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In-Home Pet Care Visits for Dogs & Cats

Pet Pros provides home health care services to your pet in the comfort of their own home! There’s no place like home for healing. When your pet is ill or recovering from an injury, there’s no place they would rather be than home with the people it loves.

A Full Spectrum of Pet Home Health Care Services

Pet Home Health Care for Pets offers a full spectrum of home care services ranging from nursing assistance by our Veterinary Technicians with every day needs to physical therapy to high-tech procedures. Simply being in comfortable familiar surroundings has proven to be one step toward a speedy recovery.

Pet Pros Vet Service

We keep your Veterinarian totally informed about your pet’s progress and treatments at all times by documentation, progress notes, care plans, phone calls, etc. Our service allows pet owners to make wise informed decisions about the health care of their pets.

Our home care team is dedicated to meeting your pet’s health care needs. Our home health staff provides and coordinates the care and or therapy your veterinarian orders. In support of your veterinarian orders, our staff develops a written plan for your pet’s care which includes the services you will receive to improve and maintain the physical, mental, and social well being of your pet. We work as a team with your veterinarian to give your pet a speedy and safe recovery.

Pet Pros is committed to enhancing the quality of life for pets by educating pet owners.

?Pet Nurse and Rehabilitation Care

Pet Pros Home Health Care Agency also provides services that include skilled nursing and rehabilitation care, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, case management, disease management, and much more.? We can provide transportation for your pets to and from your veterinarian office as needed.

Our skilled Veterinary Technicians? are led by Registered Nurses dedicated to meeting the needs of your pets. Care is coordinated with your pet’s veterinarian.

Pet Home Health Care services by Pet Pros:

• Preventative Health Care and Maintenance
• Vital Signs & Glucose Monitoring
• Disease Management
• Medication Teaching
• Respiratory Management
• Administration of Injections
• Laboratory Testing
• Pain Management
• Infusion Therapy
• Post-Surgical Care
• Physical Assessment

Our Veterinary Technicians and caregivers are trained to understand diseases, medical conditions, and treatment processes; our knowledge allows for customized and rehabilitation care while your pet is recovering.

Our compassionate caregivers receive specialized training in cardiac management, diabetes, pain management, geriatric management, wound care, injections, infusion therapy, oncology insulin injections, etc. to care for pets. Quality care by Pet Pros Home Health care means comfort, security, and peace of mind!

Click here to view our Pet Fitness Program or our Pet Food Delivery Service .

Questions?? If you have any questions about our Pet home health care services, please contact us by email or call us toll-free at? 1.888.9 PETS 4 U (888-973-8748). We look forward to speaking with you.

Modern veterinary nursing techniques with a Holistic approach.

Hi, I’m Liz.  I am a Veterinary Technician with over 30 years experience caring for pets like yours.  Heal at Home Pet Care is my business, and I love what I do!  I provide services to my clients in a variety of ways – via pet home nursing visits, phone or video consults, to the PetWise Membership community, and various mini-courses, live talks and learning materials I offer. 

I understand your needs.

Do you have a pet with a recently diagnosed or chronic disease?  Do you find giving treatments to your pet overwhelming?  Is your pet recovering from a recent surgery? Are you stressed thinking about your older pet’s medical challenges?

Each family’s journey is unique.

 I work with you and your pet to create a specific plan that restores balance to your pet’s health and to your life.  Using a combination of modern nursing techniques and experience with a holistic approach, I provide help when it is needed most, removing fear and frustration.

How can you start?

In short, yes. If you ring a vet practice and ask for a home visit, they will often be able to arrange a mutually convenient time to come out to you. We can all appreciate the desire to have your veterinarian visit you at home instead of having to find the time to take your pet to the clinic. But there are some scenarios in which this just isn’t possible, or it’s just not in the best interests of your pet. 

Home vet service or a home visit?

It depends on your local vets as to whether or not they are able to accommodate a home visit for you. Some vets aren’t able to provide this service because of constraints on manpower, for example. 

Even if they do offer it as a general rule, whilst your vets may do everything possible to see your pet at home, please be aware that they might need you to be flexible. A veterinary clinic can often have a number of emergencies that arrive at the same time and this could mean that your veterinarian has to help another poorly pet before they can get out to see you. 

Alternatively, there are a growing number of independent, dedicated home veterinary services running these days. Often made up of one or two vets, with or without the assistance of a veterinary nurse. This can be an ideal option for clients whose routine vets can’t offer a home visit service. These services are complementary to your own vets because many of them will not be able to offer out or hours or emergency care to your pet, in which circumstances you’d need to contact your normal vets. 

Can I ask for a home visit for anything?

This is key and we urge owners to be open-minded when requesting home visits for their pets. Why? Well, put simply, for the good of your pet.

What you may interpret as your dog just being a bit quiet, having had an upset tummy for a few days, we would see as a list of various different things that could be going on. Several of which could be very serious, requiring timely diagnosis (through imaging, blood tests, etc), to give your pet the best care possible.

Your vet might see things from a different point of view, because they have the experience to know that things often aren’t as straight forwards as they might appear. So whilst you might prefer a home visit, if they recommend a trip to the clinic it’s best to follow their advice. 

Where we are concerned that your pet will need urgent investigations, we will always recommend that you bring them to the clinic. Similarly, the pets we see through the emergency service are generally quite unwell and require the services of the clinic. Please be aware that most dedicated out of hours services will not be able to offer a home visit. This is because of a duty of care to those pets that are being treated or are recuperating.

The reality is that, whilst home visits are a great option for vaccinations, worming, prescription checks and minor ailments, they may not be when your pet is seriously unwell.   

Why is my home visit more expensive than in the clinic?

Depending on your vets or chosen home veterinary service, the cost may be more than a normal consultation at the clinic. This relates to the cost involved in having a practice vehicle (such as maintenance, insurance, petrol etc) as well as the indirect cost of removing a vet from the practice during the working day. This affects the overall caseload of the clinic, and the business model as a mobile or home vet service. 

Can I have my pet put to sleep at home?

In many cases, this is something that can be arranged. It is often more comfortable for the pet and owner to have these final moments in a familiar place with familiar faces. Give your vets a ring if you think the time is coming and you might prefer to let your pet go at home. Read more about end of life care and how your vets can help during this time in our recent blog series .

You may also be interested in;

• Fear-free handling for cats visiting the vet
• Taking the stress out of a visit to the vets: what helps for cats?
• Can I get a second opinion from another vet?
• Why Do Vets Always Want to Spend Money on X-Rays?
• How do vets treat blood loss in cats and dogs?

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Have you tried to get a vet in Northampton to do a home visit, for a large heavy (not overweight) elderly dog – mobile issue – anxiety ? the only thing these vets will do at a home visit “is put your dog down” that is today’s hardened hideous reality, there’s no palliative end of life care, no interest in older pets these day (their disposable, get another one and put them down!). What has become of compassion in service, is it that is cash and time are now the bottom line! it’s a moral outrage we don’t expect it free of charge – offered to pay them to come out – I am disgusted now – where is this all going to end…… if you cannot get a large older dog into a vet? If you have a conciseness you will not have to leave it to the imagination – to some up these days – a home visit now means euthanasia

I can’t comment for every vet in Northampton, but I am aware that most of the vets you see will have very little say on policies in their practice. However, the RCVS – our regulator – says the following in our Code of Conduct : “3.36 In all but exceptional circumstances the interests of companion animals will be best served by being taken to a veterinary practice where the attending veterinary surgeon has access to a full range of veterinary medicines, equipment and facilities. Exceptional circumstances might include an entrapped animal that cannot be moved prior to veterinary attention.”

“3.39 Veterinary surgeons are not obliged to attend away from the practice, unless in their professional judgement it is appropriate to do so. This applies even if owners demand attendance away from the practice or the owner’s personal circumstances mean that they have to make special arrangements to transport their animal to the practice. Where a veterinary surgeon has declined to visit but offered to see the animal at the practice, or make other arrangements, the responsibility for the animal’s welfare rests with the owner.”

