How do I find a veterinarian in Florida?

Florida's Board of Veterinary Medicine licenses and regulates veterinarians. Its license records can be searched on MyFloridaLicense.com, the website of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. You can search by the vet's name or license number.

Under state law, every place where a vet practices, whether a building or a mobile unit, must have a state premises permit. After a clinic is licensed, it is inspected once every two years. A clinic that changes owners or moves must apply for a new permit. A vet who only makes house calls does not need a permit, but must have an arrangement with a clinic or hospital for emergencies.

For help, or to file a complaint about a vet or a clinic, call the department's Customer Contact Center at 850-487-1395 (TTY 800-955-8771). Complaints can also be filed online at MyFloridaLicense.com. To report someone working as a vet without a license, call the department's toll-free line, 1-866-532-1440.

Bring your pet's records from your old vet, including the rabies certificate. Florida law requires dogs, cats and ferrets 4 months or older to be vaccinated against rabies, and the veterinarian who gives the shot must give you a rabies certificate. In Lee County, for example, you can buy the county pet license from your vet when your pet gets its rabies shot.

Where to go from here.