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Why Book an In-Home Veterinary Orthopedic Exam?

During an in-home Wellness Exam, your veterinarian will be able to observe your pet in their home environment, allowing them to assess your pet’s orthopedic functioning accurately.

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Reduced Pet Stress

Avoid the stressors of transporting orthopedic pets to the clinic. Our Fear Free® certified veterinary teams have extensive training in keeping pets calm and relaxed during their examinations. 

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Personalized Treatment Plans

Our in-home veterinary model builds in enough time for our veterinary teams to spend with each pet and their parents(s) and to create an individualized treatment plan.

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Convenient In-Home Service

In-home veterinary care is less stressful for pets and more convenient for pet parents. Save the time you would have spent commuting to and from clinic appointments, and we'll come to you!

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Expert Orthopedic Care

Our in-home exams include a comprehensive assessment of your pet’s orthopedic functioning. We will also recommend additional tests or a referral to  a veterinary orthopedic specialist (for an additional cost) when necessary.

Our Veterinary Orthopedic Evaluation Process

As part of our commitment to treating your whole pet, your veterinarian will observe your cat or dog, thoroughly examine their musculoskeletal system, and make recommendations when necessary.

Thorough Health Checkup

Thorough Health Checkup

Evaluation of your pet’s orthopedic health will begin with a review of your pet’s history and a thorough checkup of all the systems of the body.

Performing the Orthopedic Assessment

Performing the Orthopedic Assessment

A general orthopedic assessment includes specific tests that can be carried out during a home visit. These include an evaluation of your pet’s muscles, joints, ligaments, and bones. We may recommend additional tests, x-rays, or a referral to a veterinary orthopedic specialist (for an additional cost).

Discussion and Recommendations

Discussion and Recommendations

Based on your pet’s examination, our veterinarians will work with you to make the best plan for your pet, which may include medication, pain management, and other recommendations to support your pet’s quality of life.

Post Orthopedic Exam Guidance

Post Orthopedic Exam Guidance

Before the end of your in-home visit, your veterinary team will provide any necessary prescriptions and referrals, and schedule follow-up appointments.

Why BetterVet?

Our mobile veterinarians examine pets in their favorite spot - a comfy couch, a cozy pet bed, or even your lap! See how we work to keep pets relaxed and happy at home.

What Our Clients Say

Review
Bruce Herzfelder
BetterVet Boston

Dr. Kiefer and Erin were a great team. Arrived exactly on time per notification - no time wasted in a waiting room. Rolo the dog had his vaccines and a thorough exam of his limp and other hip arthritis, leading to an x-ray and some great recommendations of medications and other therapies. Minot the cat had a biopsy on a lump - he’s a fighter and it wouldn’t have gone well at an animal hospital, but at home he was matter-of-fact about it. Great experience!

Moncia Martinez
BetterVet Philadelphia
Very helpful and informative. On time and told me what to do in future for my dog and recommend best orthopedic vet for his luxated patella
erin glospie
BetterVet New Jersey
"Our mobile vet" was on time. She provided excellent exams for our 4yr old and 13yr old dogs. She was able to identify some arthritic areas and prescribed medicine and supplements. She gave vaccines and blood tests. You can tell how much she really cares. Great experience!
Debra Galindo
BetterVet Denver
This is my dog Buddy he has hip problems and he’s and old dog. Doc came in exam Buddy. Very nice both ladies if I need them again I’ll call BetterVet . Thank You "BetterVet team".
Rachel Farnsworth
BetterVet Vancouver
Much as our animals crush it in cuteness! These incredible vets plan to keep them that way and I love it! I invited their cool mobile vet to my place to see my doggie in his natural world. He’s a big active guy and I have been concerned with his hips as he is aging. It was so amazing for the vets to see him play and actively see my concerns. It wasn’t just my dog stressed at the vet and me trying to describe it in my non-vet vernacular. It was a REAL vet visit, like the ones we crazy dog lovers dream of! The vets thoroughly explained to me what was going on with his big cute fluffy body and how I can help him. The vets orders were easy to follow, I really understood them, got everything at my local store, and my guy is doing better already. We never ever want our animals under the weather, however it’s a huge load off my mind to know that I have these amazing vets to call thank you again! And see you after the next tumble
Zuzana Matvejova
BetterVet Chicago
I had to say goodbye to the best good girl there ever was, my 18 year old doggie Maya. I wanted to have it done in my house where she felt comfortable. By now she hasn't been able to walk in almost 8 months and had to wear diapers. In the past two to three weeks her cough was getting worse from the liquid gathering in her lungs. All she was able to do was kind of "flip" over from side to side. I was hoping against hope , that she would just fall asleep and not wake up one morning. She still enjoyed her food and would wag her tail from time to time ...she couldn't see too much and her hearing was almost gone. As hard as it was , the time has come to make the most heartbreaking decision i ever had to do. I was very lucky to stumble upon BetterVet. They were very professional but also very understanding and full of heart. Everything was explained to me beforehand and they even took time to pet Maya and tell her what a good girl she was. Everything went smoothly and i was given time to be with Maya for the last time while they waited outside for my go ahead to carry her away. Thank you again so much for everything you did for me and Maya!