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Please Note: We are not currently accepting new patients other than those needing euthanasia.

Call to schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment by calling 847-672-7737 . If you need urgent care, please contact VetMedic .

Compassionate euthanasia in your home

Saying goodbye to a pet is a difficult process. Dr. Derse can help make this transition as peaceful and comfortable as possible by providing at home euthanasia services. Cremation services are also available.

Multiple pets? No problem!

Multiple pets can make it challenging to get them all rounded up, in the car, and to a veterinary hospital. Dr. Derse can get the job done without the hassle of transportation.

Welcome to Veterinary Housecall Care

Welcome to Veterinary Housecall Care! My name is Dr. Jami-Lyn Derse and I decided to open a housecall practice after hearing many clients over the years ask me if I could come to their home to treat their pet. I understand that pets are part of the family and am committed to treating yours as I would treat my own. My goal is to develop a personal relationship with each of my clients and patients, and to provide exceptional veterinary care in the comfort of your home. A housecall is ideal for pets that become fearful at the veterinary hospital, do not enjoy car rides, and for clients with multiple pets or who would benefit from the convenience of having a vet come to you. Schedule an appointment today by calling 847-672-7737 , or emailing me at [email protected] . I service Lake County, IL, and am eager to meet and care for your pets!

About Dr. Derse

Jami-Lyn Derse, DVM, is the founder of Veterinary Housecall Care, a comprehensive home visit vet service that provides personalized and compassionate care for pets in the Chicagoland area. In addition to operating her housecall practice, Dr. Derse is an emergency and critical care doctor at specialty and emergency animal hospitals in Chicago and the northern suburbs. She has experience providing routine preventative care as well as performing advanced emergency procedures. Dr. Derse works exclusively with dogs and cats.

Dr. Derse received a B.S. in Biology and Zoology from University of Wisconsin-Madison, her doctorate from Ross University of Veterinary Medicine (St. Kitts, West Indies), and did her clinical rotations at the University of Minnesota. She is an active member of the veterinary community, belonging to both the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Derse can also be frequently found giving educational lectures to numerous groups in the Chicagoland area.

Dr. Derse lives in the northern suburbs with her husband, two daughters, German Shorthaired Pointer Emma, Golden Retriever Birdie, Goose, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, and Picasso, a marble tabby.

Dr. Derse treats a wide variety of veterinary conditions and  offers services including but not limited to:

Anal Gland Expression

Conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, ear infections, heartworm testing, hospice care, humane euthanasia, minor laceration repair, nutritional consultations, pain management, parasite prevention and control, vaccinations, wellness exams, testimonials.

“We are the proud owners of a Red Lab, two mini Dachshunds, and a rabbit. We found ourselves going to and from the vet for different vaccinations and the occasional ” I think he ate something visit”. When started using Dr. Derse we almost completely eliminated our trips to the vet office. Dr. Derse comes to our house and in a short time takes care of all of your pets. So if she’s there to check up on one of the dogs, she can check on everyone without us having to drag everyone to the vet! Not to mention it is a much more relaxed environment for the animal No one likes going to the Vet! It is super convenient and the best part is that the pricing is competitive with the freestanding Vet office that we used to visit. Seriously the best thing that we ever found!”

“When my dog punctured his foot while running outside, I called Dr. Derse to come to our home and look at the wound.  Dr. Derse arrived promptly, examined the foot, and told us exactly what we needed to do to heal the foot.  She also prescribed antibiotics for our dog.  Not only did she provide excellent care for our dog but the in-home service was invaluable to us.  Our dog has a lot of anxiety going to a veterinarian’s office and needs to be muzzled when we go. However, our dog did not have anxiety and was very pleasant when Dr. Derse examined him.  In addition, with a busy family schedule, it was so much more convenient to have Dr. Derse come to our house.  She examined our dog while I was getting our son ready for soccer and dinner on the table.  Finally, her rates were very reasonable and not any more expensive than the fees we experienced when taking our dog to the veterinarian’s office.  We plan on using her in the future for emergencies as well as wellness exams and vaccinations for our dogs.  I would not hesitate to use her as your veterinarian in the future!”

“How does one go from sadness to peaceful at the loss of a canine family member of 17 years?  Taylor, our Maltese, grew up with me and my two brothers from grammar school to college.  He was always there for us during the happy times and was there to listen and comfort us during the difficult times.  When his age caught up with him, facing a difficult decision of putting him to rest was almost unbearable to think of.  Even though I knew it was the right thing to do for Taylor, I was deeply saddened about saying goodbye.

Dr. Derse talked me through the process and helped put my mind at ease.  I asked her, “How are you able to this as part of your everyday job?”  She explained that knowing it is the right thing to do for the animal helps her get through it.  Dr. Derse was extremely kind and compassionate and made the last few moments with Taylor extremely peaceful and I am grateful she was there with me.”

“With a squirmy 9 month old son at home and a 6 year old cat who doesn’t enjoy car trips, Veterinary Housecall Care is a lifesaver. Dr Derse was flexible and accommodating with scheduling the appointment and was great with our little (err…big…weighing 16 lbs) scaredy-cat. Our cat is on the mend and our family is very happy to avoid a frustrating trip to a vet. With so many hassles in life, it’s great to hit the “easy button” and call Dr. Derse!”

“It has been my pleasure to have Dr Derse as my dog’s veterinarian for about a year now. Due to one of my dogs no longer able to get in my car, I had to find a vet who could make home visits. Dr Derse came to our home and was incredibly professional, knowledgeable and proficient. She also has an immediate repoire with animals, which made me know I had made the right decision!

Unfortunately, one of my dogs recently needed to be humanely euthanized, which I had Dr Derse perform, She could not have been more loving and respectful both to my sweet girl and to me throughout the entire process. She became a trusted confidant who I could contact with questions and concerns and was always there for us. I am so grateful to Dr Derse for how she helped us through that difficult time.

I have since adopted another rescue and could not imagine working with another veterinarian! She has truly become a trusted advisor and Dr for my family pets!”

“Cats really do have 9 lives and Dr. Jami-Lyn Derse has saved my cat Sox 3 of her lives so far.

I am truly grateful for Dr. Jami-Lyn Derse and her staff at Veterinary Housecall Care LLC. Back a couple of years ago I was in the hospital for 5 days and a friend was taking care of my cat Sox. She sent me pictures of her and it prompted me to look at older pictures. Well I noticed then that Sox had lost a tremendous amount of weight. Sox also was throwing up a lot when I returned from the hospital. I reached out to a friend of mine from Church Tracey and she recommended Dr. Jami-Lyn Derse. I called and told her the situation and she and her assistant came out right away. They took blood work and the test results came back with bad numbers. Sox had to go to the Companion Animal Specialty & Emergency Hospital (this is where Dr. Jami-Lyn Derse too I also highly recommend this establishment too). She had to get fluids into her and stay the night. Life 1 saved.

Second episode sometime after was very similar Sox was throwing up a lot and losing weight. She needed an adjustment to her medications and more fluids. Life 2 saved.

Third episode Sox either had stroke or a seizure in the middle of the night which scared me to pieces. They came out again. Sox was doing ok, but we had to keep an eye on her (Thanksgiving will be a year since this episode). Life 3 saved.

I am hoping that Sox prior to me getting her didn’t have any other lost lives and that I still have 6 more lives with her left all due to Dr. Jami-Lyn Derse.

I have already recommended all of them to many people and will continue to do so. All her assistants are Rockstars too.”

“With two small children and two large older cats with diabetes, asthma and cranky attitudes, taking the felines to the vet can be a challenge! Dr. Jami-Lyn Derse is a godsend! It’s so wonderfully convenient to have her come to our house to clip the cats’ nails, discuss their medications and ensure we are giving them the best care. Her bedside manner is warm, patient and professional and she’s wonderful to work with!”

