Frequently Asked Questions

Vet 2 Home is a mobile veterinary practice that brings veterinary care to your home. Our goal is to provide compassionate, low-stress care for pets and practical, clear guidance for the people who love them.

Our regular service area includes Brooksville, Spring Hill, Weeki Wachee, Aripeka, Hudson Beach, Hudson, Port Richey, New Port Richey, North Holiday, Odessa, and Trinity. Other nearby areas may be available after discussion and incur additional travel fees.

Vet 2 Home currently focuses on dogs and cats. Other species may be discussed on a case-by-case basis, but availability is limited and depends on the pet’s needs.

No. Vet 2 Home is not an emergency hospital and does not provide 24-hour emergency care. If your pet is having trouble breathing, collapsing, seizuring, bleeding heavily, unable to urinate, severely painful, repeatedly vomiting, experiencing heat stroke, or otherwise seems critically ill, please contact an emergency or urgent care facility right away.

Appointments may be requested through the Vet 2 Home website or by contacting the practice directly. After we review your location, pet information, and reason for the visit, we will help determine whether a mobile appointment is appropriate.

Your appointment date will be respected whenever possible, but scheduled appointment times may be adjusted to provide optimal examination time for all pets. Some visits require more time than expected, especially when pets are anxious, sick, painful, or need additional discussion. We will communicate changes as clearly as possible.

Many wellness visits take about 30-60 minutes, but timing depends on the number of pets, the reason for the visit, your pet’s comfort level, and any diagnostics, treatments, or medical discussions needed.

Same-day availability may be limited. Sick pets should be scheduled as soon as possible, but urgent or emergency symptoms may need a brick-and-mortar urgent care or emergency hospital instead of a house call.

Please notify us as early as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule. Because mobile appointments require travel planning, late cancellations or missed appointments will be subject to a fee.

The service call fee starts at $100. This fee compensates Vet 2 Home for the gas, travel time, scheduling time, vehicle costs, and insurance involved in traveling between clients. It is separate from medical services and applies to the household visit.

The first pet exam is $65. Additional pets examined during the same household appointment receive a discounted exam fee.

Yes. We will review recommended services and costs before moving forward with non-emergency diagnostics or treatments. Final costs depend on the services performed, medications dispensed or prescribed, and any diagnostics selected.

Payment is due at the time of service unless other arrangements have been approved in advance. We accept cash, debit/credit cards, Care Credit, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

Mobile care includes the medical visit plus the cost of bringing the practice to you. The service call fee helps cover travel, scheduling, time between appointments, insurance, fuel, and the added complexity of practicing outside a fixed clinic.

Please have dogs indoors or securely leashed before arrival. If your dog is nervous, reactive, painful, or difficult to handle, let us know before the appointment so we can plan the safest, lowest-stress approach.

Cats should be placed in a carrier before arrival or kept in a small room with no hiding areas. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, or other rooms without beds, couches, or heavy furniture often work well. Please do not wait until we arrive to find or catch your cat.

Many cats hide when visitors arrive. If a cat hides under a bed, inside furniture, or in another unsafe area, the appointment may be delayed, shortened, or unable to be completed. Preparing ahead of time helps reduce stress and allows a better exam. Appointments that cannot be completed due to an inability to catch your cat will still incur service call and examination charges. Every attempt will be made to alert you in anticipation of our arrival or delays so that your beloved fur friend spends as little time in confinement as possible.

Most exams can be performed in a quiet room, on a non-slip floor, on a towel or mat, or wherever the pet is most comfortable and accessible. Well-lit bathrooms are often great places for examining cats. We may recommend moving to a better-lit or less distracting area if needed.

Yes. Please provide prior vaccine records, medication names and dosages, recent lab work, specialist reports, adoption paperwork, and any records from other clinics when available. They can be sent to appointments@vet2home.com in anticipation of our visit. You may need to contact your current veterinarian to have records forwarded to us.

