What is a House Call charge?

Our services are comparably priced with stationary Veterinary Hospitals in the area.   

  
However, we do charge a “House Call Charge” for the convenience of “At Home Service” of $60-$80 depending on travel time. Please look at our Service area map to determine the fee for your area.

What happens during an exam?

It is always nice to know what to expect when you are visited by the veterinarian. Why? Because nobody likes surprises. So what is going through the doctor's mind when your dog (or cat) is examined?  

Written notes on the patient's medical chart are absolutely necessary in order to maintain a good medical history.  So when the doctor isn't probing and pulling, there will be some written data being recorded to a computerized program that sorts and organizes yearly reminders, prescription data, important patient events or surgeries and billing data.  

A good physical exam often includes taking the patient's temperature.  Normal temperature for a dog or cat varies between 101 and 102.5 degrees. The temperature is taken rectally and causes no discomfort. Every so often a seemingly healthy pet tips off the veterinarian that something isn't quite right simply by having an elevated temperature.

 Skin and coat are really excellent indicators of the pet's health status. The coat should be shiny, not brittle and coarse, and the skin should be clean and not greasy and flaky.

Your veterinarian should examine both ears, too. Obvious infections and allergies are problems the owner can see. But often, deep in the ear canal is where infections can start and if noticed early, can be eliminated before they cause permanent damage. Many dogs (and cats) suffer from allergies. Skin and ear infections are commonly the result of repeated allergic episodes.  Check your dog's (and cat's) ears frequently and look for any signs of disease.

Every good exam includes getting that stethoscope against the chest and listening to the lungs and paying close attention to the heart sounds. Dogs seldom get pneumonia. Much more common are heart rhythm and heart valve problems. If any deviation from normal is detected, further workup is a good idea and Dr. Robinett can refer you to the appropriate specialist.

A careful evaluation of the abdomen must be a part of the physical exam. Many owners were shocked to find out that their pet had only one normal kidney, or was harboring an undiscovered tumor or was pregnant!  Bladder stones, for instance, may be discovered during a routine physical exam. So in addition to feeling what's on the outside of the pet, what's inside is just as important.

Every good physical exam must include a look into the pet's mouth -- that is if the pet is willing!  Oral hygiene is one of the most overlooked aspects of pet health care. The mouth can harbor infected gums, loose teeth, objects stuck between teeth, tumors and all sorts of other painful surprises. And often the pet shows no signs of discomfort from even serious oral abnormalities.

 Although the eyes may not need a thorough exam where the veterinarian inspects the interior of the eye with special instruments, at least a close inspection of the visible eye structures and lids is a part of a complete physical exam. Early cataract formation may be detected, any haziness on the surface of the cornea can be detected and inflammation of the surrounding eye structures can be assessed.

Finally, the paws and toenails should be examined, and any really long nails should be clipped shorter.

Now that your pet has had a head-to-toe examination, you and the veterinarian will feel more confident that the pet is healthy. Now the challenge is to keep the pet well!