Tweet20-01-2011 om 10:30 by Amanda Potter

The first time I had to take my cats to the vet in Maastricht it was an emergency situation and I didn’t have the luxury of selecting the right office for the job. That is not how you want to location your first pet doctor. The office I took them too handled the situation well, but it was too far for me to move the cats on my own. So I sought out a new veterinarian who was near by (and in fact on the same block as me). Here are some things to consider when picking a veterinarian office for your pet.

Locate Some Options
There are several vet offices in Maastricht, and naturally more throughout the region. If you can’t get a direct recommendation, a Google search for “Dierenarts” (animal doctor) or “Dierenkliniek” (animal clinic) and your town can get you on the right track. The Expat Guide Holland also has a short list of vets in the Eindhoven & Maastricht to consider.

Consider Proximity
Biking is my only means of transportation here in Maastricht, so proximity was very important in our decision selecting a veterinarian office. Luckily for us, Dierenkliniek Verhey has a satellite office right on our block, making the location a no-brainer. But even if you have a vehicle, a closer office will make sudden visits (and even routine ones) easier.

Share a Language
Naturally you’ll want to be able to communicate with your vet over what your pet needs. Most veterinarians in the region will speak both Dutch and English, but if you’re more comfortable in another language you should certainly look around. I ask lots of questions during appointments to make sure nothing important is being lost in translation.

Specialties?
Some veterinarians are specialists and if you have an uncommon pet or a pet with uncommon needs, you should share that with the vets you’re considering. Cats and dogs are common and routine pets, but if you have a miniature horse or more exotic animals, be sure your dierenarts knows how to handle it.

Walk-in Hours & Other Special Considerations
Finally you should consider the other, smaller things you might need. Dierenkliniek Verhey has walk-in hours at their branch, but require an appointment for any other time since Dierenarts Verhey works out of her main office most of the time. The veterinarian office you’re considering may also offer different types of pet food, take/not take PIN or credit card, and may have relationships with other vets in the area.

Naturally no matter where you go, you want to make sure you and your animals are comfortable with anyone handling them.

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