In-House Call Vet

taomom

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Have any of you guys tried just having a vet come over your house to check your cat? I know it costs more since you have to pay the vet for driving fees, but it might be worth it if the cat gets way too stressed being taken to the veterinary clinic. How was your experience with house call vets?
 

denice

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Sadly I don't believe we have any mobile vets in this area.  If the vet was good it is something that I would pay extra for.  The only home vet we have here limits her practice to just home euthanasia.  Happily I haven't needed her services since she started but I am glad that option is at least available here.
 

pipperoo

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Our terrific cat-only vet closed her practice a year ago and switched to housecalls only.  Its a terrific service.  The vet travels with her assistant and she (the vet) is having more fun and says her patients definitely appreciate not having to go in the carrier for the drive to the strange place.  she recommends that owners of skittish cats "herd" the cat into a small bathroom  a bit before she visits so that the cat is easy to access - otherwise shy cats tend to hide under the bed when someone visits and she doesn't want her clients spending most of the appointment trying to lure the cat out!
 

Boris Diamond

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The only experience I have with a vet van is when my neighbor's dog got her tail run over.  They found a mobile vet online and got her to come.  The dog, who was named Gracie, had to have her tail removed.  The vet charged them a very reasonable price and she did a good job.  That was several years ago and Gracie seems almost as energetic as ever.  They would not hesitate calling her again.  The vet does mainly large animals, but she dropped everything to come from 30 miles away.  

I have one cat that is terrified of car rides and I have considered calling this vet to see him.
 
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taomom

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But how would they see what's really going on inside the animal's body when they don't have x-ray or ultrasound to use? How about blood test,urinalysis, or fecal?
 

denice

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I think that with the true mobile vet with the large van or more accurately small bus they can do basic things like fecals and routine blood tests.  For more complicated blood work they would take the blood and send it out which is what many vet offices do.  It's not financially worth it for them to buy the equipment needed for the more complicated blood testing.  I know they wouldn't be able to do an ultrasound and probably not an x-ray.  I think they are mainly for routine exams and spay/neuters not for sick or injured animals.
 
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