If your pet is being seen for diarrhea, urinary concerns, intestinal parasite screening, or wellness testing, a fresh sample will be helpful. We will let you know when a sample is recommended.

Yes. Treats are often used to encourage cooperation, reward calm behavior, and help your pet build a more positive association with handling, exams, vaccines, nail trims, and other parts of the visit. Small, soft, creamy, or especially high-value treats usually work best because they can be given in small amounts and used continuously during the exam.

When medically appropriate, please reduce the amount of food given the morning of the appointment so your pet is more interested in treats during the visit. Do not withhold food from young puppies or kittens, diabetic pets, pets with medical conditions that require regular meals, or any pet whose veterinarian has instructed a specific feeding schedule.

Vet 2 Home carries treats that are selected to be gentle typically do not cause food reactions in dogs. We do have lickable treats for cats, but some pets are more comfortable with familiar foods. If your pet has a favorite soft or creamy treat, or if your pet has food allergies, sensitivities, or a restricted diet, please have that treat available for the appointment.

Yes. All pets must be current on rabies vaccination or receive a rabies vaccine at the appointment unless there is a documented (by a veterinarian in writing) medical reason not to vaccinate. This protects your pet, your household, the veterinary team, and the community. The state of Florida does not recognize vaccine titers in lieu of a rabies vaccine and our policy is that age does not qualify for a medical exemption.

If your pet is healthy enough to receive vaccines, rabies vaccination will be updated during the appointment. If your pet is too ill for vaccination, we will discuss the safest plan and any legal or handling limitations that may apply.

No. Vet 2 Home will provide the rabies vaccination certificate/proof of rabies vaccination, but we do not issue county licenses or tags. Because Vet 2 Home sees and vaccinates pets in multiple counties, owners are responsible for obtaining or renewing any license, registration, or tag required by their own county or municipality.

Owners may be asked to help restrain, distract, comfort, or reward their pets during the exam when it is safe to do so. We use a calm, patient approach and may pause, change positions, use treats, or recommend medication when needed. If you are not comfortable restraining your pet, please let us know at time of scheduling so that additional assistants may be notified if needed.

Please tell us before the appointment. Some pets benefit from an extended visit, pre-visit medication, muzzle training, a carrier plan, or a modified exam approach. If a pet cannot be safely examined at home, referral to a clinic or urgent/emergency facility may be recommended.

Patient monitoring is vital in cases where your pet is unconscious. Due to safety concerns, we only provide sedation in anticipation of euthanasia at this time.

Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes, and Florida pets are at risk year-round. Vet 2 Home recommends that dogs receive heartworm prevention consistently and have heartworm testing performed every year. Annual blood testing is important even when your dog appears healthy and even when prevention has been given, because missed or delayed doses, vomiting after a dose, product failure, or unknown prior exposure can allow infection to occur.

Fleas and ticks are more than a nuisance. They can cause itching, skin infections, flea allergy dermatitis, anemia in severe infestations, and exposure to parasites or flea-borne and tick-borne diseases. Because Florida’s warm climate allows fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes to remain active for much of the year, year-round prevention is recommended for most dogs.

Yes. Cats can be exposed to mosquitoes and fleas even when they spend most or all of their time indoors. Heartworm disease in cats can be fatal, and there is no approved medication to safely kill adult heartworms in cats the way there is for dogs. Because treatment options are limited, prevention is especially important.

Vet 2 Home recommends that a cat’s FeLV/FIV status be known. Annual FeLV/FIV testing and an annual FeLV vaccine are recommended for households with cats that go outdoors, have contact with outdoor cats, fight with other cats, live with cats of unknown FeLV/FIV status, or may be exposed to new cats. FeLV vaccination is especially important for cats with ongoing outdoor or unknown-cat exposure, because feline leukemia virus can shorten a cat’s life and can spread between cats.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can affect the kidneys and liver and can also infect people. Dogs can be exposed through urine from wildlife, rodents, livestock, or infected dogs, and through contaminated puddles, standing water, damp soil, yards, sidewalks, parks, or flood-prone areas. Florida’s warm, wet environment makes exposure a practical concern even for dogs that mainly live in suburban neighborhoods. Vet 2 Home recommends leptospirosis vaccination for dogs in Florida unless there is a patient-specific medical reason not to vaccinate.

