Is There a Doctor in the House?

Veterinarian Ben Shechter recently opened his own full-time clinic, House Pets Veterinary House Calls. But unlike a standard practice, his is on four wheels.

Shechter’s business is unique in that he travels directly to patients’ homes to provide routine exams.

“I love making house calls,” Shechter said. “I get to know people and their pets, and it’s easier for me to assess a pet in their natural environment because I can see where a cat’s litter box is located or how a dog is walked.

“I believe the animals are a lot calmer when they’re in their own home instead of in a clinic. A nervous dog, for instance, won't be aggressive if he’s at home.”

Shechter, a veterinarian since 1983, began making house calls part-time in 1994 while working for Cairo Animal Hospital in Highland Park. He opened his own business, based in Buffalo Grove, and began making house calls full-time in August 2011.

Focusing on dogs and cats, Shechter’s practice extends to the North Shore and most of the northwest suburbs. “Most of my clients have seen me for many years,” he said. “Other patients’ owners might call me because they can’t get transportation to an animal clinic.

“I think owners like it that I come to them. They don’t have to pack up their pets, drive to a clinic, and sit in a waiting room until I can see the pet. I save them time by coming to them.”

Shechter travels with a portable examination table and several boxes containing supplies, including a stethoscope, clippers, scissors, nail trimmers, ear cleaning solution, and equipment for laboratory work. He does not have an X-ray machine or ultrasound equipment because he does not want to bring radiation into his clients’ homes.

If Shechter feels a patient requires that level of assistance, he will refer the owner to a colleague. He also has hospital privileges at several animal hospitals, including Arnett Animal Hospital in Wheeling. In addition, Shechter can send laboratory tests to an off-site laboratory for analysis.

“My goal is to help pets within my capabilities,” he said. “I have a network of specialists that I can refer a patient to if I feel they need it.”

Shechter’s practice also provides flexibility in scheduling. For example, he has seen patients on a Sunday morning and late in the evening on weeknights. He typically allows at least an hour per patient, compared to 20 minutes per patient when he was in a more traditional clinic.

“I like the freedom in my schedule,” he said. “I can really get to know the patients and the owners, and I don’t feel so rushed to get through the appointment.”

The size and scope of his clinic also means that Shechter is responsible for tasks such as ordering supplies, scheduling appointments, and marketing his business. Shechter will also have an assistant come with him for an appointment, particularly if the patient is a cat.

Shechter said his practice was inspired by his own family doctor. “When I was growing up, the doctor would make house calls. I wanted to continue that tradition, but with pets."

“What I do is interesting, and I think it’s a nice atmosphere for everyone,” he said.

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