LE MARS – Le Mars veterinarians are currently making house calls exclusively.
Gentle Paws Mobile Veterinary opened in early November, said owner and veterinarian Dr. Amanda Harris.
“Over the years working in brick-and-mortar stores, many people have asked us whether we, as veterinarians and technicians, do home visits, whether it's for euthanasia, for dogs that are too large or have arthritis, or just for customers who are homebound and don't have a car,” Dr. Harris explained.
She considered the idea for about a year.
At a veterinary conference, she learned about a company that converts vehicles for mobile veterinary care. Wag'n Tails was able to outfit the vehicle with everything Harris thought he would need to treat his patients.
This unit allows veterinarians to perform almost any task that a veterinarian could perform in a stand-alone office, including surgeries, dental procedures, X-rays, and blood tests.
“We couldn't get them (into home care). We started thinking about what we could do to make it work. I started researching it almost a year ago,” Harris said.
“We can do what a general practitioner can do in a smaller space.”
Demand for her services was strong from the beginning.
“More people came to me out of the gate than I expected, which is a good problem to have,” she said.
Pet owners can call 712-501-5037 to make reservations. Harris said his clinic hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but he tries to see as many patients as possible.
“We strive to be as responsive as possible in emergencies and end-of-life situations.”
Veterinary technician Emily Peters said pet owners appreciate home visits, which make things easier and less stressful.
“One man was in tears because he couldn't find someone to take his pet. He was so grateful that we were able to come in and treat his pet before Christmas. He was completely emotional and it was heartwarming,” Harris said.
She has been a veterinarian for about 10 years.
