This is something to think carefully about if taking your dog or cat with you when you move abroad, particularly in developing countries. In addition to the facilities available for your family, also consider what is available for your pets. Whilst living in some tropical paradise in the middle of nowhere may seem idyllic, it's best to be prepared.

As more and more of us are choosing to live in foreign climes and traveling further and further afield, if you are taking your four-legged friend then it pays to think also about about their wellbeing. There is likely to be a wide variety of exotic and different diseases and dangers that you may face, depending on your chosen country.

How you choose your vet depends very much on your country of residence, the availability of veterinary help and the know how they have regarding your particular breed of dog or cat. Although there are a few basic criteria that are similar worldwide it becomes more complicated when relocating abroad, especially to developing countries.

A number of years ago finding a vet for my Siberian Huskies was a nightmare as in the small town where I lived there was not a single fully qualified veterinarian. Not only that but there was no x-ray machine or proper operating facilities, as local veterinary care concentrated mainly on the health of cows and other farm animals. The ease and availability of veterinary care was something I took for granted when living in the UK. Also the cost of care can be very prohibitive; I live in an area of Asia where pet insurance is something you only read about in imported pet magazines.

I also discovered that there was a considerable difference between veterinary surgeons and veterinary technicians, who may in turn have their own practice. The main difference is the number of years of study and therefore, what they are qualified to do.

Fortunately for most expats, visits to the vet involve just the regular routine vaccinations and basic health checks, and minor infections. A common problem most pet owners experience, especially in tropical countries is ticks and fleas, but there are plenty of good products available. I have found that often the local off the shelf ones work well as they are produced for that particular market.

As your pet is for life, it is likely that you will develop a long-term relationship with your vet, so it is important to work with a veterinarian you can trust, and who inspires confidence in you and your animal. Language may also be a barrier.

Here are a few things, based on personal experience from living in many countries, that you may wish to consider, when choosing a local vet.

Determine what services the practice offers. Do they provide emergency services after normal hours? You may find you need more than one vet.
How clean is the veterinary practice?
What size needle is used in a vaccination? The smaller the animal, the smaller the needle should be, therefore less pain.
Do the staff seem knowledgeable and helpful? If they are unable to make a diagnosis, are they willing to refer the problem to someone else e.g. a veterinary professor, a more experienced vet?
How carefully and humanely does the vet handle your animal?
Does the vet make house calls?
Is the vet familiar with your particular breed and its problems or are they at least willing to learn?
Are the practice hours convenient? Do you need a vet that is open on weekends or has late office hours?
If you are unable to speak the language of your host country, don't put too much importance on how well your vet speaks English. You may be passing over an excellent vet, just because communication is a little difficult. Most vets have a little knowledge of English and are usually familiar with standard medical terms.

Obviously, for more complex situations it helps to take a native speaker with you, or alternatively do a search on the Internet for your pet's problem and recommended treatment, then you will have an idea what to expect when you arrive at the surgery. A good source of advice is the appropriate "club" for your particular breed of pet, where discussion boards on the Internet allow you to pose questions to fellow breed owners etc, who are eager to help.

There are usually well resourced veterinary hospitals available in most capital cities, should the worst come to the worst and you require treatment that your local vet cannot provide.

Gill Hart is a freelance article writer and journalist in her spare time. She is also an English teacher and has worked in many countries. She is owned by 6 Siberian Huskies.

For more of Gill's articles on dogs and cats visit http://www.thaitails.com For photographs of her dogs please visit http://www.picable.com/photographers/GillHart.14604