Once upon a time, veterinarians pretty much only made house calls to large animals. But times have changed.

Now, many small animal veterinarians have house-call practices for all sorts of reasons. Some pet parents don’t want to submit their pets to in-clinic stress, or themselves to the stress of getting there. For others, personal mobility issues — theirs or their pets — make clinic visits a challenge.

A house call also allows a veterinarian to see how their patient behaves at home. They might even pick up on environmental cues that impact the pet’s condition.

Annual exams, vaccinations, treatment of chronic conditions, they can all be performed during house calls. And home visits are especially great for families with multiple pets.

So, if getting there is more than half the battle, consider going the house-call route.