“Dr. Derse has been treating both our golden retriever puppy Pappy and 15-year-old cat, Fat Joe, for over a year. She was super helpful when I was 8 months pregnant with twins. I wasn’t able to lift Pappy in our car, so she came to our house and gave him his vaccines. She also diagnosed Fat Joe with a hyper-thyroid and has since been monitoring her through bloodwork tests. She is always on time and our pets love her! I can’t imagine what we would do without her at-home services. Thanks, Dr. Derse!”

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Contact dr. derse, you can contact dr. derse at 847-672-7737, or fill out the form below and she will get back in touch as soon as possible..

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Dr. Jami-Lyn Derse 847-672-7737 [email protected]

Veterinary Housecall Care PO Box 7141 Libertyville, IL 60048

Mon-Fri: 9:00am – 4:00pm

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House calls 101: How does it work?

Ever wondered how at-home appointment works? Mobile vet visits are different from regular visits to a clinic. We’ve prepared a short overview of the process to get you started.

Suitable for : Regular wellness checkups and sickness treatment for puppies and kittens, adult cats and dogs, and geriatric patients; pets sensitive to the traditional clinic setting. 

Not suitable for : emergency treatment and visits that require imaging such as x-rays or MRIs. Hard to define if you are having an emergency? Read our emergency guide to evaluate the situation.

Appointment booking

Select a suitable time slot at booking.thevets.com to schedule your home visit. Once you complete the booking process, you will receive a confirmation email with the details of the time and date of your upcoming appointment.

Initial phone assessment

After your appointment is scheduled, one of our Booking Agents will reach out to learn more about your pet and the reason for a visit to tailor the visit plan to your specific needs. If there are any particular behavioral concerns, parking or travel instruction, or any other issue that our veterinarians need to be aware of, please let us know to ensure that our team provides the highest quality of care. ​

Prepare for the visit​

Follow the pre-appointment recommendations sent to your email to ensure that the visit is smooth and successful. Please note that every appointment requires prior confirmation with our Booking Agents or via SMS reply to the confirmation SMS that you will receive before the visit.

When the big day comes

Visit summary

We will deliver prescribed medications to you after the visit if they are unavailable over the home visit. If any laboratory test is performed, the results will be sent to your mail within 72 hours and we will call you in case further discussion of the treatment plan is required.​

Stay in touch​

Our medical team will follow-up from time to time to check up on your pet’s condition regularly.​​

Did we miss anything?​

If you still have a question about appointments, check our FAQ page or reach us at [email protected]

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Home visit vets

Home visit vets Serving Edinburgh & surrounding areas

Home-visit nurse

A visit from our nurse can be just the thing for you and your pet. Just like our vet visits, we offer long appointments of 30-40 minutes that allow us to get to know you and your pet and address any concerns or questions you might have. Our nurse is fully qualified and experienced, and can provide you and your pet with a wide range of services, including nail clipping, giving medications, helping with weight management, anal gland expression, and microchipping.  Appointments cost just £35, and you can book online now.

Here’s more information about services our veterinary nurse can offer you and your pet. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

• Nail clipping Perhaps your pet hates having their nails trimmed or you are just unsure how to do this safely yourself. Our vet nurse can happily come and perform a manicure to keep those claws in order.
• Anal gland expression Some dogs occasionally get a bit whiffy round the back end and ‘scoot’ their bottom on the floor. This can often be a sign that their anal glands are full and could do with being emptied. Understandably this is not a job that many pet owners like to take up themselves! Our vet nurse will happily come out and do this for you.
• Post-operative checks If your pet has recently had surgery then our vet nurse will be able to come and make sure they are recovering as expected at home to save you any hassle trying to get them back to a clinic. She will check any wounds are healing satisfactorily and will have the time to answer any questions you may have about your pet’s recovery.
• Weight management appointments Our nurse can help you get on the right track if your pet is overweight and you need them to shed some pounds. It can be a bit daunting knowing what food to feed and how much, so she can help you reach your goal and will bring scales to get an accurate weight. She will then make a plan and give you a target weight to reach.
• Application and administration of medication Our vet nurse can apply flea and tick medications and help with the dreaded worming tablets! She can also clean ears and apply ear medications and perform injections if necessary. If you have any problems with giving your pet medications and just need a little help then let us know and we can help.
• Microchipping Our vet nurse can come to your home and insert a microchip quickly and easily. This is a legal requirement in all dogs over 8 weeks old but we also recommend this in cats too.

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How I can help you & your pet

• Cat Grooming
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Popular Services

I offer basic grooming such as removing matts/dags, de-shedding, removing undercoat, lion clip, sanitary clips. I specialise in cats since there are many fantastic dog groomers about, however I’m here if you only need a couple of dags or matts removed from your pup.

Wellness Check

Regular wellness checks essential in preventative care because we can catch  things in their early stages, such as; infections, arthritis, lumps, and weight issues just to name a few. If there are any concerns, we can make a care plan together with your veterinarian.

Collars and tags alone are not effective at identifying your pet as these are easily removed or lost by your pet. A microchip gives your pet the best chance of being reunited with you if they become lost or stolen. Price includes NZCAR national database registration.

Keep your pets nails fresh with regular nail trims. This is usually a stressful time at the vet, but as I gain your pet’s trust, you won’t believe how easy it can be. I use nail clippers and/or a dremel depending on what your pet prefers/tolerates most.

Tayla came recently for a visit with our dog Archie. She was very patient & gentle with him, cleaning his ears & trimming his nails. She gave great advice around ongoing care & preventative measures. Excellent care, service & pricing. I will definitely use Tayla's service ongoing & highly recommend!!

Amazing service and great knowledge on all things pets! Our Kitty loved having Tayla here to check him out. Will definitely be calling you for any further health checks or services from here on!

Tayla came to our home today to groom our beardie Elke. As a scruffy, long haired dog Elke can get a bit knotty and messy, and she’s also a bit fearful. Tayla provided an amazing service and was caring and gentle with Elke, while doing a great job of clipping, brushing and nail trimming. So great to be able to have a service like this at home, particularly for dogs who are a bit scared of the big, wide world.

Tayla made one of our dogs feel better. 10/10.

Was so great to have a qualified vet nurse come to my home, saved me the stress of having to go to the vet. She was so good with our kitten and really helped the issue. I’ll be calling her again!

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7 Online & Mobile Vets That Offer House Call Services For Sick Pets

Mobile vet visits aren’t just fuss-free for you, but less stressful for your beloved furry members of the family, too.

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It’s no mean feat to be a pet parent , and especially not when your precious furbaby is ill. Even if you’re still working from home, visits to the vet can prove challenging at times, what with the onslaught of Zoom calls and online meetings. And that’s when mobile vet services can be real life-savers. Not only do they help pet owners with tight schedules (or multi-pet households, which make transporting pets a tough task), they’ll help your furkids feel less stressed and more secure to be treated in an environment that they’re familiar with, too, instead of having to endure car rides and a trip to the clinic where they’ll be exposed to strange sights, sounds, and smells. If you’re looking for house call services, here’s a list of mobile vets in Singapore to consider.

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The Housecall Vet was founded by Head and Senior Veterinarian Dr Chua Hui Li. This affable and seasoned vet has 15 years of experience under her belt and has had stints at several established clinics such as ARVC, Companion Animal Surgery, Singapore Vet Clinic, Mount Pleasant Clementi and The Cat Clinic.

Services range from general health check-ups, vaccinations, microchipping and registration, and long-term care for chronic illnesses to end-of-life service and arrangement of cremation services.

Consultation starts from $140 for the first pet and $50 for the second pet. Text or WhatsApp 9109 8939 to book your appointment.

Visit its website for more information.

Heading Happy Vet is Dr Forest, who graduated from the University of Melbourne with an honours degree in veterinary medicine, and is also a certified Cat Friendly Veterinarian with the American Associate of Feline Practitioners.

