Should you ask your vet to make a house call or visit the clinic?

Back in the day, veterinary house calls for small animals like cats and dogs were more common, much like doctors making home visits. However, today in the UK, most vets rarely offer this service for small pets, focusing instead on clinic visits for routine and emergency care.

This article explores why house calls are uncommon, when they might be appropriate, and what factors influence a vet’s decision to visit your pet at home versus asking you to attend the clinic. It also clarifies any obligations your vet has to make house calls, especially in emergencies.

Why Don’t Most Vets Offer House Calls for Small Pets?

There are several key practical and ethical reasons why house calls are not standard practice for small animals in the UK.

• Limited Equipment and Facilities: Mobile vets cannot usually carry the full range of diagnostic tools, specialised treatments, or emergency equipment available in a clinic. Large machines like ultrasound or X-ray units rarely travel to homes, reducing diagnostic accuracy and treatment options.
• Time and Resource Constraints: House calls require travel time and often limit the number of patients a vet can see in a day. This makes the service less efficient compared to seeing many pets in the clinic back-to-back.
• Safety and Hygiene Concerns: Home environments are variable and often lack the controlled, hygienic settings of clinics. This can pose risks both to the pet and veterinary staff, especially when handling anxious or aggressive animals or when infection control is vital.
• Cost Implications: Travel, preparation, and potential need for additional staffing increase the costs of home visits substantially, often leading to premiums several times higher than in-clinic consultations.
• Staff Availability: Many house calls are solo visits without additional clinical support, which restricts the ability to consult colleagues or perform multi-step treatments safely on site.

Are House Calls More Available for Larger Animals?

Yes. For large animals like horses or livestock, house calls remain standard because transporting these animals to clinics is impractical. Vets are equipped and prepared for farm and large animal visits. However, this is a very different context to small pets like cats and dogs.

What About Veterinary House Calls in Emergency Situations?

In emergencies, vets may be more willing to make house calls under specific conditions:

• When the pet is too ill or injured to be safely transported.
• When immediate assessment in situ is needed to determine if the pet is stable enough for travel.
• When travel to clinic is impossible or would cause further harm.

However, even in emergencies, the preferred approach is usually to bring the animal to a clinic or hospital offering comprehensive emergency and critical care facilities. Mobile emergency vets are limited in availability and tend to focus on triage and stabilisation rather than definitive treatment on site.

It’s important to note that lack of owner transport is not an emergency justification for a house call. Vets are not obliged to solve transport difficulties, and owners should plan ahead for emergencies to ensure swift clinic access.

When Is a House Call Warranted and Possible?

House calls can be appropriate in certain situations, including:

• For pets that become extremely anxious or stressed by clinic visits, potentially worsening their condition.
• For pets that have chronic or terminal illnesses, where ongoing supportive care and monitoring can be safely done at home.
• When euthanasia is requested at home, many vets are understanding and willing to accommodate this compassionate choice, providing the service to reduce stress on both pet and owner.
• Animals in labour with complications where close monitoring at home is needed.
• When the pet’s condition makes safe transport impossible or inadvisable.

Are Vets Obliged to Make House Calls in Emergencies?

Veterinary professionals have a moral and professional duty to provide care that limits suffering and prevents further harm to animals brought to their attention. However, this duty does not extend to mandatory house calls. Their obligation is to treat animals under their care, which usually means animals brought to veterinary premises.

They are not obliged to seek out animals in need or to visit in all emergencies, particularly where there are risks to other patients or staff, or where the care needed exceeds what can be provided safely at the location.

In multi-emergency situations, vets must prioritise cases with triage principles similar to human emergency medicine, possibly limiting home visits for others.

Owners should therefore plan to have reliable transport options for emergencies and understand that while vets strive to accommodate needs compassionately, home visits are the exception rather than the rule.

Best Practices for Choosing Between House Calls and Clinic Visits

In the UK in 2025, the decision should consider clinical urgency, safety, welfare, and practicalities:

• Choose a house call for non-urgent check-ups, minor treatments, end-of-life care, or if your pet suffers severe stress when travelling. This helps improve welfare and compliance with care plans.
• Always opt for a clinic visit when advanced diagnostics, surgeries, or emergency treatments are required. Clinics provide the safest environments with full equipment and professional teams.
• Discuss costs openly with your vet – house calls carry higher fees but may be worthwhile for quality of life in certain cases.
• Establish emergency plans to get your pet to the vet clinic or emergency centre promptly when needed.
• Communicate clearly with your veterinary team so you understand when a house call is feasible, appropriate, and safe.

Conclusion

Veterinary house calls for small pets in the UK remain a specialised service due to practical, safety, and ethical factors. While vets sometimes offer home visits for specific circumstances, most routine and emergency care happens in clinics where full resources are available and the wellbeing of pets and staff can be safeguarded.

Responsible pet ownership includes planning ahead for veterinary care, understanding when home visits make sense, and being prepared to visit the clinic for more complex needs. Working collaboratively with your vet ensures your pet receives timely, compassionate, and effective care wherever it is delivered.