be in it for the love of animals.