House Calls for Pets

House Calls for Pets are a New Experience for Most People, Here are Some Tips

Why Do I Need a House Call?

If you want your pet to fall sleep in their own bed during their acupuncture treatment.

If you want to let the kids keep playing while you take care of your pet. If you want our full attention with full knowledge of where and how your pet lives.

If you want a health problem solved on Sunday night so you can start your week with a sense of relief.

If you want to feel like you are an equal partner in a conversation about your pet’s care.

If you want any of these benefits, you want a holistic house call.

How do I Book My House Call?

Email JLaw@VetVmd.com

Call/Text (813) 816-1759

Phone/Fax (844) 787-3838

Text or email is fastest.

We need your name, address, pet’s main current health concern, and your ideal date and time you would like an appointment.

We reply as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours.

If you have an emergency, please visit your nearest pet ER. (Holistic medicine is not typically ideal for emergencies.)

Quick answer: Email JLaw@VetVmd.com and share your name, street address, pet’s name and condition in a few words, and the date and time that would be fantastic for you.

What Geographic Areas Do You Typically Cover for House Calls?

Generally speaking, a house call for you is possible in the Greater Tampa Bay Area, depending on your needs, urgency & our schedule.

Quick answer: Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties…mostly

Regularly, we visit:

• Belleair
• Clearwater
• Clearwater Beach*
• Crystal Beach
• Dunedin
• Eastlake
• Gulfport
• Largo
• Madeira Beach
• New Port Richey
• Odessa
• Ozona
• Oldsmar
• Palm Harbor
• Pinellas Park
• Port Richey
• Safety Harbor
• Seminole
• South Tampa
• St Petersburg
• Tampa
• Tarpon Springs
• Tarpon
• Trinity
• West Chase

Special scheduling (advance notice) is needed:

• Apollo Beach
• Brooksville
• Fishhawk Ranch
• Hudson
• Lutz
• Land o’ Lakes
• St Pete Beach*
• Indian Rocks Beach*
• Palmetto
• Bradenton
• Sarasota

• * In-season beach locations (you know who you are!) need appointments before 10am M-W or evenings and generally  Thurs-Sunday is difficult or impossible to schedule during the day in season because of beach traffic

Assistance Holding Your Pet is Available

If you need an assistant to hold your pet during the house call visit, please let us know in advance. Most people hold their pet themselves (we are good teachers!), or they have a neighbor, relative or friend come to the house to help.

How Long is a House Call?

Quick answer:

Initial holistic house calls take 60-90 minutes.

Follow-up visits are usually 45-60 minutes.

How Much Does the House Call Cost?

Quick answer: about $272-$475

Acupuncture quick answer: +$86

The cost is comparable to a hospital visit, however, with a house call, you get more attention for your pet and more consultation time with us. On average, a house call consultation and physical exam costs $272-475. Comprehensive visits can cost $800-$1,200, depending on the complexity and your wishes for thorough investigations. We can also design a plan of sequential healing and address issues in a step-wise fashion to keep monthly costs on budget.

After a consultation with us, your pet may need extensive services, some of which (like diagnostics and treatments requiring a veterinary license) must be coordinated with your veterinarian. We will discuss costs with you before embarking on any plan.

For example, a common house call need is the consultation and then a starting acupuncture session and an herbal medicine to synergize and enhance the acupuncture. This typically costs an additional $85 to $175, depending upon the size of your pet. We discuss these services, the pros and cons and the expected benefits and time frame for results before you commit to any particular course of treatment.

Please call/text (813) 816-1759 if you have concerns about time and financial commitments for holistic treatment.

One wonderful fact about a house call is we are not pressured for time by another pet in a waiting room. Therefore, if your pet has multiple, complex issues that have been addressed in a surface manner, or in a repeated introductory manner with $300-$600 hospital visits, we will look at your pet holistically and help move your understanding and ability to help your pet forward on the path to health.

What Can You Really Do In a House Call?

All Outpatient Services

Quick answer: many holistic, rehabilitation, and TCVM food-therapy services — but no vaccination, sedation, surgery, dentistry, prescribing, or diagnostic lab interpretation. Those regulated veterinary acts must be coordinated with your own veterinarian.

 

Your house call can include a holistic wellness assessment, TCVM evaluation, rehabilitation support, and food-therapy guidance. Any blood testing, laboratory testing, biopsies, or diagnostic exams must be ordered and interpreted by your veterinarian; we are glad to help you coordinate collection of samples in the comfort of home where appropriate, and to help you understand and act on your veterinarian’s findings.

Supplement and Nutrition Advice

We can help you go through your supplements and pet supplies and use ones that you already have that will work for your pet. The peace of mind alone is worth the visit! Our nutrition advice is based on modern Western food science and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Jesse Cohen holds TCVM food therapy certification (CTCVMFT) and can help you sort through the confusing theories and evidence to find an intelligent and fun feeding strategy for your pet.

Personalized Flea Advice

If you are having trouble with fleas, we can see your environment and help you figure out how to target the problem and fix it.

Cat Social Drama

If your cats are not happy, but you cannot explain or diagram why, we can see the layout of the house and the litter boxes, food and water bowls, resources like windows and scratching posts. Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, but it takes an experienced eye to see it.

How Do I Get Ready for a House Call?

Quick answer: have a clean, well-lit area. Table and seating helpful.

We bring everything you need for the house call, but there are some specific ways you can help.

• Keep your phone available in case we need directions.
• Have your pet available. No kidding.
• Have a well-lit table or clear area on the floor for big dogs. A sunny room during the day has nice natural light for the physical exam.
• A nearby electrical plug is helpful.
• Make sure any hyper or nosy disruptive pets are kept away from the exam area.
• Do not schedule house cleaning, lawn maintenance, construction, renovations, or other “upheavals” on a veterinary visit day.
• Pay special attention to your environment as scented products can interfere with the physical exam.

What Happens After the House Call?

Quick answer: you get a comprehensive written report and instructions, and we are available to answer your questions. Ideally, your pet gets better!

If your pet was treated with acupuncture s/he may be tired for a day, and then start feeling better than before the visit. This is a normal energy adjustment response to acupuncture.

Record-Keeping

You will receive your text or email receipt of payment. Your copy of the visit notes and plan will come via email.

Prescription Medications

Any prescription medications your pet needs must be prescribed and dispensed by your veterinarian; we can help you coordinate this and integrate it with your holistic care plan.

Results

Results from tests ordered by your veterinarian may take several days to even several weeks (certain skin and allergy tests and biopsies). You can schedule a recheck and consult with us to discuss the results and how they fit into your pet’s holistic plan.

If you still have questions or concerns, or wish to book an appointment, please call now to get started.

“Thank you for coming out to see him – his hips are doing so well!”

 

Jesse Cohen, CCRVA, CTCVMFT — Founder, Ancient Law Pet Wellness

Holistic care, TCVM & rehabilitation support | Care provided in your home!

Greater Tampa Bay, Florida, USA

Call/Text (813) 816-1759 | Phone/Fax (844) 787-3838