Dogs and cats can hide early illness, and many changes are not obvious during a physical exam alone. Routine screening bloodwork helps establish your pet’s normal baseline while they are young and healthy, then allows subtle trends to be monitored over time. This can help identify concerns such as anemia, infection or inflammation, kidney or liver changes, thyroid disease, electrolyte abnormalities, diabetes, and other problems earlier than waiting for visible signs of illness.

Wellness bloodwork is useful before a pet becomes senior because it gives us a healthy baseline for comparison later. Screening becomes even more important as pets enter their senior and geriatric years, when kidney disease, liver disease, endocrine disease, anemia, arthritis-related medication needs, and other chronic conditions become more common. The exact testing plan depends on age, breed, medications, symptoms, exam findings, and lifestyle.

Current services include wellness exams, sick-pet evaluations when appropriate for a house call, vaccinations, basic testing, preventive care counseling, skin/ear/eye assessments, medication planning, quality-of-life discussions, and in-home euthanasia when appropriate.

No. Surgery is not currently offered by Vet 2 Home.

No. Dentistry and dental cleanings are not currently offered by Vet 2 Home.

No. Radiology/X-ray services are not currently offered by Vet 2 Home. Pets who need X-rays, advanced imaging, hospitalization, or procedures requiring a full clinic setting may be referred to an urgent care, emergency hospital, or full-service veterinary hospital.

Many basic laboratory tests can be collected during a home visit when the pet can be safely handled. Some tests may require outside laboratory processing, and certain diagnostics may require referral.

No. Mobile care is helpful for many pets, but some conditions require hospital-level diagnostics, oxygen, IV fluids, monitoring, imaging, surgery, or intensive care. We will be honest if your pet needs a facility rather than a house call.

Yes. Vet 2 Home offers compassionate in-home euthanasia when it is medically appropriate and can be performed safely. The goal is to allow pets to pass peacefully in a familiar environment, surrounded by the people who love them.

Euthanasia appointments require dedicated scheduling, travel time, preparation, medications, paperwork, and aftercare coordination. Fees are typically collected before the euthanasia begins and may be paid at the time of scheduling. Aftercare choices and related fees should be confirmed before the appointment whenever possible.

Aftercare options may include home burial, communal cremation, and private cremation. With communal cremation, ashes are not returned. With private cremation, ashes are returned according to the crematory’s process and timeline. Home burial may be an option when permitted, practical, and safe for the property.

Yes. An exam is required before euthanasia for new patients and for pets whose veterinary-client-patient relationship has expired. Even for established patients, the veterinarian may need to perform a brief assessment before euthanasia to confirm the pet’s condition, discuss quality of life, answer questions, and complete required consent and medical records.

The appointment usually begins with paperwork, payment if not already completed, discussion of aftercare wishes, and time for the family to ask questions. The pet is then made as comfortable as possible. An intramuscular injection is given first for sedation. This injection may sting or feel surprising, and some pets may briefly react by flinching, moving, crying out, or trying to get up. This reaction is usually brief and does not mean the pet is being handled harshly. Once the pet is deeply relaxed or asleep, the final euthanasia medication is given.

Yes. Families may stay with their pet for as much or as little of the process as they feel comfortable. Some people choose to be present for the entire appointment, while others prefer to step away after sedation. There is no single right choice.

After death, the body can still have reflexive movements. This may include muscle twitching, small breaths or gasping motions, release of urine or stool, or the eyes remaining partially open. These changes can be upsetting to see, but they are post-mortem reflexes and do not mean the pet is aware, in pain, or suffering.

