How to Choose a Vet for Your Gerbil
To choose a vet for your gerbil, look for a qualified small animal specialist who has experience with gerbils. You can search for one online, contact a veterinary training certification organization, or reach out to a gerbil enthusiast group like the American Gerbil Society. If you have friends or family with a pet gerbil, see which vet clinic they recommend. Once you find some options near your area, check out their reviews on websites like Angie's List and Vetz Ratings.
Locate a small animal specialist. Small animal specialists have special training that allows them to effectively treat hamsters, gerbils, and other small pets. To find a small animal specialist, contact a veterinary training and certification organization (the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, for instance) or a gerbil enthusiast group (the American Gerbil Society, for instance).  You might also run an online search like "small animal specialist" using your preferred search engine. Find a vet that has experience with gerbils. Generally, the best vet for your gerbil will have experience treating gerbils. Most small animal specialists will have at least some experience dealing with gerbils, but you should contact vets in your area or check their websites to find out which one has the most relevant experience. Only consider vets who are properly qualified. Different nations have different regulatory bodies that manage the registration and licensing of veterinarians. For instance, in the U.K., your vet might be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. In the U.S., your vet should be registered with the American Animal Hospital Association. Check reviews for different local clinics. You can find reviews on sites like Angie's List, Vetz Ratings, and Best Veterinarian Review. Read both good and bad reviews to get a good idea of which vet may be the best choice for you. Remember that a few bad reviews doesn't mean the vet is a bad choice, especially if there are more good reviews than bad. If all of the reviews are poor, however, you may want to consider a different vet. Look for a veterinary clinic that has reasonable hours. Try to avoid clinics that are incompatible with your schedule. Sure, you could always take the day off to make a special trip to the vet with your gerbil, but to minimize frustration and inconvenience, choose a vet with hours that allow you and your gerbil the greatest flexibility. Find a vet near you. Your vet should be close enough for you to easily access when you and your gerbil need to. The precise point at which a particular vet becomes too far away depends on you and your preferences. For instance, some people might decide that a vet located one hour away is too far. For other people, a vet located 35 minutes away is too far. Select a vet that offers comprehensive medical and surgical services. The best clinic will offer a full suite of medical services, including emergency services, pain management, surgery and anesthesia, and dentistry. Your veterinary clinic should also offer: contagious diseases radiology services pathology services dental services nursing care prescription services access to your pet's medical records Talk to friends and family about which vet they go to. If your friends or family have a pet gerbil, or even another pet like a dog or cat, ask them who their vet is. Contact the clinic they recommend and ask if they offer veterinary services for gerbils. Ask your current vet for a recommendation if you’re moving. If you already have a vet you trust, but you're moving somewhere new, ask them for recommendations about vets in the area you're moving to. They might know someone who can offer the same level of care and attention. Schedule a tour and meet the vet. Once you've successfully identified a clinic that meets your needs, contact them to set up a tour and a meeting where you can get to know the vet. Plan to bring your pet along. A tour of the clinic will also give the vet a chance to meet you and your gerbil. You might need to wait several days before the staff can schedule a viewing and tour. You won't necessarily be able to see everything on your tour. If a vet is performing surgery, for instance, you won't be able to enter the surgery room. But you should be shown all the main areas of the hospital. If the clinic refuses a tour, cross them off your list. Introduce your pet to the vet and monitor the interaction. If your gerbil shows excitement and interest in meeting its potential new vet, you should take that as a good sign. But if your gerbil is scared or anxious when it meets its potential new vet, the vet should speaking calmly and reassuringly to calm it down. If the vet seems unmoved by your gerbil's fear, look for a more compassionate veterinarian. Ask the vet questions about their policies. You should look at the tour and your meeting with the vet as an opportunity to learn more about the veterinary clinic. There are several questions you ought to ask, including: Can I request an appointment with a particular vet? (The answer should be yes.) How long does it take to schedule an appointment? Does the vet have access to a broad network of specialists? (The answer should be yes.) Can I schedule an appointment via email or online? What are my options if my gerbil needs help when the clinic is closed? Are you generally responsive to telephone messages and calls? If I leave a message, will a vet call me back? Will I be emailed and/or given a hard copy of my pet's test results? Find out what your payment options are. Veterinary bills can be steep. Ask for a list of basic services (checkups, radiology, and pathology) and their costs. Additionally, find out whether it's possible for you to pay your bills in installments. Ask about payment options, too. Does the clinic accept checks? Credit/debit cards? Ensure the staff are friendly and attentive. If the staff at the clinic is friendly, warm, and attentive, you should feel confident that your gerbil will get the care it deserves. If the staff seems unhappy and dissatisfied, however, you might want to take your gerbil elsewhere. A veterinary staff that is knowledgeable and easy to communicate with will make your visits more enjoyable. Check the cleanliness of the clinic. When you arrive at the veterinary clinic for your tour, you should expect clean floors, desks, and counter tops. Windows and exam tables should be free of smudges and smears, and the clinic overall should be free of animal odors. If the veterinary clinic is dirty, it might mean that the staff is overworked or inattentive. Dirty clinics have the potential to spread illnesses to your gerbil, so steer clear of unsanitary veterinary clinics. Check the condition and mood of other pets. During your tour, be sure to stop at the kennel or boarding area of the clinic. Look for signs that the other animals are stressed or in danger. For instance, if the dogs are all howling or whimpering, they might be housed in stressful conditions. If some pet crates are stacked on top of one another at a dangerous angle (or look as though they might topple over), you should look for another clinic. Check the quality of the equipment. Equipment that looks old, damaged, or rusty should be a red flag. This includes medical devices as well as sinks, exam tables, and storage containers. Look for a high degree of organization. If the vet you meet with doesn't know that you want a vet for your gerbil, they are very disorganized. Alternately, if the staff has folders strewn about their desks in a disorderly manner, or if the exam rooms have surgical tools and equipment scattered about helter-skelter, you should look elsewhere for a vet. Don’t be discouraged by a busy or fast-paced waiting area. If there are a lot of people and pets in the waiting room, it's probably a sign that the vet is well-liked. And if that's the case, you should strongly consider choosing them as your gerbil's regular veterinarian. 
Locate a small animal specialist. Find a vet that has experience with gerbils. Only consider vets who are properly qualified. Check reviews for different local clinics. Look for a veterinary clinic that has reasonable hours. Find a vet near you. Select a vet that offers comprehensive medical and surgical services. Talk to friends and family about which vet they go to. Ask your current vet for a recommendation if you’re moving. Schedule a tour and meet the vet. Introduce your pet to the vet and monitor the interaction. Ask the vet questions about their policies. Find out what your payment options are. Ensure the staff are friendly and attentive. Check the cleanliness of the clinic. Check the condition and mood of other pets. Check the quality of the equipment. Look for a high degree of organization. Don’t be discouraged by a busy or fast-paced waiting area. 