New Clients
Making an apointment...- Call 225-362-4926 to make an appointment. I am often unable to answer the phone, since I do not take phone calls in client’s homes. I am usually able to return your call within 1-2 hours, and sometimes much sooner; please leave a message with your name and phone number and your call will be returned shortly by Dr. Carrie or an assistant. Please leave both a daytime and evening contact number if they are different.
- When we return your call, we will discuss your pet’s case with you and determine if a house call is appropriate. Dr. Carrie asks lots of questions over the phone, to make sure she brings all the supplies she may need to make your appointment as smooth as possible.
- We ask that the house call fee be paid in advance as a nonrefundable deposit. We can take credit card information over the phone or you can pay on the website through PayPal. The deposit will be applied to your bill at the time of your appointment. See “Preparing for your first appointment” for helpful tips to avoid losing this deposit.
- Together we will schedule an appointment that works for you. It’s good to set aside up to 2 hours for an initial appointment – after this initial appointment, things usually go much faster and appointments generally run less than an hour. We have appointment times available as early as 7am or as late as 8pm (For safety reasons, latest time for first-time clients is usually 5pm)
- Please print and complete the client information sheet before the visit.
- Have your pet indoors and confined when it is time for the house call. Prevent access to any rooms with hiding places like closets, under beds, etc. Even if your pet doesn’t normally hide, some animals can behave unpredictably in new situations. Cat wrangling and dog chasing that causes the appointment to go over its allotted time will be charged as overtime, and if the animal can not be found, the house call fee will still be charged. If you need suggestions on how to confine your pet please call or e-mail in advance and we can discuss ideas.
- If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please do so at least 24 hours in advance. I can see much fewer animals in one day than a veterinarian in a hospital. As a result, I must plan my schedule carefully so I can help as many pets as possible. Last minute cancellations will still be charged the house call fee.
- If you do not feel comfortable with, or are unable to assist in holding your animal during examinations and treatments, or if your pet has a history of aggression, please let me know in advance so that I can arrange to have an assistant accompany me to your home. I will provide guidance on effective and safe restraint and arrive with a variety of safety equipment. Usually, since your pet is more comfortable and less fearful in its usual surroundings, only a minimum of restraint is needed. If your pet is unexpectedly difficult to handle, we have the option of using mild sedation (for an extra charge), performing only a limited examination, returning with an assistant, or a combination of the above. Your safety is my top priority, but we will do what we can.
- Payment must be received in full at the time services are rendered. The Housepet Housevet accepts cash and credit cards for initial appointments.
Download New Client Info Sheet
NOTE: You may need to download and install the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the New Client Info Sheet above.