If cremation is selected, the pet will need to be moved to the vehicle after passing. Depending on the pet’s size, the home layout, and available help, the owner may be asked to help carry the pet to the vehicle. Please let us know before the appointment if lifting or carrying will be difficult so we can discuss the safest plan available.

Home burial must be permitted where you live and must be deep and secure enough to prevent disturbance. If a burial site is not deep enough or is not protected, wildlife, neighborhood animals, or household pets may dig into the site. This can be emotionally traumatic for the family and dangerous for animals that scavenge on the remains. Euthanasia medications remain in the body after death, and animals that consume affected tissue can become seriously ill or die. If safe burial cannot be ensured, cremation is strongly recommended.

Yes. Vet 2 Home has an online pharmacy where clients can order approved medications, preventives, diets, and refills. Ordering through the Vet 2 Home online pharmacy helps keep prescription approvals, product quality, and medical records connected. The direct link is www.vet2home.bluerabbitrx.com

Yes, but prescriptions to outside pharmacies will only be available in written format. Email, fax, online, and phone requests from outside pharmacies will not be honored.

Written prescriptions help reduce errors, avoid repeated third-party requests, protect medical record accuracy, and keep prescription responsibility clear. Clients may submit the written prescription to the pharmacy of their choice.

Refills require an active veterinary-client-patient relationship and may require a current exam, updated lab work, or follow-up communication depending on the medication and your pet’s health status. 

No. Prescription medications require an active veterinary-client-patient relationship and enough current medical information to prescribe safely. An active veterinary-client-patient relationship is defined as a physical wellness examination performed within the previous 12 months. A virtual or sick pet visit does not count as a physical wellness examination.

 Vet 2 Home makes an audio recording during the appointment so the visit can be converted with AI assistance into your pet’s medical record. The recording helps us capture details accurately while allowing the veterinarian to focus on your pet and your questions during the visit. The AI-generated draft is reviewed and finalized by Vet 2 Home before it becomes part of the medical record.

Yes. Owners are encouraged to take pictures when possible, especially if the condition changes over time or if the injury, skin issue, eyes, lameness, or behavior does not always look the same during the appointment. Photos sent by email or text will be added to the pet’s file if they relate to the pet’s medical condition.

We may ask for permission to use certain photos on the Vet 2 Home website or social media posts, or to add them to the pet’s medical file. Medically relevant photos may be saved to the medical record. Public use on social media or the website will be handled with owner permission.

Yes. Vet 2 Home offers telehealth consultations for established clients, as defined by an active veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The fee is $50 for 15 minutes. These consults can be helpful for skin rechecks, medication management, clients with financial limitations, or clients who are traveling or temporarily outside the service area.

Yes. Owners may call or video-call partners, family members, or other pet caretakers when necessary so that everyone has the opportunity to hear information and ask questions.

Results sent to an outside laboratory usually take 24 to 48 business hours to return. Results will be emailed to the client, so please make sure we have the correct email address on file. Clients will be texted if everything is normal and called if there are concerns or questions related to the results.

Questions about test results are best sent by email so we can respond clearly and so you can refer back to the answer if you need clarification later.

Yes. Medical records, vaccine documentation, invoices, and recommendations will be provided after the visit through the practice’s normal record system. Medical records are typically sent within 24 hours to allow for correction of inaccuracies.

Yes. Records can be shared with another veterinary hospital at your request, especially if your pet is referred for urgent care, emergency care, surgery, dentistry, radiology, or specialty services.

Vet 2 Home will respond as soon as reasonably possible during business hours. If your pet is worsening, painful, struggling to breathe, collapsing, or experiencing another urgent concern, please contact an urgent care or emergency facility instead of waiting for a message response. Messages sent via text are typically answered fastest, followed by phone calls; these are best for urgent situations or scheduling appointments. Emails are best for scheduling appointments, sending/receiving records, questions regarding your pet’s condition, lab results, and sharing information.