The nearest vet is often the obvious choice. When a cat is hiding under the bed or a dog has eaten something suspicious, nobody wants to search half the county for a practice that might be able to help.

But distance is only the first box to tick.

The right practice for your pet also depends on the care it offers, how quickly you can get an appointment, what happens out of hours and how clearly it explains the bill.

That is worth sorting out before there is a crisis.

A poorly cat is not the ideal moment to discover that the practice does not treat your species, sends emergencies elsewhere or expects payment in a way you had not planned for.

Here’s the checklist we suggest using.

1. Start with the journey — not just the postcode

A practice five minutes away sounds perfect, but think about the actual trip.

Can you park?

Is the entrance easy to reach with a nervous dog or a cat carrier?

Would you be able to get there quickly at night?

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons advises owners to consider distance, transport and parking, alongside the practice’s opening hours.

For rural parts of Cambridgeshire, that journey can look very different from a short trip across Cambridge.

If your pet needs regular treatment, the route becomes part of the decision.

 A slightly further practice with appointments and services that suit your routine may be less stressful than the closest option.

2. Check that the practice treats your pet — and offers the care you may need

Ask what species the practice accepts and what it can deal with in-house.

Routine consultations and vaccinations are one thing.

Dentistry, diagnostic tests, surgery, nutrition advice and end-of-life care are another.

You do not need a practice to offer every specialist service under one roof.

You do need to understand what happens if your pet needs something beyond routine care.

Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital General Practice in Cambridge, for example, offers first-opinion consultations, preventative care, routine surgery, dentistry, diagnostics, nutrition and end-of-life care.

 It also has access to specialist referral services and on-site emergency care.

That is one model. Other practices may refer patients elsewhere for some tests or procedures. Neither arrangement is automatically right or wrong, but it should be clear before you sign up.

3. Ask the awkward emergency questions now

Who answers the phone when the practice is closed?

Where will your pet be seen?

Is the emergency service run from the same building?

How much will an out-of-hours consultation cost?

These are not details to leave until midnight on a bank holiday.

Cromwell Vets publishes information about routine and emergency prices, health plans and its 24-hour emergency service based at the Huntingdon Hospital. It also has branches in several Cambridgeshire locations.

Highgate Veterinary Clinic in Willingham says it uses Cromwell Veterinary Hospital in Huntingdon for 24/7 out-of-hours cover.

Those examples show why the phrase “24-hour cover” needs a follow-up question.

It may mean a different site, a different team or a separate fee structure.

 Ask the practice to explain the exact process, including how your pet is transferred back to your usual vet afterwards.

4. Look for prices before you need treatment

Vet bills can vary because the care varies, so a single consultation price will not tell you everything.

Still, a practice that publishes some fees gives you a starting point for comparison.

Check the cost of a routine consultation, vaccinations, microchipping, neutering, prescriptions, tests and out-of-hours appointments.

Ask about deposits, payment plans, insurance claims and the likely range for common procedures.

Also ask how estimates are given if treatment changes during an operation or hospital stay.

Highgate publishes prices for consultations, vaccinations, microchipping, prescriptions, home visits and neutering, as well as a monthly preventative-care plan.

Cromwell publishes a wider list covering routine consultations, vaccinations, microchipping, neutering, diagnostics, prescriptions, health plans and emergency care.

Published prices can change, so confirm them directly.

But even an incomplete price list is better than making a decision with no idea what you will be asked to pay.

5. Find out who will actually look after your pet

Some owners value seeing the same vet each time.

Others are happy with a larger practice that has more equipment, more appointment options or access to a wider clinical team.

Ask how continuity works.

 Will your pet’s records be available to the whole team?

Can you request a particular vet?

Is there a nurse you can speak to for routine questions?

If the practice is part of a larger group, who handles decisions and complaints?

The RCVS also suggests checking practice size and payment arrangements, not just the list of services.

6. Treat reviews as clues, not a final score

Online reviews can flag repeated problems with communication, waiting times or unexpected charges.

They can also reflect one upsetting appointment rather than the full picture.

Read several reviews, then ask the practice about anything that concerns you.

The RCVS recommends checking reviews directly with the practice and looking at its voluntary Practice Standards Scheme accreditation when comparing options.

You can use the RCVS Find a Vet service to check practices and ask the clinic to explain its arrangements.

Finally, phone before registering.

Ask if the practice is accepting new clients, how soon routine appointments are available and what happens if your pet needs help today.

The best choice is not necessarily the closest surgery or the one with the longest service list.

It is the practice whose location, species care, appointment system, emergency plan, prices and style of care fit your pet and your household.

Save this checklist before choosing, then ask two or three practices the same questions.

If you have recently changed vets in Cambridgeshire, tell us which question made the biggest difference and which one you wish you had asked sooner.