Too often when people ask me to recommend a "good" veterinarian I discover that they are really asking for a "cheap" veterinarian. I always remind them that while cost is important, there are other issues to consider when choosing health care for a pet.

And if that doesn't get through, I ask them if they would choose a pediatrician the same way. Can you imagine price as the only consideration when choosing a doctor for your child? Of course not. Nor should that be your only consideration when it comes to choosing a veterinarian for your pet.

For me, the keys to a healthy relationship with a veterinarian are the same as with a physician -- communication, skill and trust. The last is even more important with a veterinarian than with a physician. Knowing what goes on in a veterinarian's office after you leave your pet behind is impossible. An animal can never comment on treatment, and so an animal lover must rely on trust to be sure a pet has been dealt with humanely.

Before you choose a veterinarian, ask friends, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations. Animal lovers can tell which veterinarians are knowledgeable, compassionate and hard-working. Those veterinarians are always talked up by satisfied clients.

Other factors may help you narrow down your list of possibilities:

-- Is the clinic or hospital a good match with the pets you keep? Not all small-animal veterinarians are well-versed -- or even interested -- in treating birds, reptiles or small mammals such as rabbits or hamsters. You may wish to use a specialty practice, such as a birds- or reptiles-only practice. Cats-only practices are becoming more popular and may be more comfortable for your cat.

-- Is the clinic or hospital conveniently located, with hours you can live with? If you have a 9-to-5 job, a veterinarian with a 9-to-5 clinic won't do your pet much good. Many veterinarians are open late on at least one week night and for at least a half-day on Saturday morning. Some large group practices run 24 hours a day.

-- Does the staff seem knowledgeable and helpful? You want to be sure you're dealing with a practice interested in hiring or training people to recognize an urgent situation when you call. Animal-health technicians are the backbone of any good practice; look for the veterinarian who values them.

-- What kind of emergency care is available, if any? Although emergency veterinary clinics are prepared for any catastrophe, the veterinarians there are not familiar with your pet as an individual. If your veterinary hospital does not offer 24-hour care, does it work with one that does?

-- Does the veterinarian ask for help when needed? The best veterinarians consult with veterinary college staff or independent or in-house specialists. An increasing number subscribe to online services for access to specialists and databases of information and journal articles. A willingness to discuss tough cases with colleagues is the sign of a veterinarian who's putting in effort on your pet's behalf.

-- Does the veterinarian seem willing to refer you to a specialist for treatment? Your veterinarian should be open to a referral when your pet's condition warrants it. Current companion-animal specialties include: anesthesiology, behavior, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, emergency medicine and critical care, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, radiology and surgery. Each of these requires additional study and certification over and above that required to achieve a degree in veterinary medicine.

Finally, be sure you feel a rapport with the veterinarian you choose. You should be comfortable asking questions and discussing everything -- including those fees. The final call on whether a veterinarian is right for you comes down to intangibles. If you don't like your veterinarian, you're less likely to call or come in. The lack of productive communication will hurt your pet in the long run.

Pets on the Web: Shame on you if you name your cat "Kitty" or "Fluff" after visiting the Magic Names for Mystic Cats Web site (http://www.k-net.net/(tilde) ingram/magicat.htm).

Dominic Marks has gathered dozens of graceful names from a wide array of cultures -- including African (Kyala, the king-sky god of the Nyakyusa tribe of Tanzania), Finnish (Tuoni, the god of the underworld) and Japanese (Haya-Ji, the god of whirlwinds). My Veterinary Information Network colleague Dr. Becky Lundgren found this site, and she was right when she told me it promised a long period of fascinating reading.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to GSpadafori(at)aol.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

As disasters go, this one hardly rates a mention. The howling winds of our winter storms have rocked the twin pines in my yard, have made the dogs soggy, the lawn boggy, and filled my yard with pieces of what I uncharitably hope came from someone else's roof. But in the end, it was a 4-inch piece of dog-eared fence board that caused me the most grief.

It's hammered in tightly now, but when I saw it resting on the driveway as I drove up one day my heart danced a two-step in my chest. Could a dog have slipped through the gap? Thankfully no, but that one missing board gave me good reason to be grateful that if the whole fence had blown down and the dogs had been foolish enough to get off the front-room couch and explore the county, I had a decent chance of getting them back.

I am prepared, and you should be, too.

A pet can become missing at any time. I've had readers tell me enough stories to know it's true. Like the indoor cat who fell out a first story window when the screen she was leaning on gave way. Or the dogs who slipped away after the contractor, youngest daughter, next-door neighbor or father-in-law didn't latch the gate carefully. And then of course there are natural disasters -- little ones like blown-down fences and big ones like floods, hurricanes and earthquakes.

Figure your pet will one day be lost, and you'll always be ready.

Since your pet can't speak, the first thing you need is ID to speak for him. The basics: collar and ID tag. Got them already? Good. Now check to be sure the information is current. I got caught in this trap a short while ago when ordering a tag for the new dog, Heather. I checked what I had on the other two dogs' collars and realized there was a phone number for a place I'd left months ago. Instead of one tag, I ordered three.

