Anyone who has a furbaby will agree that our pets are among the most wonderful treasures in the world (even if they cause mischief every now and then). But getting them to the vet can be stressful for everyone involved–furry family member and owner. Luckily, there are multiple businesses in the Austin area that offer mobile veterinary services! If you’re looking for a less stressful way to fit in annual or routine appointments, read on to learn about five local mobile veterinarians who provide gentle house calls for you and your pets.
1/ Doctor Bendall’s Veterinary Housecall Practice
Dr. Matt Bendall started his mobile business with the belief that there is an easier way to provide quality care for pets– and it’s by offering veterinary services in the pet’s familiar environment. Dr. Bendall graduated from Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007.
His care is designed for geriatric or handicapped patients, busy owners who are unable to clear their schedule to take their pet to the vet, and pets that would experience less stress by having a house call appointment. His full services include:
- Complete physical examinations
- Annual diagnostics
- Canine and feline vaccinations
- Specialized diagnostics (such as specialized bloodwork panels or genetic testing)
- Consultations
- Minor sick pet evaluations
- Gentle in-home euthanasia
Expect your first visit to last between one and two hours.
Housecall fees begin at $50 for service within a 10-mile radius of Dr. Bendall’s clinical office. The fee increases with farther distances. This mobile veterinarian does provide after-hours visits, but works primarily during normal business hours from Monday through Friday.
2/ HousePaws Austin
(Credit: HousePaws Austin Mobile Vet)
Dr. Tamie Hunt runs HousePaws Austin with her two veterinary assistants, Melissa and Judy. Dr. Hunt graduated with degrees from both The University of Texas and Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. She created her business with the hope of decreasing the stress pets experience during veterinary visits, by allowing them to remain in the comfort of their home.
With a decked-out 2016 Mercedes Sprinter 3500 van, HousePaws Austin provides care for cats and dogs. HousePaws Austin provides the following services:
- Wellness care
- Minor illnesses and injuries
- Diagnostic and treatments (such as ultrasound and laser therapy)
- In-home euthanasia.
The local business will be adding acupuncture services in the future, for horses, as well as your feline and canine friends.
HousePaws Austin has a $50 housecall fee on top of the treatment provided. The team usually has appointment availability from Monday through Saturday.
3/ PAZ Veterinary
PAZ Veterinary started in 2011 as Dr. Nicholas Vaughn’s mobile service. With a degree from Louisiana State University, Dr. Vaughn and his team grew a client base that loved all of the mobile services he offered. Eventually, the business became so successful that brick and mortar locations were established on East Cesar Chavez (2014) and South 1st Street (2017).
Though PAZ Veterinary has full-service locations, mobile service are still available for pets that need to be in a less stressful environment. These visits cover:
- Basic vaccines
- Behavioral consults
- Minor diagnostics
- In-home euthanasia
The business recommends booking an appointment one to two weeks in advance, as mobile availability books quickly. PAZ Veterinary is open Monday through Saturday.
4/ Vet Around Town
Dr. Jenna Scibilia graduated from The University of Pennsylvania before spending five years as an emergency veterinarian. She decided around that time that she wanted to start a business that provided an alternative option to the traditional vet visit. Her goals for starting her USDA-Accredited mobile business, Vet Around Town? To minimize any stress felt by your pet and provide the ultimate convenience for owners.
She offers services such as:
- Routine checkups
- Sick pet visits
- Integrative medicine (for example, acupuncture and low level laser therapy)
- In-home euthanasia.
Visits usually last between 45-60 minutes.
Vet Around Town has housecall fees that range from $60-100, traveling within 35 miles of home base in north/central Austin. Dr. Scibilia is willing to travel farther in certain situations, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are outside the 35-mile range. Vet Around Town sets appointments from Monday through Saturday.
5/ Whole Pet Mobile Vet
Dr. Erin May launched Whole Pet Mobile Vet back in 2012, after graduating from Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. She’s trained in acupuncture and animal chiropractic care, allowing her to provide advanced services through her mobile veterinary business.
In addition, Dr. May provides house call services for all of the following:
- Wellness exams
- Minor illnesses
- Injury exams
- Vaccinations
- Therapeutic laser
- Pet hospice care
- Gentle euthanasia and aftercare
Whole Pet Mobile Vet has laboratory capabilities for issues such as intestinal parasite screening, heartworm testing, vaccine titers, and more.
Whole Pet Mobile Vet charges a $55 house call fee for appointments within 15 minutes of Dr. May’s home in south/central Austin. The fee increases with longer distances.
@theAustinot wants to know:
Have you used any Austin mobile veterinarians for your furbabies?
The original version of this article was published June 11, 2018.
Hello
Can you recommend a reliable contact for golden retriever puppies?
I’m looking to buy one but want to make sure its is a healthy one.
Hi Jeannie! I’m sorry, we’re not sure about this. However, we always recommend Austin Pets Alive when adopting new pets!