The time may come when it is time to choose a new veterinarian. Now what do you do? Here are some steps that you can take in your search.

Talk to other people in the area who have a giant breed dog and who share your philosophy of veterinary health care. Obtain their recommendations and ask them why they chose their vet. Speak to members of the local kennel club or Great Dane specialty club. Contact your state's and/or local veterinary association. Check you local and surrounding areas' phone books for listings. Note: Some veterinarians gear their practices to both large and small animals. What part of the vet's practice is dogs?

Once you have compiled a list of potential vets, assemble a list of questions to ask the vets during your interviews. How far away is the vet? In an emergency, travel time is an extremely important factor. In an absolute emergency, will the vet make a house call? (It is very difficult to lift and carry a Great Dane, especially for a person living alone.)

NARROWING DOWN THE CANDIDATES

Call the vet's offices for basic information. What are their office hours? What are their basic fees and charges for standard office calls, annual checkups and vaccinations? Their fees for typical spay or neuter? C-section? Bloat surgery? Check on the payment policy of the clinic. Do they accept only cash payments at the time of service? Do they allow a payment schedule to be worked out if the bill is high and you cannot pay it at the time of service? Do they accept major credit cards? What after-hour emergency services do they have available? Do they have after-hour vet coverage in their offices or do after-hour emergency patients get referred to an emergency clinic? (Note: If they refer to an emergency clinic it will be important to also check the experience of its staff with giant breeds as well as the payment policy of the emergency clinic.)

Does the vet make emergency house calls? Remember that it is very difficult to lift and carry a Great Dane that is not ambulatory. It is important here to note that emergencies such as accidents, bloat/torsion and c-section may be needed at any hour. Is a skilled surgeon going to be available after hours should the need arise? One of the worst things to have happen is to be faced with a surgical emergency and be greeted at a clinic by a veterinarian who is not experienced in surgical techniques. Remember, it is best to ask the questions before an emergency strikes and your pet's life hangs in the balance.

How many veterinarians are participating in the practice? What are their individual specialties? How many other giant breed dogs do they have as patients at the clinic? How many of them are Great Danes?

** As you ask the questions, observe the attitudes and responses that you receive to your questions from the office staff and veterinarians. Are they willing to answer your questions? Are they friendly and knowledgeable in their responses? Keep an accurate record of the names of the people to whom you speak and of their responses. After you have completed this part of the process, get ready for the next step.

THE OFFICE VISIT AND INTERVIEW

It is highly recommended that you call the veterinarians on your list and request an appointment time for your interview with the head veterinarian of the practice. If you can speak to any other vets who are in the practice, that would be wonderful. You might have to pay for such office visit, but this will be money well spent.

During your visit, take notes. Have your questions written down in advance and leave space for the answers to be noted for future reference. Request that time be allowed to tour the facility. When you see the facility, make careful note of its cleanliness and that there are no pungent odors. Does the practice have up-to-date equipment? Do they have a walk-on scale? Do they have such items as x-ray equipment, ultrasound, EKG, pulsox monitor? Are the surgical and x-ray tables large enough to accommodate an adult Great Dane? Are the facilities well lit? How do they transport a sedated Great Dane so that its head does not dangle and he is not accidentally dropped? Do they have assistance to carry and lift a Great Dane? What types of anesthesia do they use? How do they keep an animal the size of an adult Great Dane warm after surgery? What types of overnight kenneling do they have available for a giant breed dog? If they are kenneled on the floor, is the floor heated? What type of bedding do they provide? Are you permitted to visit your dog while it is hospitalized? Does the facility offer specialists in various fields such as surgery, orthopedics, dentistry, and eye care?

Ask the vets where they obtained their veterinary training, advanced training, and if they have any continuing education. How long have they been practicing? What is their opinion of alternative medicines? How do they feel about a client requesting a second opinion?

It is a good idea to take an adult Great Dane with you when you go for your interview. It is of interest to see how well the vet and their staff interacts with you and your dog. Observe the vet's demeanor as you ask questions and discuss your dog's needs. Are the vet's answers clear and concise? If the vet is tentative and not comfortable around your dog or the answers are abrupt or hesitant, perhaps you should search for another vet. It is important that you ask questions that relate to the health problems and treatments that affect your breed.

Is the vet knowledgeable about nutrition as it relates to the growth and feeding of a giant breed dog? What is this vet's treatment or protocol for cases of bloat, torsion, gastropexy? HOD (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy)? Vaccines? Does the facility have its own laboratory for bloodwork? Does the vet keep current on new advancements and procedures in the field of veterinary medicine? If your dog's case must be referred to a specialist, to what facility do they usually refer?

If you are a breeder, ask questions about the vet's knowledge of reproduction, delivery, artificial insemination, and culturing of the sire and dam prior to breeding. What type of anesthesia do they use for a c-section? How quickly does the dam usually come out of anesthesia after a c-section?

It is important that you and your vet share a good working relationship. A good vet who is knowledgeable in the care and treatment of a Great Dane is a valuable aspect of Great Dane ownership. The care that you take in the selection process of your dog's vet is time well spent. When you have arrived at your decision you should have a new level of confidence in the healthcare provided for your Great Dane.