General FAQ

Dr. Rae's Veterinary Housecalls is a different type of veterinary practice. We come to you and treat many conditions in the comfort of your own home. Your pet will be more comfortable and you will be less stressed. We offer a full spectrum of high quality veterinary care ranging from vaccinations to hospice services. Please read below to see answers to specific questions that you may have.

When can you come to my home?

We see patients inside our Vet Van in your home's driveway.  Our working ours are Monday through Thursday. Call (386) 957-2497 for an appointment. If we do not answer, please leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible. 

Which services do you offer?

We offer all of the services you would expect from a regular clinic including new puppy and kitten visits, annual exams and vaccinations, intestinal parasite screenings, heartworm antigen tests, microchipping, internal medicine diagnostics and treatment, senior preventative blood work, behavior consults, pet hospice care, and many other services, including in-home pet euthanasia. In-patient procedures, surgeries and radiographs are done at your home inside the Vet Van.

Can my pets get all needed vaccinations through you?

Vaccination against infections diseases is a very important aspect of keeping your pet healthy. Over-vaccinating, on the other hand, is not always in the best interest of any animal. Dr Raevsky takes into consideration your pet's lifestyle and risk of contacting infectious diseases before recommending any vaccinations. Your pet's preventative healthcare needs will be tailored to you and your pet. 

Will you keep track of the vaccines my pets need and send me reminders?

Yes. As required by law, we keep up-to-date and retrievable records on all of our patients and will send you reminders for annual wellness exams.

Do you provide boarding and grooming services?

Through our network of trusted partners we can recommend several very good boarding facilities in the area. We will be happy to recommend a trusted kennel and groomer.

Are you more expensive than a regular veterinary hospital?

We charge a travel fee of $75.00 and an exam fee per pet which ranges from $95.75 for new pets to $60.00 for recheck exams. Diagnostics, treatment, etc are additional. You will have our undivided attention and personalized, focused care for your pet.  What could be better! 

Can I call you in case of an emergency?

Yes. Call immediately if you have a serious problem! If we do not return your call within a short amount of time, please seek immediate help from your closest veterinary hospital or Animal Emergency Hospital Volusia. Due to the nature of our business, it may be better for you to proceed to a fully equipped hospital if your animal is in need of intensive care.

What if my pet needs a surgical procedure?

All surgical procedures are conducted by Dr. Raevsky and a fully trained veterinary staff. Please see our surgical FAQ.

Can you microchip my pet?

Yes. If you and your pet become separated, if your animal runs away, if we have a hurricane - a microchip may help to reunite you with your pet. We can safely and securely implant a microchip, smaller than a grain of rice, under the skin of you dog or cat in the comfort of your own home.

What happens if my pet needs an x-ray?

Radiographs are performed inside the Vet Van at your home. Many radiographs can be made without sedation. Orthopedic studies and occasionally other diagnostic films may require sedation or full anesthesia. We will discuss this with you at the time of the veterinary consultation prior to scheduling radiographs.

Do you offer behavioral counseling?

Yes. Our network of trusted partners includes several experienced dog trainers and feline behavioral specialists to whom we can refer you. Behavior problems in dogs and cats are common and many of them are easily corrected. If untreated, behavioral issues may escalate and become reason for relinquishing ownership. Please discuss any concerns with us so that we can help you address these problems early on.

My pet is easily frightened and can bite - will you still come to our home?

Yes. Our policy is to muzzle all dogs during the physical examination which greatly minimizes any chances of problems for everybody involved. We would appreciate being warned in advance if your animal is potentially aggressive but we do have effective ways of dealing with this, including the use of chemical restraint.

How do you keep records and how can I access them?

We keep all our records in a secure cloud-based server.  All records can be emailed to an email address provided by you.

How far can you travel to see a patient?

We travel to New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange. At this time, we cannot accept patients outside of these geographic areas.

Which languages do you offer consultations in?

Andrei Raevsky, a professional linguist, can assist in interpreting French, Spanish, German, Italian and Russian. So, if you find you would need an interpreter, one will be made available to you at no additional cost.

My pet has allergies/flea problems - can you help?

Yes. Animals living in Florida often have terrible problems with itchy skin. The three most common causes of pruitis (itchy skin) are: flea allergy, food allergy, and pollen allergies. There are may treatments that can help alleviate the itch, but as with human allergies (hay fever) treatment often is long-term.

What kind of testing do you offer?

We test for heartworm antigens, intestinal parasites, full blood chemistries, complete blood count, Feline Leukemia virus, urinalysis, screens for internal medicine diseases such as liver disease, diabetes, renal disease, and many other problems. We full access to national diagnostic services.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Visa, Master Card, check, and cash payments may be made at the end of our visit to your home.

Do you offer advice on adoptions?

Yes. Our network of trusted partners includes several competent and dedicated adoption specialists who work with us and to whom we would be glad to refer you.

Can you see several pets in one visit and how much do you charge for each extra pet?

Yes. We will gladly see several pet in the course of one visit. Please call for more information about our fees.

What kind of hospice services do you offer for pets?

We strongly believe that our pets deserve the same support, love, attention and care during the last days of their lives as our other family members. For this reason we offer a full-range of palliative care methods including, of course, pain management, but also massage and acupuncture through members of our network of trusted partners. 

My pet is terminally ill and needs to be put to sleep. Can you help?

Yes. We can help you with this most difficult transition. Please see our euthanasia FAQ for a more detailed response. We can help every step of the way, from helping you decide when the time to let go is the right time to after-care of your pets remain.  Often, alleviating suffering of a terminally ill patient or a very old pet is the ultimate kindness that we can do. Please give a call so that we can discuss this option.

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