Janesville vets bringing health care home

Shelly Birkelo

Nov. 4, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- JANESVILLE -- Veterinary technician Janet Pezzi spoke softly to Snickers and stroked her fluffy, white fur as veterinarian Kevin Kreier examined the domestic long-hair calico cat.

"Ohhhhh, you did very good," Pezzi cooed to 13-year-old Snickers.

Even though the exam was being done in Snicker's Milton home, she briefly hissed and growled.

"I'm going to look down the hatch," Kreier said before giving Snickers an oral exam, checking her abdomen, testing range of motion in her limbs and looking for fleas.

"Did her tests turn out all right?" Snickers' owner, Margaret Sayre, asked.

"Her lab work was OK," Kreier said, "but we decided she needed to get her vaccines updated.''

Two weeks earlier, Sayre's daughter, who was in town for a visit, took Snickers to Badger Veterinary Hospital, 3113 E. McCormick Drive, Janesville. Snickers had been drinking and urinating excessively, and they wanted to make sure she wasn't diabetic or suffering from any other health problems. Snickers had lab work and a routine exam.

Later, after her daughter was gone, Sayre, 97, decided to take advantage of the hospital's house call service, which was first offered in the spring.

It would have been too taxing for Sayre to get Snickers into a pet carrier and even harder for her to lift and carry the cat and carrier to the car, she said.

Kreier said people who could benefit from the house calls service include those who don't drive, who have multiple pets that are hard to transport or who prefer to have their pet euthanized in the privacy of their home.

"It's just too difficult to come in. So we go out to their houses,'' Pezzi said.

"It's a nice way to provide for the community,'' Kreier said.

The initial response to house calls was slow, but interest has picked up, Pezzi said.

"News of it just might be getting out there,'' she said.

Kreier said there is a need for the service.

"We do have a lot of clients who are elderly, handicapped and with multiple pets," Pezzi agreed.

Kreier and Pezzi said other mobile veterinarians in the area work out of their trucks, but no other Rock County veterinary practice makes house calls, they said.

The house call fee depends on how far staff has to travel. The service is offered throughout Rock County and beyond, Kreier said.

House calls in the Janesville/Milton area cost $55.45 plus additional services, such as vaccinations, Pezzi said.

Sayre's bill totaled $105, which she said was well worth paying for the convenience.

"She loves me. I love her," Sayre said about Snickers. "It's so important to have her healthy."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0098-39448536