Even if the information on your pet's tag is current, make sure it's readable. Some plastic tags wear down, and the grooves of metal ones seem to get filled with grime. If you can't read it, or clean it enough to make it readable, order a new tag. They're the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy.

Important as they are, collars and tags should be supplemented by permanent ID such as a microchip implants. Most shelters and many veterinarians have scanners that pick the numbers off the tiny devices, which are inserted in the loose skin between the shoulder blades on dogs and cats. For years companies produced equipment that couldn't read any chips except their own, but now scanners will pick up the presence of any chip. After your pet is chipped, register the number so people can find you if they find your pet; the person who chips your pet should have sign-up information.

One more step in your lost-pet preparations: Take your camera out and shoot a whole roll of pictures of your pet -- then ask for double prints. You'll need these to put on fliers if your pet ever becomes lost.

Should the worst happen, don't waste time hoping your pet will wander home. Put fliers everywhere you can and place a "lost" ad in the newspaper. Scan the neighborhood, watch "found" ads, and check the shelters every other day in person (phone calls don't cut it because the staff is just too busy to know every pet in the place). Don't give up too soon; pets have been found weeks after their disappearance. If your pet left outfitted for the worst, chances are you'll get him back.

If you're lucky, you'll never have to face the sorrow of having your pet go missing. But if you do, knowing you've done everything you can to keep your pet safe is the only thing that will help you and your pet. In this game, you make your own luck.

Pets on the Web: Looking for the nearest college of veterinary medicine? Try the Veterinary Medicine Educational Network, or VetNet (http://www.vetnet.ucdavis.edu/vetnet.html). The site offers a clickable map of all the veterinary colleges in the United States and Canada, and links to the home pages of each school.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

The signs of illness in cats can be particularly subtle, so much so that owners often don't realize their cats are sick until they're REALLY sick -- and sometimes that's too late.

To keep your cat healthy, you must be able to recognize what is normal for your pet so you can tell when something isn't right. Changes in appetite, drinking habits, litter-box routines, grooming, and even a change in the sound of your cat's voice can all mean trouble -- and should mean a trip to the veterinarian.

Physical changes are important, too. A monthly hands-on examination will help you become aware of changes that could signify something serious.

Before starting a hands-on exam, though, stand back and study your pet for a few minutes. Consider his posture, activity level, gait, coat and overall appearance for an impression of good health. Trouble signs include exposed skin, thin or dry coat, ribs showing, sluggishness, limping, or just lack of "spring" in his step.

Pick up your cat and head for the bathroom scale. Note your weight with your cat, then yours alone. The difference is your cat's weight, and it should be between 8 and 10 pounds. Your cat is normal if a comfortable pad of fat lies over his ribs but you can still feel the ribs if you press your hands in gently. A difference of a pound up or down is fine over the course of a few months; anything more or rapid weight loss is reason for concern.

Now for the hands-on part. Here's what to look for:

-- Nose. Your cat's nose should be moist and clean, not dry, scabbed or cracked. There should be no discharge or bleeding.

-- Eyes. Probably the most beautiful part of any cat, eyes should bright, moist and clear, centered between the eyelids, with the pupils of equal size. Eyes that are dull or sunken, that appear dry or have thick discharge are not right. Take your cat into a darkened room, then quickly turn on a light. The pupils should contract quickly, with no difference between them.

-- Ears. The skin should be clean, dry, smooth and without wounds. The ear canal should be clean and almost odor-free. Crust, moisture, discharge or strong odor in the ear canal is bad news, as is pain at the touch or an unusual way of holding the head or ears.

-- The mouth. Your cat's teeth should be clean and white, with gums that are uniformly pink. Press on your pet's gum with your finger or thumb and release quickly. The color will be white but should return to the same color as the surrounding tissue within one or two seconds, a sign your cat's circulatory system is working well. Problem signs here include loose or missing teeth, tartar, or gums that are red, pale, inflamed or sore in appearance.

-- Breathing. It should be hard to hear your cat breathe, and his chest wall should move easily in and out as he does. Most of the act of breathing should be performed by the chest wall; the stomach should barely move. "Crackles" or wheezes indicate a problem, as does labored or rapid breathing.

-- The abdomen. Start just behind the ribs and gently press your hands into the abdomen. Proceed toward the rear of your pet, passing your hands gently over the abdomen. Some bumps should be there -- they're internal organs, such as the kidneys. You should find no other lumps, bumps or masses, though, and your pet should feel no discomfort as you press gently into him.

-- Hydration. Check to ensure your cat has enough fluids by pulling the skin just behind his shoulder blades into a tent and then releasing quickly. Your pet's skin should snap immediately back into position. Another good sign of hydration is that the gums just above the teeth are moist when touched.

Chances are your cat will check out fine, in which case your exam should turn into a long, loving petting session. If anything came up that worries you, see your veterinarian to ensure your cat's good health.

Pets on the Web: The incomparable Cat Fanciers Web site (www.fanciers.com) should be the first stop for any cat-lover in cyberspace. You could explore their medical page for days and still not take in all of it. Great articles, great links.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600