The Vet Will See You at Home:

How Mobile Care Is Changing Pet Healthcare for Good

By Dr. Gayle (Pawssum vet),

It used to be that a trip to the vet meant packing your anxious dog into the car, navigating traffic, sitting in a waiting room filled with unfamiliar smells and sounds, and hoping your pet would stay calm long enough for a rushed check-up.

But for thousands of pet owners across Australia, that scenario is being replaced by something much simpler: the vet comes to you.

Mobile veterinary services, once a niche offering, are now growing rapidly and not just because of convenience. For pets and their people, they offer a more compassionate, less stressful way to access vital health care. And in a world still shaped by the aftershocks of the pandemic, they may represent a permanent shift in how we think about animal wellbeing.

A quieter revolution in pet care

“It’s more than just skipping the clinic,” says Dr. Mary Collins, a mobile vet based in Sydney. “It’s about meeting the animal where they’re most comfortable. For many pets and their owners that makes all the difference.”

Collins works with Pawssum, one of Australia’s largest mobile veterinary services. Since launching in 2016, the company has grown to operate in every major city and dozens of regional centres. Its vets arrive at homes equipped with the tools needed for vaccinations, blood tests, diagnostics, and even palliative care.

The popularity of services like Pawssum reflects something deeper than time-saving: a transformation in how people view their pets as family members deserving of gentler, more personalised care.

The pandemic made it personal

During lockdown, pet ownership surged. In Australia, more than 69% of households now own a pet, and similar growth occurred across the UK, U.S., and Canada. With that rise came an emotional shift. Pets weren’t just companions they were emotional anchors.

And when clinics closed or restricted in-person visits, mobile services filled the gap.

But even after lockdowns were lifted, many owners didn’t return to the old routine.

“Once people saw how much calmer their dog or cat was at home, they didn’t want to go back,” says Dr. Gayle , a vet at Pawssum. “It feels more natural and more humane.”

Reducing stress for animals and humans

Clinic visits can be traumatic, especially for elderly pets, rescue animals, or those with chronic conditions. Loud environments, car rides, and long waits often exacerbate symptoms particularly for anxious pets or those in pain.

With mobile vets, everything happens in a familiar environment. Pets can be examined in their bed, on the couch, or in the garden. Appointments are often longer and more relaxed, giving vets a fuller picture of the animal’s behaviour and home life.

For end-of-life care, this model can be especially meaningful. In-home euthanasia allows families to say goodbye in private, without bright lights, clinical settings, or hurried goodbyes.

Blending tech with tradition

Mobile veterinary care combines two things we often think of as opposites: modern technology and traditional house calls.

Pawssum’s service is managed through a central platform where pet owners can book online, store records, and receive vet reports electronically. Vets use portable diagnostic tools, and in some cases, integrate with telehealth services to consult specialists.

But the heart of the service remains human. It’s built on the idea that care happens best in comfort, and that being truly present with the pet and their owner is part of the healing process.

Global model, local roots

Though Pawssum is based in Australia, the shift it represents is global. In the UK, similar services are gaining traction in cities like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. In the U.S., pet telehealth and mobile vet startups are receiving millions in venture funding.

And while not every appointment can happen at home emergencies or surgeries still require clinics the demand for personalised, stress-free pet care continues to grow.

“We’re not replacing clinics,” says Berkowitz. “We’re expanding access. We’re meeting people and their pets where they are.”

A better way forward?

As our relationship with animals deepens, so too does our responsibility to care for them thoughtfully. Mobile veterinary care isn’t just a service it’s a statement: that pets deserve healthcare that respects their comfort, their home, and their bond with us.

In the years ahead, it’s likely that more of us will look for services that fit this ethos not just for our pets, but for ourselves.

And maybe, just maybe, the next time your dog needs a check-up… the vet will knock on your door.

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