In-home Health Aid
Assistance with veterinarian-prescribed home health care
Wonderful developments in veterinary medicine have made it possible to keep our pets in our lives for longer and provide them with treatment options for the management of acute and chronic medical conditions at home. But for many pets and pet parents, these tasks can be tough to accomplish on their own and having the extra experienced hand can make all the difference for your pet’s immediate and long-term health. Eden Pet Care is here to help with that.
In-home Health Aid services are meant to coincide with your veterinarian’s recommendations and prescribed treatment for at-home care. These may have been provided to you when your pet was diagnosed with a specific condition or from the general recommendations given to you at your pet’s annual wellness exam. Eden Pet Care will not provide medical assistance without medical-record information and/or direct approval from your veterinarian for most services (excluding services such as administering medications with a prescription-label, nail trims, grooming-type services, etc.)
I am committed to working within the scope of standard veterinary medicine based on my experience in the field, my continuing education from reputable veterinary sources, and (most importantly) your veterinarian’s recommendations and instructions.
I can also provide a written report and photo updates to your veterinarian.
$25 - $75
per service
Estimated costs depend on numerous factors, including the medical care required, length of each visit, duration of treatment, etc. Please contact Eden Pet Care to receive a quote.
Common procedures Eden Pet Care can assist with:
- Medications (oral, ocular, ear, injectable). Can also assist pet parents to succeed with administration on their own
- Vital-signs check (rectal or Mella thermometer)
- Subcutaneous fluids
- Insulin injections
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Urination and defecation support for post neuro injury or surgery (with vet involvement)
- Wound and injury management at home (post vet visit, with vet involvement)
- Post-surgical recovery and rehab at home (with vet involvement)
- Ear cleanings
- Anal gland expressions
- Health-related grooming (matted fur, potty path, etc.)
- Senior and hospice pet care support (alongside annual wellness exams with vet)
- Nail Trims (not suitable for all pets; may need prescribed sedatives)
- Microchip scanning and registration check
Important Policy Notes
In order to ensure the safe and successful provision of medical care, Eden Pet Care will often utilize necessary and harmless handing techniques/tools for services that involve direct handling or contact with a pet. This may include a secured leash, a gentle muzzle, treat distractions, or a towel/blanket wrap. Not only are these methods part of a Fear Free professional’s form of animal handling, but they also serve to important purpose of preventing a possible bite. It’s no surprise that some pets may want to tell a stranger not to handle or touch them in strange ways, and since they can’t do that with words, they may do it with their teeth. This does not make any pet a “bad” dog or cat. However, it does mean that Eden Pet Care will need to take precaution to prevent an accident, to ensure your pet gets the medical care it needs, and to reduce a pet’s stress. We want to promote positive associations with the process as much as possible. This important policy is still necessary for friendly pets and if a pet parent is helping with holding their pet.
One of Eden Pet Care’s purposes in providing n-home health services is to safely and effectively administer medical care to your pet with the goal of reducing the stress caused by the effort. Stress can worsen medical conditions or negatively impact the healing and recovery process. During these efforts, if Eden Pet Care determines that the physical handling of a pet causes a pet too much distress/discomfort and/or poses too great a bite risk, Eden Pet Care may have to discontinue the effort and will work with the pet parent to find another solution. This may involve a veterinary consultation, requesting sedatives from the veterinarian, or ultimately determining if a regular trip to the vet will actually be the easiest and safest option.
Lastly, in-home medical care services are meant to be based on your veterinarian’s recent recommendations or instructions for your pet’s diagnosed condition or illness. As such, Eden Pet Care will not be able to assist with most holistic/naturopathic medicine or any owner-diagnosed conditions. Eden Pet Care may require a review of your pet’s medical records or direct communication from your veterinarian in order to participate in complex medical care at home, and to properly adhere to state regulations in assisting pet owners with their pet’s health care.
Eden Pet Care will not give medical advice, make medical claims/diagnoses about your pet, or recommend treatment for your pet. However, Eden Pet Care may make suggestions and plans for the successful implementation of your veterinarian’s prescribed or recommended care in the home setting, and may provide general guidance on your pet’s routine home care.