Happy Vet offers both teleconsultations from $50 as well as house calls from $150, and $60 for each additional pet. For pet owners in need of home euthanasias for their beloved furkids, it provides the service, too (from $300).

 Call 8877 6607 or visit its website for more information.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Happy Vet SG (Dr Forest) (@happyvet.sg)

Helmed by Dr Angeline Yang, this veterinary team focuses on a combination of Western and Chinese medicine to treat various ailments and help your furbabies live a comfortable life. You can call on them for pocket pets (aka smaller animals) including rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and tortoises, too.

They’ll perform general health checks, canine and feline vaccinations, pain management and treat cat flu. Ultrasound scans for certain conditions can be done at your home as well, such as detecting fluid in the abdomen, pyometra or dermal masses. For basic medical services which do not require the attention of a vet like regular administration of subcutaneous fluids, injections, wound management or giving oral medications, it offers a nursing service, too.

And just like you may consider TCM for your own treatment, there’s also acupuncture and TCM assessment available for pets, typically used to treat chronic pain due to arthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), or idiopathic seizures, according to VetMobile.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by VetMobile (@vetmobile.sg)

All paw-rents themselves, the doctors, including founder Dr. Huang Zhixiong, at The Visiting Vets know just what pet owners and their pets go through and require. You can count on full health check-ups, vaccination and microchipping, internal and external parasite treatment, behavioural advice, blood tests and lump checks, heartworm testing and prevention as well as home euthanasia from its housecall practice, which is led by Dr. Kim Koh. She graduated from Melbourne University with a BVSc in 2009 and has worked in both equine and small animal practice.

E-mail [email protected] or visit its website for more information. It’s located at 9 Taman Serasi #01-09, Singapore 257720.

Operating from a van (hence its name), Vet On Wheels utilises not only conventional drugs but also holistic therapies for long-term treatment plans, especially for chronic diseases. It’s headed by Dr Jasmine Tan Kia Ming, who has a veterinary medical degree from Murdoch University, and has been practising small animal medicine since 2008.

It counts on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) to draw up personalised treatment plans for each pet, including those with seizures, cancer, heart, kidney or liver diseases, and arthritis.

Call 8870 6630, e-mail [email protected] or visit its website for more information.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vet On Wheels (@sgvetonwheels)

For non-emergency cases or to top up any long-term medications, you may want to call on ZumVet. Launched in 2019, this online pet healthcare provider connects you with a network of vets across the island and offers teleconsultations with professional licensed vets as well as medication delivery through its web application on a desktop or mobile app.

Need a vet to physically give your furry friend a checkup? It refers you to a physical clinic, which will be emailed to you after the consultation.

Video call consultations start from $37.80.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ZumVet (@zumvet)

VetPal promises that each of its housecall vets has had over 10 years of experience so you can be sure your pets are in good hands. Its core housecall vet services include general consultations, vaccinations, blood tests, preventative medication, and end-of-life services.

You can also opt for annual care plans that comprise vaccination, basic nail clipping, deworming, and faecal tests.

Consultations start at $130 for the first pet and $60 for each subsequent pet. Additional surcharges apply for consultations longer than one hour or after regular business hours apply. Annual care plans start from $330 for dogs and $290 for cats.

WhatsApp 8588 8954 or visit its website for more information and bookings.

This article was originally published on Dec 7, 2020 and updated on June 1, 2023.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by vetpal.co (@vetpal.co)

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• Tyne & Wear Branch
• Tyne & Wear Shop
• Teesside Shop
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Less Stress

Mobile means we come to you. Visiting your pet in their own environment means minimal stress for you both!

Fully Qualified

Our fully qualified veterinary team can’t wait to meet you and your pet pals!

Fully Licensed

We are fully licensed to prescribe and deliver a wide range of medicines directly to you.

Vets On The Meowve

Established by Registered Veterinary Nurse Christine Dixon, Vets On The Meowve are vets on wheels and means we come to your pets in their own homes. Our specially designed mobile veterinary surgery provides the same services you would expect to find at a fixed veterinary practice.

Christine and her team have the skills, knowledge, and experience to help you and your pet with any need.  Vets On The Meowve strive to provide personal, friendly, expert advice on preventative care and offer services at an affordable price in the comfort of your own home.

Let’s make life happier and healthier for all of our pets!

GET IN TOUCH

Mobile Vet Consultations

Our veterinary clinics currently run Monday-Fridays. Convenient and cost-effective, we offer full health checks and manage your pet's prescriptions.

Mobile Nurse Clinics

Our nurse clinics include a full health and wellbeing check and everything needed to keep your pet in tip-top shape.

Mobile Surgery

Our mobile surgery is perfect for pet procedures. We offer a range of surgical procedures on your doorstep in our mobile veterinary unit, including lump removals, neutering, eye, and ear surgery.

Dental Care

We provide a range of dental care services to keep those pearly whites, white. Our pet scale and polish cleaning is the best way to protect your pet's teeth. Every procedure includes a digital full dental X-ray.

Mobile X-Ray

This service is the first of its kind to be able to carry out high-quality digital X-rays inside a mobile surgery.

Vaccinations

Prevention is better than cure. Vaccinations are strongly recommended for dogs, cats and rabbits as they prevent a number of fatal diseases.

Blood Tests

Check the internal health of you're pet with our wide variety of blood tests. Especially recommended for elderly pets.

Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

We have an official veterinarian (OV) at our Vets on the Meowve Tyne and Wear branch. This means we can provide an Animal Health Certificate so your pet can travel to and from Europe. Please give us a call for any further information and make sure you are doing this at least 4 weeks before travelling.

Our pay monthly Pet Plans are the best way, to keep them safe from day today!

VIEW PET PLANS

• Our practice
• Career opportunities
• Opening Times & Areas Covered
• Anal gland emptying
• Arthritis in dogs and cats
• Ear problems
• End of life care
• Eye problems
• Flea & worming control
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Joint problems
• Microchipping
• Mobile Ambulance
• Palliative care for cats
• Repeat prescriptions
• Skin conditions
• Vaccinations

We aim to be no more expensive than it would cost for you to visit your regular vet – hopefully, in the majority of cases, we’ll be cheaper. If you’d like to ask about our charges, contact us at the surgery. Here are a few example prices.

40 minute consultation at home: £65 (Travel surcharge may apply.)

Consultation revisit: £55

Consulation same day: £75

Dog Booster Vaccination At Home: £75 (Additional pets £65.)

Cat Booster Vaccination (including leukaemia) At Home: £85 (Additional pets £75.)

Kennel Cough Vaccine At Home: £65 (When combined with other vaccines £25.)

Empty anal glands at time of consultation: £5

Nurse empty anal glands: £25

Rabbit Vaccines (combined Myxo RHD plus): £72 (Additional rabbits £60.)

Put to Sleep at Home: Booked in advance from £250 Plus travel including sedation. Urgent Calls from £300 and out of hours calls from £400.

Cremation: We use Forget me Nott (forgetmenottpc.co.uk) in Derbyshire and High Peak Pet Funeral Services (hppfs.co.uk) in High Peak.

Microchips at time of consultation: £25

Microchips on their own: £35 for first pet, additional pets £20 each

Written prescription: £20

If you have five or more pets that need vaccinating, or you’re a breeder, please ask us about rates.

Nurse Clinics

Dedicated time with a Registered Vet nurse:

• Half an hour: £30
• An hour: £50

During this time, nurses can give advice on weight management, palliative care, dental care, training or any area of your pet’s health you’d like to discuss.

If you live outside our routine visit area, please let us know anyway and we’ll do our best to come out to you.

We accept numerous forms of payment including cash, card, Contactless, Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay.

Booking an appointment

If you’d like to arrange for us to visit your pet at home, you can either book online or phone.

We reserve a few emergency and end of life care appointments each working day, please call us to book in your appointment.

