Choosing a Vet

just for checkups, shots, fixing, etc..., i'd go w/ whichever is cheaper or more convenient for you.  when more difficult situations arise as the dog ages, then i'd vet shop a bit more.  some are good at some things and not at others.  some can save you lots of money over others over the course of a dogs life.  the one in DL runs a vaccination clinic a couple times a month that saves money.  no appt.  just show up.  give em shots and out the door you go.  pay a discounted rate for the shots and not the vet "checkup" that usually gets billed when you have to make an appointment.   i don't think i'd worry too much about having more than one vet see your dog from time to time.  just make sure they can communicate if they have to.  if you include the cat trip to rugby, my pets have seen vets from steele, cando, carrington, rugby, devils lake, grand forks and east grand forks.

I agree with espringers.  Being from DL I use the local vet for regular check ups and shots.  But any major issues or those that require surgey I recommend the folks at the Rugby vet.  TOTALLY AWESOME!!!  A few years ago one of our dogs was having seizures and I guess had a stroke.  It was a weekend and none of the other vets in the area answered calls or returned messages left them.  The exception was the folks in Rugby.  They returned our call and after taking the dog there, they not only worked on him but the vet took him home with her for the night and kept me informed as to what was going on.  They're the only vet service I've found that actually treats your pet like a member of your family.

+2 for the rugby vets.  they are kind of the basis for my rant.  any vet can give a shot and do a check up and i would trust 99% of them to do that w/ my babies.  but, if it comes down to surgery, etc... they tend to have their specialties.  rugby has been great to my dogs too.  pulled out a fish hook.  fixed a few knees.  and they too were the only ones to return a phone call this last weekend for a friend.  placed 3 calls to local vets on friday night.  noone had called back as of saturday AM.  i told him to call rugby.  they called back a short time later and met him there an hour and a half later.  saved him some money by not doing the x rays he was expecting too.  had a dog gash its chest open on a sickle bar on a saturday afternoon during pheasant season and the steele vet met me there a short time later.  everyone in that area, had good things to say about them too.  these types of vets will treat your dog like their own even when you are not a regular customer who spends money on shots a couple times a year.