Vet or veterinary clinic: what should you look for?

Choose a vet based on accessibility (including for emergencies, outside office hours), whether the clinic applies stress-free, low-threshold handling for anxious animals, and whether the communication and explanations suit you. The cheapest option isn’t automatically the best, and neither is the nearest, a good rapport with the vet and their team matters at least as much.

Accessibility and emergency care

Ask how the clinic handles emergencies outside normal opening hours: do they run their own on-call service, or do they refer you to an external emergency clinic? This matters especially with a young puppy or an older dog with health risks. Jot that emergency number down in your on-the-go first aid kit, too.

In both Belgium and the Netherlands, most practices run on rotating on-call schedules: outside office hours, you first call your own vet, whose answering machine redirects you to whichever vet is on call at that moment. If a practice doesn’t run its own on-call service, you fall back on a regional on-call service or emergency clinic. Check this in advance, not the moment you actually need it.

How much does a vet visit cost?

Prices vary a lot by practice and region, but a 2026 survey of dozens of practices gives a useful benchmark:

A visit outside office hours can easily cost three to four times as much as a standard consultation, worth factoring in when choosing a practice, not just when you first get acquainted. Most pet insurers, by the way, only reimburse that higher rate for a genuine emergency, not as standard.

Atmosphere and approach in practice

Some clinics deliberately work with stress-free techniques (think calm waiting rooms, separate entrances and exits for dogs and cats, or reward-based handling). For an anxious or sensitive dog, this can make a big difference, it also helps to learn the early stress signals to watch for, so you can step in on time in the waiting room. Feel free to ask if you can stop by or call ahead to get a feel for the atmosphere.

Communication

A good vet explains what they’re doing and why, offers realistic options (including a cost estimate) instead of jumping straight to the most expensive route, and takes the time for your questions. If you feel rushed or unheard, that’s a sign to keep looking.

When are you referred to a specialist?

Your regular vet is a generalist and can handle most cases themselves, but for more complex conditions (orthopaedics (joints, fractures), dermatology (stubborn skin problems), internal medicine or oncology) a referral to a veterinary specialist or a specialised clinic with the right equipment and experience may follow. This usually runs through your own vet, who consults with the specialist first, but at most practices you can also ask for a referral yourself if you’re not sure the current treatment is working well enough.

Switching vets: your file simply comes with you

Want to move to a different practice, after a move, say, or because the rapport just isn’t there? That doesn’t need to be a hurdle. Your dog’s medical file (vaccinations, treatments, lab results) is meant to be transferred to your new vet as a matter of course, usually within a few weeks of your request. Two ways to arrange it:

• Request it yourself from your old vet (printed or digital) and bring it to your first appointment.
• Let your new practice request it directly from the old one, most clinics are happy to handle this for you.

Practical things to compare

• Vaccinations and chipping and registration (prices vary, feel free to ask in advance).
• In-house specialisations (for example behavioural therapy) versus standard referral.
• Other people’s experiences: ask around at your dog training school, rescue, or neighbours with pets.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cheapest vet a good choice? Not automatically, also look at accessibility, communication and atmosphere.

How much does a vet visit cost? In Belgium, expect an average of €42.89 for a standard consultation of around 15 minutes (2026 survey); in the Netherlands, €51.28 on average. Outside office hours, that jumps sharply, count on at least triple.

What if my dog is scared of the vet? Look for a practice that explicitly applies stress-free techniques, and ask about their approach to anxious animals.

Do I always have to stick with the same vet? Not required, but continuity (the same vet knowing the history) has advantages for chronic conditions. You can switch at any time, your file simply comes with you.

How do I find a vet with emergency cover? Ask explicitly how the practice handles emergencies outside office hours: their own on-call service, or a referral to a regional emergency service or clinic.

When am I referred to a specialist? For more complex conditions (orthopaedics, dermatology, internal medicine) that your regular vet doesn’t have the right equipment or experience for. The referral usually runs through your vet, but you can also ask for one yourself.