Need help? Get in touch at any time call 01773 302220 or email [email protected]

John provided a service second to none, he did Poppy proud and made her passing so very easy. Having been let down at our own vet, John was able to get the home visit sorted, many, many thanks.

Mark Barber

First class service, visited within the hour and treated my new puppy. Only problem is now she is running around doing what puppies should do. I wished I had asked about the off switch is!

We would highly recommend vet care at home. Due to covid 19 and the lockdown restrictions we weren’t able to use our regular vet for home visits. Communication was excellent and John was always very prompt in responding to calls and emails. I’m so glad they were recommended to us as they were amazing.

Verified Google Review

Really supportive at a very sad time saying goodbye to our little Yorkie we miss so much.

Competent & friendly vet, professional, competitively priced & convenient for myself. I can highly recommend, especially if you don’t have transport or your pet doesn’t like the usual veterinary setting. 5 star! ⭐️

Tina Griffiths

Mobile vet for everything that doesn't require a vet surgery. Brilliant idea and will come recommended by many ?

Martyn Finch

A very professional and friendly service, putting myself and my multi-cat household at ease. Having a house visit for 5 cats is stress free, time and energy saving for the cats and me... I am so glad I found John Rosie!

Shirley Wheatley

Mobile Veterinary Services in the comfort of your own home

Do you or your pet find visits to a veterinary practice difficult or stressful? Would you rather consultations in the comfort of your own home? Pet Nurse Services is a fully registered veterinary practice, the difference being we visit you and your pet where anxiety is lowest and convenience is highest! At home!

Covering the Wigan area (Any WN postcode or surrounding area)

Our services

The home pet care plan.

Full pet care plan, delivered in the comfort of your own home for as little as £10 per month!

Vaccinations

Vaccinations administered by our veterinary team in the comfort of your own home.

Home Vet Consultations

Qualified, registered Veterinary Surgeon consultations in the comfort of your own home.

Home Nurse Consultations

Qualified, registered Veterinary Nurse consultations in the comfort of your own home.

Pet Visits (Holiday Drop-Ins)

Going on holiday? Our nurse team can visit your pet in your own home whilst you are away!

Flea & Worming

Providing flea and worming treatments, best suited to your own pet.

Pet Microchipping

Peace of mind, with microchipping service in the comfort of your own home

Pet Nail Clipping

No more stressful visits to a veterinary clinic. Clipping is best done where your pet feels relaxed

Why choose us?

Pet Nurse Services is a mobile veterinary business, a stress-free alternative to going to the vets. Pets often respond best in their own homes. No anxious car rides, no cold waiting rooms, no unfamiliar environments. Anyone can become a client, but we are particularly helpful to the following groups of people ...

What our clients say about us

Please check our 5star reviews on Google and Facebook . If you are one of our existing clients, then please add a review or contact us to let us know how we can serve you and your pets better!

"Wouldn't know what to do without them"

My dog Alice is a nervous rescue and absolutely terrified of visiting a vets. Kathryn and Louise were both brilliant. To have a vet and a nurse do vaccinations at home was an absolute lifesaver. Alice loves them both and she even got a goodie bag. Book with confidence!

"Fab service"

Fab service. My older cat has been struggling with matted fur and Louise came out to shave some of the matted areas. She also trimmed her claws and gave some good advice regarding her teeth. Excellent service and well priced. Thanks again!

"Absolutely amazing service"

Absolutely amazing service, couldn’t recommend enough. Very, very patient with my two cats who wouldn’t sit still for their nail clip. They’re now both waging their treats that came in their goodie bag! Will definitely be using again <3

"Brilliant Service"

Brilliant service, nail clip and anal glands for Buddy who hates having them done, but Louise was great, and he also loved his goodie bag; would highly recommend!

Schedule your veterinary consultation today

Our articles & news

Firework Anxiety Tips for Dogs

Firework Anxiety Tips for Cats

Dog Nail Clipping - A Vet Nurse Guide

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Local Vet Locations

Vets near me.

Kara Soan RVN BSc(Hons) PGCE:  Practice Manager  

Kara is an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) who has been working in the veterinary sector since she was 14 years old. Kara gained her BSc honours degree in Veterinary Nursing and Bioveterinary Science from Bristol University in 2014 and has worked in a wide variety of clinical settings around England. Kara has also spent a number of years lecturing student veterinary nurses and teaching them the practical skills they need to succeed.

Kara is dedicated to building a connection with pet owners and providing the personalised care and advice they need. Her favourite hobbies are rock climbing, mountain walking and training her dog called Goose.

Online Prescription Medication Sales

We can supply veterinary prescription medications to the whole of the UK. A written prescription is needed.

Your Local Vet

Vet's biography, region & location.

Carl Jarrett BVSc MRCVS:  

I have been working as a Small Animal Vet since graduating in 1997. I believe strongly in the concept of stress free vet care and so set up Vets 2 Your Pets to offer  routine vet care at home in the pet’s normal environment where they are more comfortable. Home visits allow me to take my time and work slowly with my patients so they feel relaxed and confident.  My passion is small animal surgery and particularly orthopaedic surgery allowing arthritis management. Mobile Vet Servicing:   Bicester, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Northampton & Banbury.

Dr Elizabeth Lloyd BVM BVS MRCVS:  

Hello, my name is Elizabeth and I am a veterinary surgeon with a specialist interest in analgesia (pain management) and emergency critical care.  I am currently working towards my Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP).  I like to think that I am a gentle and compassionate vet, and will do my very best to ensure that pets and their carers feel at ease, and I like to explain things so that people understand and are comfortable with choices.  Outside of work I like to spend time with my young son Harry exploring nature with our Border Collie Rosie, who absolutely loves running on the beach and playing with the ball. Mobile Vet Servicing:   East Yorkshire, North York Moors & Scarborough.

Francisca Bakker MRCVS:

I graduated in 1998 from Utrecht Veterinary University in the Netherlands and have worked across the UK since then in mixed practice and emergency care. I strive to give a personal touch to my clients and their pets which can be lacking nowadays when attending a chain type of veterinary practice. I look to supply and caring and compassionate service on a one to one basis. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my dog Haggis and Hattie the cat. Mobile Vet Servicing:   Edinburgh, North Berwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Dunbar, Galashiels and Kelso.  

Loreen Chan BVetMed MRCVS:  

Since I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2009, I have worked in several small animal practices in London and the Home Counties. In 2017, I spent a month volunteering as a vet in the Cook Islands and worked as a locum vet whilst travelling around Australia. I enjoyed it so much that I volunteered for a street cat and dog neutering programme in Cambodia shortly afterwards. I enjoy the variety of working with different animals and different people in various locations. I live in London and I am excited about providing mobile vet home visits in and around London. Mobile Vet Servicing: Ealing, West/Greater London & Herefordshire.  

Branca Gregory MRCVS:  

Branca has been a vet here in the UK for almost 20 years and mainly works in an A&E setting. In her free time she looks after her family and enjoys  her favourite hobbies; long distance running and to play the cello. Her biggest passion, is to play golf as she used to be a top player in her home country of Portugal. Now that her children are growing up she is making the most of their school time to do home visits. Mobile Vet Servicing:   Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry & Worcester as well as Chester and Elsmere Port.

Raya Chimea DrMedVet MRCVS

I got my veterinary degree from the university of veterinary medicine Budapest. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a variety of animals. I’m passionate about providing the best possible care to my patients and their owners, and I’m committed to staying up to date on the latest advancements in veterinary medicine. In my free time, I enjoy long walks with my rescue dog. I believe that every animal deserves a loving home and access to quality healthcare. Mobile Vet Servicing: Milton Keynes. Buckinghamshire & Bedfordshire.

Enrico Riccardo Giglioli MRCVS

I have been a qualified vet for 26 year, with a passion for wildlife, having been born and bred in South Africa. Never the less I love my work in small animal practice, having owned my own practice in Spain and then worked in the UK for the past 20 years. I love cats but have a soft spot for Boxers, Mastiffs, Bulldogs and all four legged creatures that bark. My main aim is to provide the best possible care for my patients showing them my utmost respect and empathy. I look forward to treating your pet.  Mobile Vet Servicing: Durham & The North East England.