Included in Our Vet Orthopedics Service

During an in-home visit, your expert veterinary team will observe your pet and perform a number of common orthopedic tests, such as:

Gait Evaluation

Your veterinarian will observe your pet’s gait and movements in the relaxed environment of home and look for signs of limping or unusual movements.

Joint Mobility

Our team will evaluate your pet’s muscles, joints, ligaments, and bones. They will also assess your pet’s range of motion and joint mobility, an important step in understanding your pet’s orthopedic health.

Back, Neck, and Limb Evaluation

During your pet’s in-home orthopedic evaluation, your veterinarian will assess the flexibility of their neck and limbs.  They will also look for any signs of pain, discomfort, or swelling of the back, neck, and limbs.

Pain Management (if applicable)

Our veterinarians will make appropriate recommendations, including pain management, based on our examination. There are some especially promising new medications for pet arthritis treatment and chronic orthopedic conditions.

Specialized Consultation (if applicable)

As stated above, if your veterinary team feels that an outside resource is necessary to help with your pet’s treatment plan, they will make the appropriate referral to a board-certified veterinary orthopedic specialist.

Does My Dog Need an Orthopedic Evaluation?

Take our quiz to help you to decide whether your pet should be seen for an orthopedic consultation. If you have any questions or concerns or wish to connect with a veterinarian for your peace of mind, we’re here to help.
Does My Dog Need an Orthopedic Evaluation?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the veterinary orthopedic evaluation?

A veterinary orthopedic evaluation takes place during a Pet Wellness Exam, which typically lasts between 30-45 minutes.

Do I need to prepare anything for the pet orthopedic exam?

Be prepared to discuss your pet’s medical and orthopedic history, any symptoms, and any medication your pet is currently taking. If you have noticed a particular issue with your pet’s movement or mobility, a video demonstrating the behavior would also be helpful.

How soon can I schedule the pet's orthopedic appointment?

We have flexible appointment times and have same-day and next-day availability in many locations. Remember to book a Pet Wellness Exam, which includes a comprehensive orthopedic assessment.

What happens if the examination reveals an orthopedic issue?

Tendon and ligament injuries, as well as other mobility issues, are common in pets. Your veterinary team will work with you to make the best treatment plan for your pet, which may include recommendations for medication, diet or exercise changes, and referrals to specialists.

Are there any post-visit care instructions to follow after the examination?

Before your veterinary team concludes your in-home visit, they will provide you with all necessary prescriptions and referrals and make sure that you understand any post-visit care instructions.

What qualifications do your veterinary orthopedic specialists have?

Board-certified veterinary orthopedic specialists have undergone extensive education and training to achieve expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions in pets.

What are the most common orthopedic injuries in dogs?

There are a few common orthopedic issues in dogs such as hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament tears, and osteoarthritis. Hip dysplasia is a condition where a dog’s hip joints do not develop normally, causing them to grind against one another leading to discomfort and mobility changes.  Cruciate ligament tears affect the knees and usually occur secondary to trauma.  This is a painful condition and a referral to a veterinary orthopedic specialist is often recommended for treatment.  Osteoarthritis typically affects older pets and pain management is initiated to provide comfort and improve mobility.

What is the most common orthopedic injury in cats?

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common orthopedic issues seen in cats. Osteoarthritis is often diagnosed based on our physical exam and your cat’s history. There are certain treatments we can recommend to manage your cat’s symptoms, such as pain medication and changes to your cat’s diet or routine.

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