As humans, we all like control and choice, particularly when money is involved and when it concerns the welfare of something or someone we care about. We also all know that feeling of having so many choices sometimes that we become paralysed and can’t make a decision at all. 

This can be particularly hard in the situation where you have taken your pet to the vet. You’re probably feeling worried and anxious, concerned about them feeling painful or sick, and not knowing how serious it might be. Based on previous experiences, you may be feeling a bit mistrusting, or your brain might take you back to another visit with another vet that didn’t go so well. This does not create the best place to start making decisions from, and is only complicated by the fact that there is no NHS for pets, and you know you will need to pay an unknown sum for your animal’s care. Add to this again that you may have no background in medicine or biology and all the options you’re being given are completely new concepts to you… It’s a lot to take in! 

In this article I plan to walk you through the veterinary experience from a vet’s perspective, making you aware of all the options available for each part. Hopefully this can help empower you as the pet owner to work with your vet to find the best option for you and your animal. 

Options for finding the right vet for you 

You may already have a practice that you love – if so, fantastic! If you’re feeling a bit uncertain or stuck, remember you can choose who you are registered with. 

The first thing you’ll probably consider when looking for a vet is geography – they need to be easily accessible from your home when you need them! Will you be travelling by car, taxi or public transport? Do you or your pet have any mobility issues that might affect this, and so may benefit from a practice that you don’t struggle to get into? 

It’s also worth considering the type of practice you are going to. Does it treat all types of animals (a ‘mixed’ practice), or do they specialise just in the species of your pet? Remember not all practices have separate facilities for exotic animals or small furries. 

Do you know what their out-of-hours cover is? Do they provide it on-site, or will you need to travel to another practice if you need them when they are closed? Many vets will group together or use dedicated out-of-hours providers; is this an issue for you? 

Do you know how big the practice is? In smaller practices you may have a better chance of building close relationships with staff, but a larger practice may have more facilities and access to specialists. 

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, only what is the right answer for you and your pet. It’s always worth a visit before you register anywhere so you can get a feel for the place. 

Find a local vet 

Options for giving a history 

Your vet will get most of their information from the history you give them, so it’s worth thinking about it before you go. Try to be as clear and succinct as possible (remember you’re in a set time slot) but don’t feel you have to leave out any details that may seem silly to you…it may be the key to the whole case! Be completely honest with your vet. They are not there to judge you, but just to treat your pet as effectively as possible. 

If this all feels like too much pressure in a consultation, you can always take written notes with you. This can be particularly helpful if you’ve noted a symptom that seems to come and go, as the pattern of it can be really important for your vet. Again, try and keep it clear and as relevant as possible. 

It’s also really useful to take photos and videos at home (you can bet your pet won’t show the symptom when they’re in the room!) so that we can see what you see, and also bring in any urine or faeces samples if the signs relate to these body systems. 

If you have used any products at home, whether from a vet or over the counter, it’s worth taking them in so your vet can be clear on what has been tried already. 

Options for Examination 

Your vet wants a pleasant examination experience for everyone, one where your pet is not getting anxious and everyone keeps hold of their fingers! Your vet will not be able to tell what is going on from a stressed or aggressive pet, so creating the right environment is really important. 

Some things to consider: 

  • Could you give the history to your vet on your own first whilst the pet is outside with a friend? 
  • You can ask to see a particular vet (as long as it’s not an emergency) if you have one you feel particularly comfortable with 
  • Remember your pet does not have to go on the table! Many feel safer on the floor (and it saves your back too!) 
  • Take some of your pet’s favourite treats or a toy to help them feel calm. Many practices will have ‘lickimats’ or other toys to help distract them 
  • Would you prefer for a nurse to hold your pet, or for your pet to be examined away from you? 
  • If your pet gets really anxious, ask your vet before the appointment for any supplements or medications that might help calm things down for everyone 

Options for Tests and Treatments 

Following a history and physical examination, it may be that your vet already has a good idea of what is going on, and you’ll be moving straight to treatment options. It may be that they need to gather some more information to make a safe decision as to what to do next, and may recommend some tests to help them work out what is next. These tests are invariably blood tests and imaging of some kind to begin with, but may also include hospitalisation or surgery. 

This is usually the part where it all starts to feel a bit overwhelming, especially in 2025 when we have so many options available to us!

A good way to fight the overwhelm is to ‘use your BRAIN’: 

  • B – what are the benefits of the option? 
  • R – what are the risks of the option? 
  • A – what are the alternative options? 
  • I – what does your instinct tell you? Both yours and your vets. 
  • N – what happens if we do nothing right now, and you take some time to think about it? 

For each option, your vet can also give you: 

  • An estimate of cost 
  • How long they would expect for you to get results 
  • A plan of action as to what they’d do if those results were not as expected 

These different aspects of each option are what your vet will be thinking about all the time as they talk to you, so by asking these questions yourself, you can be part of the decision making process. 

When I am talking to clients, I will always present a range of options, both in terms of cost but also thinking about the level of involvement; in my experience most clients do not want their animals ‘messed about with’.  Whilst many times this is something we sympathise with, as vets we have the knowledge and experience to more effectively ‘see into the future’ and anticipate what might happen next, and know that a test might help us make things better faster. As such, I will often gently guide a client towards an option that I feel might be the best one for them and their animal, but if after discussion they feel otherwise, there are always more options available which I am happy to discuss. 

Options for Payment 

It is a fact that veterinary care needs paying for, and that it causes more stress for owners and vets than anything else. An honest conversation on both sides about the costs of treatment is always the best way to avoid any nasty surprises on either side. 

Some things to consider: 

  • What are you expecting to spend today? Is there a maximum amount you cannot spend more than today? Let your vet know so they can tailor the options to you 
  • If you choose one option today, will you be able to afford it in the future? If the answer is no, does that change your decision for today? 
  • Remember most practices need payment at the time of treatment. If this is going to be an issue, speak to your vet sooner rather than later. 
  • Does the practice offer a health plan that might give you discounts on services and treatments? 
  • Do you have a pet insurance policy that may cover treatment? If so remember that the practice will likely need to be paid first and then the money claimed back. If you were hoping that the insurance would pay directly, speak to your vet first. 
  • Remember that you can ask for a written prescription for medications to get filled out yourself, usually at an online pharmacy. This is sometimes not appropriate (for example if your pet needs treatment right now, or for antibiotics) but every practice will have a policy in place for issuing these. Beware of counterfeit medications, which are unfortunately becoming an increasing problem; however, if you ask for it, your vet is required to either provide you a prescription or send it to your preferred pharmacy or dispensary. 

Summary 

There are many options involved in an interaction with your vet, and sometimes the number and complexity of them can feel overwhelming. By creating an honest open relationship with your vet based on clear two-way communication, you can make sure that you choose the best option for you and your pet to keep everyone happy.