Do you get a knot in your stomach each year when the reminder card comes in the mail saying your pet is due for her annual examination? The trip to the vet’s office can be stressful for both pet and owner. When a cat is so upset by the travel and the unfamiliar surroundings that it becomes aggressive, its owner may find it difficult to focus on the medical information the veterinarian is trying to convey. A dog may be arthritic and have difficulty getting into the car and his owner may not know how to help him without causing more discomfort. It is very important to both veterinarian and owner that a pet’s lifestyle and medical condition be discussed thoroughly, so that all the diagnostic and treatment options can be conveyed and understood. When everyone is stressed communication is often difficult. Wouldn’t it be great if the vet could come to you so that your pet could get the care she needs right at home?
Pets often do not travel well for many physical and behavioral reasons. Many dogs become motion sick or agitated when taken for car rides; cats often vocalize, and may urinate, defecate or vomit in their carrier due to the stress of travelling. Dogs that are not well socialized or that do not get along well with other dogs may be difficult to manage in a waiting room full of people and other animals. Puppies and kittens that have not yet completed their vaccination series, or pets with compromised immune systems, may be exposed to infectious diseases while in the clinic’s waiting or exam rooms. Older, large-breed dogs often have difficulty getting in and out of the car. Senior citizens, busy pet owners with young children, and owners of multiple pets are some other groups that appreciate the convenience of a house call for their pets.
There has been an increase in the number of veterinarians choosing to provide house call services. The ability to provide more personalized care and an individualized approach to pet health care is appealing to veterinarians looking for an alternative to a busy corporate veterinary practice, or looking to establish a practice in which they can give each patient the attention she deserves. House-call veterinarians are able to provide quality wellness care at home for many pets. Physical examinations, comprehensive bloodwork, vaccinations, as well as treatment for many medical conditions can often be performed at home, with less stress to both pet and owner. The house call provides the opportunity to focus completely on that pet, determine her medical needs and tailor a plan for wellness care specific to her. The distractions of other pets and the stress of travel are eliminated.
Some house call practitioners utilize a full-service mobile unit capable of performing surgery, radiology and full service medical procedures, while others work in the home providing basic wellness care, and refer their patients to a brick and mortar clinic when they need surgery or other more involved procedures. Certainly not all medical conditions can be treated in the home; many medical and surgical emergencies are better and more effectively treated in a full service emergency clinic.
One service often best performed at home is euthanasia. Sick or debilitated pets can be difficult to transport to the clinic without causing additional stress and discomfort. Pet owners greatly appreciate being able to spare their pets this final pain. Dogs and cats can often be given a sedative and allowed to settle comfortably in their own beds for the euthanasia, rather than being nervous and bewildered in a cold an unfamiliar exam room in a clinic. And their owners are more comfortable being able to grieve privately in their own home. House-call veterinarians work with pet cremation facilities and aftercare services in order to provide a wide variety of burial and cremation options, and will often provide transportation, sparing the pet owner the worry of these final arrangements.
A pet owner may be somewhat hesitant to schedule a house call, not knowing what to expect from the experience. While working in the home, house call practitioners strive to provide stress-free, clean and professional service. They carry their own supplies and equipment, usually work with a technician, and ask only for a well-lit area in which to work. A full physical examination can be performed, a thorough history taken, and blood samples obtained in order to assess the pet’s health status. Vaccinations may be administered, after discussing the pet’s life style and risk of exposure to individual diseases. Medications are dispensed and full exam reports are provided, much the same as you would expect from a visit to a brick and mortar clinic. Minus the stress.