Bogdan Terciu-Uscoiu MRCVS

Having graduated from University in Romania in 2015, I have  been working  in   England  since 2017. I have two girls, I delight in.   I live in Melton  Mowbray area . Mobile Vet Servicing: Melton Mowbray, Nottingham, Leicester and Peterborough .

Dr Sinead Bennett BVM&S BSc  MRCVS

I have been a vet for almost 16 years and am passionate about improving animal welfare. Being able to offer services in their own home means much less stress for the pet, in a calm and familiar environment. Especially important for those moments when we say goodbye. I have a Manchester Terrier who keeps me on my toes and love exploring the countryside with her. Mobile Vet Servicing: Manchester, Stockport, Bolton, Rochdale, Warrington and Wigan

Hi, I qualified in 2019 from the RVC in London. Since then, I have worked in a variety of vet practises across the country and gained a wealth of experience in various aspects of the job. I am very passionate about being able to provide professional and empathetic service to my clients, particularly when it comes to making difficult decisions regarding end of life care. Outside of work, I love walking my Whippet and horse riding.   Mobile Vet Servicing: Manchester, Stockport,  Warrington, Knutsford & Macclesfield.

Dr Tara Card  BBA BVMS CertAVP PgCert VPS MRCVS :  

Tara grew up in the Midwest of America surrounded by dairy cattle and caring for the barn cats on her grandparent’s farm. She knew she wanted to heal and save all animals by the age of 5.  She went on to qualify from the University of Glasgow Veterinary School in 2009 and has since practiced in Scotland, America and England. She has  enjoyed working with a multitude of small animal infectious diseases in all countries and has now settled with her family in the Midlands. She has obtained her Advanced Veterinary Practitioner status . In her free time she enjoys spending time with her children, husband and pets (Taco the Corgi, Scottie the Ragdoll, Peanut and Bob the two Texas rescues). Mobile Vet Servicing: Kenilworth, Coventry, Warwick &  Solihull – Midlands –  Warwickshire .

Dr Alasdair McGuire BVMS PgC SAO MRCVS

G raduated at the University of Glasgow in 2016 . I am passionate about all aspects of veterinary care, especially ophthalmology , holistic pain management and end of life care . Since graduating I have been working in 1 st opinion practices and have passed my Post Graduate Certificate in Ophthalmology. I have 2 rescue cats who keep me busy when I’m not hiking, boxing and doing all things outdoors.   Mobile Vet Servicing: Dudley, Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton in Staffordshire.

Dr Philip O’Shea   MVB MRCVS

Philip is a small animal emergency vet hailing from Dublin, Ireland. He has worked all over the world including two years in the beautiful British Columbia, Canada. He is passionate about emergency care and end-of-life care for our more senior patients. In his spare time he loves to be outdoors running and hiking and going to live music events .  Mobile Vet Servicing: London South West- Wimbledon, Putney, Morden, Twickenham, Teddington, Brixton & Epsom.

Mr Rodrigo Lopez Nicolas MRCVS

My name is Rod, I am a vet from Spain, who has been living and working in the UK since 2011. Apart from home visits with Vets2YourPets, I also work part time at a small animal practice. I found Vets2YourPets and I thought that it is an excellent way to do vet home visits and help pets and their owners and  I wanted to be part of it. Besides the usual services, please note, that I am an experienced Official Veterinarian , so I can also help with pet travel documentation and requirements. Mobile Vet Servicing:   Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby Leicester.

Dr Lee-Ann Higgins BVSc MRCVS

My Favourite part of being a vet is seeing the bond between owner and their animal, knowing how much happiness they bring each other. Offering home visits and reducing stress for both owners and pets is a wonderful way to support that relationship. When I’m not being a vet, I’m a mum to two boys and prefer being outdoors in the woods. Mobile Vet Servicing:   High Wycombe, Marlow, Beaconsfield & South Buckinghamshire.

Beverley Irving BVetMed MRCVS

I qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 1990 and have been working in small animal first opinion practice for the last 22 years. My special interests are cardiology, ophthalmology, acupuncture, laser therapy pain relief and healing and animal welfare and conservation. In my spare time I love walking in the hills and mountains with my rescue dog and husband. Mobile Vet Servicing:  Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville, Aston Clinton, Waddesdon & Wendover. 

Dr Justin Shere BVM&S MRCVS

Qualified from The University of Edinburgh in 2002 and now with 20 years of small animal first opinion practice experience. This includes working for independent practices, PDSA, and veterinary chains.  I currently work part time as a Senior Veterinary Advisor for an insurance underwriter and carry out house visits for the remainder of the working week. Mobile Vet Covering: Shropshire, Telford & Shrewsbury.

Dr Dorothy Bodle BVSc BSc MRCVS

Since my mature vet student graduation in 2015 from Bristol University I have worked as a small animal vet in several practices.  My primary degree & background has given me a broad base from which I have learnt to make my own choices towards the work environment my patients cope well with.  This is why I feel home visits for pets is in their best interests and look forward to and enjoy carrying this out. Mobile Vet Servicing: Leominster, Hereford, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Wales through to Stoke, Leek, Uttoxeter, Tideswell, Buxton, Bakewell, Derby, Wolverhampton

Dr Robert Ayers BVetMed MRCVS

I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2015 and have been working in 1st opinion small animal practice since then. Although I enjoy all parts of being a vet, I have a passion for getting end of life care right. I hope to provide whatever service your pet needs, aided by the extra time and comfort a home visit provides. At home, I have a cat, Mally, & 4 chickens who provide me with eggs each day. Mobile Vet Servicing: Guildford & Surrey.

Maria Lovin DVM MRCVS

Graduated from the Romanian University of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. I have always been around animals & vets. I was only 9 years old when a vet taught me to stitch a wound. Currently, I am practising veterinary medicine in South Wales, with a focus on dogs reproduction, pharmacology, nutrition, and expanding on to coaching people of varying backgrounds about dog breeding. As I am also a dog breeder under the Kennel Club since 2010; ethical & responsible breeding of the Weimaraners has been my occupation for many years. Mobile Vet Servicing: Swansea and South Wales.

Sophie Damerow  DrMedVet MRCVS

Born in Berlin and Graduated in Hannover Germany in 2011. Working in Britain since 2015 –  I worked in North Wales for 8 years before moving to Liverpool with my dog and two cats. Dedicated to small animal work, I enjoy regular volunteer work trips to Morocco, Thailand  and Cook Islands. Mobile Vet Servicing: Liverpool, Crosby, Litherland, Thornton, Bootle, Hightown & Maghull.

Mr Joao Mendes MRCVS

My name is Joao and I am from Portugal. I graduated in Veterinary Nursing (2013) and in Veterinary Medicine (2020) in Portugal. Deciding to start my career in the United Kingdom, where I arrived in the end of 2020. I have been working in small animal practise and I am very interested in soft tissue surgery and in behaviour. Mobile Vet Servicing:   Swindon & Wiltshire.

Laura Dell’Abate CertAVP MRCVS

I graduated in 2011 and moved to the UK and have worked in large hospitals and smaller practices.My main interests are internal medicine, cardiology, and dentistry. I find supporting senior animals very important in order to give them a good quality of life. I have two rescue dogs that are 13 and 3 years of age. In my spare time I love spending time with my family, friends, dogs.  As well as going to concerts, the cinema and theatre. Travelling is a source of soul enrichment and it makes me happy. Mobile Vet Servicing:   Northampton, Milton Keynes, Wellingborough and Daventry.

