Just like their human counterparts, pets require routine trips to the doctor to stay healthy. Some animals may need more frequent visits if they develop a serious condition like diabetes, skin allergies or a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Wrangling their pets into carriers and transporting them to the vet’s office frustrates many pet owners. Ellen Seagraves found the process stressful for her and her cat, Ruby. “She was one of these cats that, every single time we’d go to the vet, would get more and more anxious,” said Seagraves. “And she would get nasty with the vet because of that fear.”
At the time, Seagraves had three young children she also had to pack up for the journey, further complicating matters. “It got difficult to manage an anxious cat with them in tow,” she said. “Plus, you can’t get a good exam that way. My cat would get upset as soon as she saw the cat carrier come out. She would be so worked up by the time she got to the vet that it wasn’t a healthy experience for her.”
Seagraves recalled a particular visit for a suspected UTI. She had to go back multiple times in the span of a week as the vet tried—and failed—to get a urine sample. The vet finally put Ruby under anesthesia to get the sample, only to discover the cat’s bladder was empty.
“After that, the vet told me we’d need to put my cat under anesthesia for even routine visits because she was so difficult,” said Seagraves. She and her husband decided that scenario would be expensive and risky for the cat, so they opted to try a mobile veterinary service instead. “The only reason I hadn’t tried it before was I thought they’d be too expensive. But if we were facing anesthesia at every visit, what would it matter?”
Her first foray into mobile veterinary services was a pleasant surprise. A male veterinarian came to the house and her cat treated him like any other guest. “She loved visitors and would socialize with them,” said Seagraves. “So, he would snuggle her and play with her a bit before sneaking in her wellness exams, including any medicine or vaccines she needed.”
The visiting vet was creative about weighing her cat, using a scale like what you find in a grocery store. He’d put her in a bag, hang the bag on the scale hook, and capture an accurate weight. “My cat loved it because she was all snug in the bag,” said Seagraves. “He was our vet until he retired. Then, we switched to Dr. Catt at House Calls in Valencia for the last two years of my cat’s life.”
When it was time to help her cat cross the Rainbow Bridge, Seagraves turned to another mobile veterinary service, Lap of Love. They specialize in providing in-home euthanization services, so pets can experience their final moments in a comfortable and familiar environment surrounded by their families. “They were absolutely wonderful as well,” she said.
Erin McFadden, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at McFadden Veterinary Services switched to mobile vet services for her patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I found myself wanting to take my career in a new direction,” she said. “I think this service fills a need in the community, and it offers me the opportunity to practice at a slower pace and to forge deeper relationships with my clients and patients.”
McFadden said pets are typically more comfortable and less fearful in their homes, making mobile veterinary services a more pleasant experience for them. Using them avoids travel time, which can be difficult for large dogs, senior dogs, and anxious cats. “It also allows us to address behavioral issues,” she said.
In their homes, pets aren’t faced with other animals in the waiting room, a stressful car ride, or the sights, sounds and smells of an animal hospital. Senior pets, large and giant breed dogs, fearful cats, and other animals that don’t travel well are ideally suited for a visiting vet service.
It’s not just the pets who benefit from mobile veterinary services. Seagraves said it’s an amazing option for people with mobility concerns or those with young children.
The services offered by visiting vets vary by provider, so it’s important to ask if what you need for your pet is available before booking a house call. McFadden provides primary care services like annual exams, vaccines and bloodwork for her patients. “We also treat minor illnesses and injuries and offer behavior consultations and help with new puppies,” she said. “We also offer in-home euthanasia and palliative care.”
Some of the services she can’t provide during home visits include x-rays, surgery, and treatment of conditions requiring hospitalization. Emergencies are referred to local emergency clinics, such as Blue Pearl and Veterinary Emergency Group. McFadden is among the mobile vets who accept pet insurance. She suggests booking services up to two weeks in advance to get on her schedule.
McFadden said among the most common client concerns are cleanliness and sterility of equipment used in mobile settings. “My equipment is cleaned between each appointment,” she said. “If I have concerns that a patient may be contagious, I plan to see them as my last appointment of the day.”
Other precautions she takes to keep herself and her patients safe include low-stress handling by offering lots of treats and going slowly. “However, some patients do require a muzzle or other equipment to be handled safely,” she said.
Seagraves said she doesn’t regret her decision to switch to a mobile vet for her cat and recommends comparing all costs if pet owners are concerned about their budgets. “Even with a travel fee, the medications, shots, and various other services, the mobile vet wasn’t as expensive as in-office vet for us, so it really was a no-brainer.”
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