House Call vs Traditional Mobile Vets

Hi, I’m Dr. Miyata with Sunny Side Veterinary. I’m a mobile veterinarian serving Orange County with house call appointments.

Mobile vets can include a house-call veterinarian and a veterinarian that works out of a veterinary vehicle. A house call refers to a veterinary service where a veterinarian visits a patient's home to provide medical care for their pet. This can be particularly beneficial for pets who are anxious or uncomfortable in a clinical setting, or for pet owners who have difficulty traveling to a veterinary clinic.

Another type of mobile vet typically operates out of a specially equipped vehicle that allows them to provide veterinary care on the go. This can be particularly useful for providing services in rural areas, or for pets with emergency cases.

While both house call vets and traditional mobile vets offer the convenience of veterinary care by eliminating the commute to hospitals and wait time, there are some key differences between the two. House calls typically involve the examinations, treatments, and obtaining samples for diagnostics being performed in the home around the owners, and most traditional mobile veterinarians perform everything inside the van including the examinations. 

Although the mobile veterinarian may have the equipment beneficial for more emergency situations, house call visits can be more intimate as most or all of the pet’s visit includes the presence of the owners.