Christina Frigast MRCVS

Christina completed her degree in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark in 2016. Christina dedicates all her time to working in small animal practice and settled in Hertfordshire. Christina enjoys all aspects of small animal practice with a special interest in small animal surgery in which she is currently studying for a certificate. At home, Christina has two black dogs, Sidney and Bailey, and a Norwegian Forest cat, Simba. Mobile Vet Servicing: Hertfordshire – Waltham Abbey, Hatfield, Potters Bar, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Ware, St Albans & Epping.

Mr Steven Sterry BA VetMB MRCVS

I am a Cambridge qualified small animal vet currently living in South East London. I enjoy all aspects of veterinary medicine, especially the prospect to build long term relationships with my clients. In my spare time I enjoy traveling and seeing friends and family. Mobile Vet Servicing:   South East London

Areas Covered for End of Life Care, Vaccinations & Health Checks

We offer a home visit, mobile veterinary service throughout most ares of the UK. It is the case that the majority of pets find it stressful to attend a local vet practice. We believe in keeping our patients as happy and relaxed as possible, by delivering veterinary care at home where appropriate. 

We offer Peaceful Pet Euthanasia in the following areas and locations:

• Doncaster DN – South Yorkshire
• Worksop S – Nottinghamshire
• Wolverhampton WS – Staffordshire.
• Birmingham B – West Midlands
• Telford TF – Shropshire
• Nottingham NG – Nottinghamshire
• Leicester LE – Leicestershire
• Rugby CV – Warwickshire
• Kenilworth CV – Warwickshire
• Northampton NN – Northamptonshire
• Milton Keynes MK – Buckinghamshire
• High Wycombe HP – Buckinghamshire
• Clitheroe BB – Lancashire
• Kirkbymoorside YO – East Yorkshire
• Durham DH – County Durham
• Reading RG – Berkshire
• Manchester M – Lancashire
• Buckingham MK – Buckinghamshire
• Melton Mowbray LE – Leicestershire
• Ealing W – Greater London
• Stevenage SG – Hertfordshire
• Waltham Abbey EN – Hertfordshire 
• Cambridge CB – Cambridgeshire
• Aylesbury HP – Buckinghamshire
• Knutsford WA – Cheshire
• Liverpool L – Merseyside
• Duns TD – Scotland
• Llanbister LD – Mid Wales
• Horsham RH – West Sussex
• Guildford GU – Surrey
• London N – North London
• Twickenham TW – Greater London
• Swindon SN – Wiltshire
• London SE – London South East
• London SW – South West London

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Peer Reviewed

Low-stress veterinary visits for avian patients.

May 12, 2023 | 

Issue: Summer 2023

Pamela Clark

Pamela is an International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)-certified parrot behavior consultant whose experience includes almost 2 decades as a veterinary nurse. As such, she was responsible for training and coordinating other team members with regard to low-stress avian visits. She is a coauthor of the Fear Free program for avian veterinarians. These days, Pamela spends her time consulting with parrot owners regarding behavior problems and mentoring other consultants. Check out her website at pamelaclarkonline.com .

Veterinary visits can be very stressful events for birds due to their unique qualities as well as the fact that they rarely receive any at-home training. Veterinary nurses should be able to recognize the signs of stress in a variety of avian species and address them accordingly.

Handling techniques may include minimizing change, moving slowly, offering treats, toweling, and sedation if needed. For birds that exhibit signs of illness or weakness, handling should be minimized and the veterinarian should be consulted. Client education and recordkeeping will help with future visits. Ensuring low-stress veterinary visits can improve the quality of life and longevity for avian patients as well as improve morale for veterinary staff.

Take-Home Points

• Birds are especially challenging patients due to their ability to fly and frequent lack of training.
• Stress can be manifested by increased heart and respiratory rates, increased blood glucose, and reduced cognitive ability and can even lead to death for some patients.
• Signs of stress include refusal to engage, defecation, vocalization, and escape attempts.
• Low-stress handling techniques include minimizing change, moving slowly, offering treats, toweling, and sedation if needed.
• Client education and recordkeeping allow for less stressful future visits for all involved.

C ompanion or “pet” birds present unique challenges as patients, and handling requires additional knowledge and unique skill sets for all veterinary team members. Of primary concern is the stress of the experience for each bird. Most birds arrive at the veterinarian’s office already in a state of distress, having been forced into the carrier, subjected to the foreign experience of traveling in a car, and being jostled while the carrier is transported.

Smaller passerines, such as finches and canaries, may be under additional stress due to poor diets and the fact that birds of these species are often kept as multiple individuals in a single cage. Typically, smaller birds like this are often seriously ill before owners notice.

Parrots (undomesticated prey animals living in captivity) are especially sensitive to increased acute stress. For more than 2 decades, the veterinary community has acknowledged that parrots are sensitive animals that can be injured physically and traumatized emotionally by rough or insensitive handling. 1 Excessive stress for a parrot during a hospital visit can result in a client who does not return, laboratory results that cannot be used, or worse.

Bird owners worry greatly about their birds’ stress levels during veterinary visits. Owner concerns result in a lack of preventive health care; most birds are seen only when sick. By committing to the goal of low-stress veterinary visits, veterinary team members can improve the quality of life and longevity of their avian patients.

How Does Stress Affect Birds?

Stress is the body’s physiological, behavioral, and psychological reaction to any change in the environment that is perceived as a threat. Stress has both immediate and long-term effects on physical and mental processes. 2

The immediate stress response leads to increased heart and respiratory rates, increased blood glucose, and reduced cognitive ability. 3 Acute stress may even lead to death in some patients with underlying conditions.

What Are the Benefits of Reducing Stress in Birds?

Reducing stress to the extent possible through sensitive handling of our avian patients is crucial. The benefits include improved patient care, increased accuracy of physical examination findings, and reduced injuries to veterinary staff and patients. 4,5 Reducing patient stress also results in exceptional client satisfaction, increased revenue, and greater team member morale.

What Makes Birds Unique Patients?

Birds present several challenges with regard to providing low-stress medical care. Bird personalities differ by species and individual, they can fly, and proper handling at home is often absent. Thus, veterinary team members handling the bird must be trained to do so in a safe and considerate manner.

Individuality

Exotic veterinary team members may see a large number of bird species. The parrot family alone comprises approximately 400 species. Moreover, each bird you see is an individual with a different personality and training history. What works for a single bird might not work for others.

Birds have the capacity for flight, sometimes even with clipped wings. It is becoming more common for owners to allow flight.

It is uncommon for parrot owners to train their birds. Although some parrots readily take treats, others are often too stressed to eat or are unfamiliar with the concept of receiving a valued item in exchange for performing a requested behavior. It can be difficult for the veterinary team to find a way to interact with a parrot who is unfamiliar with this process.

Similarly, most owners lack handling skills and rely on force to get their bird into a carrier for the drive to the veterinary clinic. This experience often places the bird, unfamiliar with the force used and the experience of riding in car, over their “threshold” before the examination even begins. This use of “threshold” refers to an imaginary juncture at which the bird, previously calm, moves into a state of heightened arousal and reactivity.

Birds of most species display marked neophobic behavior—they are afraid of new things. In addition, most parrots lack socialization, never leaving their homes or seeing people who are not part of the family. Previous veterinary experiences may have created intense fear memories.

What Are the Signs of Stress in Birds?

Team members must learn to recognize and interpret avian signs of stress. A bird experiencing minimal stress willingly interacts with people, takes food items, explores the environment, and performs self-care behaviors like preening.

The first signs of stress include refusal to take treats or to engage socially. Early signs can also include an erect posture with feathers slicked tightly against the body or vocalizations. The bird may begin looking for signs of escape. For patients showing signs of mild stress, a good result can still be obtained by slowing everything down, especially the movements of team members. Allow the bird to drive the pace of handling. By slowing down movements, practitioners give patients the time they need to evaluate the situation. This slowdown also gives team members time to read and interpret body language.

As stress builds, the bird will begin active attempts to escape; even birds with clipped wings will attempt to fly to escape a perceived stressful situation. The bird may exhibit stress defecation along with eye pinning and increased respiratory rate.

