I don't think that a vet needs to gush over how adorable your pet is to be a good vet, so unless you feel that the cheap vet was actually cruel, I wouldn't let that external behavior affect your decision too much. If you feel you can advocate for your pet, like you know them really well and can tell when they are feeling off, go with the cheaper vet. If you don't like his/her recommended course of treatment, you can go to another vet for a second opinion. If your pet has chronic conditions that require a lot of care, you should probably see a specialist anyway. If your pet is generally healthy and just needs periodic checkups and to be kept up with vaccines, the cheap vet will serve you fine. Supervise your pet and you'll avoid most sickness and injury (not saying you don't, just that sometimes folks don't realize that it is important, for the pet, to supervise play and pet-proof your home or the pet's living area.)