- Familiar setting.
- Getting veterinary care at home is much less stressful for most pets. Even pets who normally “guard” their house & family will often relax after we chat for a bit, getting a good history & learning about their quirks.
- This can make it a more enjoyable experience for you, your pet and the veterinarian.
- A calm pet is also more likely to show her “real” self, including behaviors that guide the exam, and research has shown that stress does significantly affect vital exam parameters, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and even temperature. Cats can double their blood sugar number in just a short car ride, and stressed pets are less likely to show their vulnerable or painful spots.
- Personalized care.
- Most veterinary offices will be juggling several patients at the same time. On a house call or a video call, you don’t share the vet’s time with anyone else.
- At your home, the veterinarian can focus on you and your pets. She won’t be distracted by office staff poking their heads in with “quick” questions about other patients.
- More time for deep dives. Dr. Specht routinely plans at least an hour of in home time, 30 minutes of video time, usually more. Most veterinary office schedules allow for no more than 15 minutes of face time with the veterinarian. Most video services give you 10-20 minutes tops.
- No car ride.
- Car rides can be very stressful for some pets.
- Pets with mobility issues will appreciate not being hauled into and out of the car. Large & giant breed dogs who DON’T have mobility issues can also do a number on your back & your car.
- Cars don’t have to be set up for the pet or cleaned up after.
- Convenience.
- Wrangling several pets to the veterinary clinic together is a recipe for disaster, or at least no fun for you.
- You may also appreciate not having the stress of taking children along. You can set them up in a quiet corner to play, or they can quietly participate in your pet’s visit. I welcome inquisitive minds.
- Vet running behind? No problem, you’re still at home & can continue with your regular household routine until she arrives. Plus you didn’t have to plan travel time to the brick & mortar clinic.
So Why NOT a house call or video exam?
- YES house calls cost more. Between the travel fee & the extended visit time, your house call veterinarian has to charge more than a stationary vet to make ends meet. Flying solo out of my little car helps me keep prices down, but there’s no way around the extra time. So I try really hard to make it worth your while. This is not your usual in-and-out, here’s your meds, & come back when the problem returns. (There are other house call vets for that.) I believe my education should help me work myself out of a job, at least on one problem for one pet. I’m not into repeat offenders & frequent flyers, even for chronic issues. (Actually I am, but only if I can get them fixed. These are my personal challenges & I think I’m pretty effective.) If I can’t make a difference by the third try, we need to regroup & maybe reach out to a specialist. I’ll get a thorough history, do a thorough exam, explain my findings, and generate a comprehensive treatment plan. I’ll explain every aspect of that plan as you need me to, and we’ll make sure it’s something you can manage physically, mentally, and financially. (YES I said financially. I practice Spectrum of Care medicine and I work with several payment plan systems, including one with no hard credit check. It does no one any good to insist you spend your whole month’s budget fixing your pet’s problem this time, then can’t have me back for the follow up to make sure we got the job done.) If you ever feel like you didn’t get enough value for your precious dollars, please please please talk to me. At the end of the day the most important thing is that your pet gets the care it needs in a way that works for your whole family
- Video discussion generally works well but video exams are not appropriate for certain conditions. You’ll need to complete a history questionnaire before I’ll accept your appointment because some things just can’t be addressed well via computer screens.
- Some pets really are better handled in a brick & mortar setting. Pets who do not do well when owners are present for their exam or treatments, pets or procedures that require multiple people to accomplish the necessary treatments, pets who are unable to accept a stranger in their home, especially a stranger with needles. Having said that, it’s almost always worth a try because pet behavior is often VERY DIFFERENT in the home environment. I always sit down & wait for the pet to relax before I start, I use low stress handling & single-handed blood draw & injection techniques, and I can do many treatments without that extra pair of hands I’d have in a clinic. Sometimes I might ask you to help, but only if we’re both comfortable that I can keep everyone safe.
- Finally, there are certain things that I just can’t safely do outside a stationary clinic & some things I just can’t carry the equipment for. General Anesthesia, Surgery, Dentistry, X-rays, extensive wound care are on this list. I’ll always touch base with you before accepting your appointment request so that you don’t find yourself paying for a house call just to get referred to my trusted brick & mortar friends.