Switch immediately to a hands-off approach if any of the following signs are seen: aggression, panicked vocalizations, red tears in African greys, or open-mouthed breathing in the absence of any upper respiratory infection.

How Can We Minimize Stress in Birds?

Despite the challenges, making veterinary visits low stress for birds is absolutely possible and should be considered the standard of care. Achieving a low-stress visit takes the coordination of all veterinary team members; each person has a valuable role. The clients will also need to understand the value of this approach as it can often take extra time for each visit. 6

Minimize Time in the Waiting Room

When clients arrive, a client service representative should greet clients and guide them to a quiet place with an elevated surface for the carrier. Placing birds on the ground causes stress as they typically seek height for safety. After check-in, the goal is to get them into an examination room. If not possible and the client must wait in the receiving area, the carrier should be covered to ensure calm. In a mixed-practice setting, the feline rather than canine receiving area is a better choice simply because cats are also likely to be in carriers; dogs on leashes may scare a bird even if trying to be friendly.

Make the Examination Room Feel Safe

The first responsibility for the veterinary nurse is to set up the examination room ahead of time. Birds are sensitive to changes in the environment and can exhibit extreme fear if items are moved around. For this reason, all instruments and materials to be used should be out on the counter already. An exception is that the towel to be used for restraint is best left out of sight until time for use as some birds associate towels with negative experiences. A laminated photo of the setup can be kept in a drawer to help staff members remember. Window coverings should be drawn as events happening outside can trigger a fear reaction. 

Remind the client to leave the bird in the carrier so that it can acclimate to the examination room in the safest way possible, eliminating risk for injury from possibly flying into windows or objects. The veterinary team member can perform a hands-off examination while taking a history and can then handle the patient in the safest manner. Information about removing the bird from the carrier is beyond the scope of this article, but helpful information is available elsewhere. 6

The veterinary nurse’s role begins by observing the unrestrained bird in the examination room, which is a critical part of the physical examination. Health concerns can be identified and the bird’s temperament can be evaluated, including receptiveness to handling. During this time, the veterinary nurse can offer valued food or toy items, assessing the bird’s willingness to interact. If the bird exhibits signs of illness or weakness (e.g., open-mouthed breathing, hunched posture, dull mentation), handling should be minimized and the veterinarian should be consulted.

Team members should speak quietly and move slowly; with parrots, avoid prolonged eye contact, which some interpret as a challenge or threat. Remain attentive to the patient’s body language. If a parrot is talkative, it is best to not talk back to the bird as this behavior can trigger higher levels of arousal and aggression.

If possible, get the patient’s weight before beginning hands-on restraint, in a manner that creates the least amount of stress for the bird.   The scale should have a nonslip surface, and the bird should not be asked to perch in an uncomfortable position, such as with its tail hitting something. Position the scale so that the tail can hang off the edge. If the bird cannot be weighed without increasing stress, then save this step for later in the appointment so that the bird is only handled once. 

If Restraint Is Needed, Use a Towel

Team members providing restraint must be fully trained. Patient injuries and even death can result from unskilled or improper restraint. For example, placing pressure around the body of a bird can result in suffocation. Birds must be able to expand their keel bone in order to breathe normally.

Although some well-socialized birds might tolerate most if not all of the examination without restraint, restraint will be necessary for most. The best choice is use of a towel, which is usually tolerated well if used skillfully ( FIGURE 1 ).

Figure 1. A Meyer’s parrot being restrained using a towel. Courtesy Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition)

The towel size and flexibility can be tailored to the individual bird. The towel will hold the wings against its body. The bird can chew on the towel for distraction ( FIGURE 2 ), or the towel can be used to cover the eyes to reduce stress.

Figure 2. A parrot being allowed to chew the towel restraint for distraction. Courtesy Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition)

Getting the bird into the towel easily is the mark of the experienced avian veterinarian or veterinary nurse. Each veterinary team will create a best approach. There are several methods for using towels with birds in the least stressful manner. Describing these is not within the scope of this article; however, an excellent resource is LafeberVet ( lafeber.com/vet ). 7 The website provides videos and a full discussion of ethical and behavioral aspects of restraint. After the best method for an individual bird is found, it should become a permanent part of the patient’s chart.

Limit towel restraint to the shortest time possible. For parrots, you can reduce struggling by offering them something to hold in their feet. Try a few tongue depressors or cotton swabs wrapped together with tape; the size can be adapted to the size of the bird. Birds of any species should be allowed to maintain a normal upright posture during the examination with wings held close to the body. Save the more intrusive aspects of any examination (e.g., coelomic palpation, cloacal examination) for last.

Sedate, if Necessary

For patients whose body language continues to indicate excessive, escalating stress, conscious sedation should be considered. 6 The most common protocols involve giving midazolam either alone or in combination with butorphanol. The goal of conscious sedation is to have the patient standing but relaxed. Midazolam also has the advantage of being fully reversible.

Collaborate With Clients

The commitment to low-stress handling involves collaborating with clients. The low-stress visit begins when scheduling the new client. Let the client know what to expect, especially with regard to visit length. Avoid the need for clients to complete paperwork on the day of the visit by mailing it to them or having forms accessible online. Encourage the client to bring any of the patient’s favorite toys or treats with them.

At the end of the visit, the veterinary nurse can help the client develop a training plan for home to address behaviors that will make the subsequent visits easier. Clients can teach their bird many behaviors that will help with future veterinary visits. 8,9 These behaviors include stepping onto a scale, allowing restraint in a towel, and voluntarily assuming and holding postures for palpation. Client education will only be possible, however, if the veterinary team members understand the science of behavior change and how to use positive reinforcement to teach new behaviors. Veterinary team members who are well versed in behavior change are worth their weight in gold!

Keep Thorough Records

To make the next visit easier on everyone, all behavioral information should be entered into the patient’s record. Recorded information should include the patient’s flight ability, the client’s ability to handle the patient, how the patient reacted to the veterinary team, and the method of restraint used.

Low-stress visits for avian patients are possible and should become the standard of care. Achieving this goal takes the coordination of all team members. By understanding the many challenges that birds bring to the clinic experience, the team can prepare effectively and behave in such a manner that the bird’s stress levels remain as low as possible. If all of these actions are not enough to prevent the bird from going over their threshold, conscious sedation can be considered.

• Section II: procedures and techniques, birds, handling and restraint. In: Mayer J, Donnelly TM, eds. Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Birds and Exotic Pets. Saunders; 2012:543-544.
• Speer B. Normal and abnormal parrot behavior. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23(3):230-233. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2014.06.009
• Tully TN Jr., Dorrestein GM, Jones AK. Handbook of Avian Medicine. 2nd ed. Saunders; 2009.
• Wilson L. Psittacine restraint in the examination room. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract . 2001;4(3):633–639. doi: 10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30027-0
• Siegel HS. Physiological stress in birds.  BioScience . 1980;30(8);529-534.  https://doi:10.2307/1307973
• Moberg G. Biological response to stress: implications for animal welfare. In: Moberg G, Mench JA, eds. The Biology of Animal Stress: Basic Principles and Implications for Animal Welfare . CABI; 2000:1-21.
• Lloyd JKF. Minimising stress for patients in the veterinary hospital: why it is important and what can be done about it. Vet Sci . 2017;4(2):22. doi:10.3390/vetsci4020022
• Cockrem JF. Stress, corticosterone responses and avian personalities. J Ornithol . 2007;148(Suppl 2):169–178. doi:10.1007/s10336-007-0175-8
• Veterinary certification program — avian. Fear Free. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-certification-overview-avian
• Lafeber Vet. Accessed January 7, 2023. https://lafeber.com/vet/parrot-handling
• Heidenreich B. Stress Free Veterinary Care for Companion Parrots . Vimeo. December 31, 2016. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/parrotvetcare
• Heidenreich B. Training Your Parrot for the Veterinary Exam . Vimeo. May 17, 2019. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/parrotvetexam

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