COVID-19 has changed so many aspects of veterinary medicine. Some will remain changed, improved for the better. But, there are others that I cannot wait to see return to the way they were before — audible, hearty laughs amongst the waiting room chatter, friendly handshakes between new acquaintances, and … most of all — house calls.

When I went to vet school I actually thought I might be an equine vet. (The naïveté of that endeavour is a conversation for another day!) So, maybe offering mobile services is my way of fulfilling that James Herriot-esque large animal vet drive in me.

It is selfish too in that, simply put, I get out of the office and into the fresh air. Our building does not have as many windows as I would like, and being indoors for 12 hours at a time gets redundant.

But, the benefit I see in bringing vet services to my clients and patients is clear too. Physical exams for senior patients with limited mobility; blood draws on dogs and cats that get very anxious on the drive over to the clinic; palliative care or quality of life assessments — all better done in the home environment.

House calls are easier in some ways (some dogs are more at ease at home, thus allowing a more thorough physical exam) and more challenging in others. (The cat being hidden under the bed when we arrive is less than ideal!)  I have been offering house calls from my accredited mobile unit for many years now. Inevitably, I find that the overall experience is more personal.

While I have been told outright by veterinary economists more versed than I am in such matters, that offering mobile services is a poor business model, when I started offering euthanasia appointments at home there was no turning back. When I was able to euthanize a dog under his favourite tree, surrounded by his family, and overlooking the lake … it felt peaceful, personal and deserved.

Lately though, it has simply not been possible to venture into people’s homes. In addition to the added risk to myself and my staff — and with us being a one-vet office, exposure poses significant risk to the clinic — we just haven’t had the time.

If I stay in the office, I am able to help many more patients in the time I would have normally allotted to a house call (about an hour or so). In the era of needing to triage, even in general practice, we have had to prioritize the in-clinic appointments.

So for now, I’ll wait. We will continue to help as many sick patients as possible in our windowless space.

One day soon I will get back on the road.