Home Visits / Mobile Scanning
I no longer offer a mobile scanning service or carry out home visits.
My scan room has been specially arranged to provide a calm, safe and comfortable environment for both you and your bitch, while allowing me to obtain the clearest possible scan. In their own homes, dogs may be more distracted, excitable or protective of their surroundings. This can make scanning more difficult, stressful and potentially less accurate.
Private scanning room
All my professional equipment is set up correctly and ready for use, including a high-quality ultrasound machine connected to an additional monitor so that you can clearly watch the scan. The room has suitable lighting and controlled conditions to help produce the clearest images possible. I also have immediate access to any additional equipment that may be required.
Comfort and safety
During home visits, scans often have to be performed on the floor, meaning that both the owner and scanner may need to kneel or sit on the ground. Many dogs are also less likely to remain still in their own surroundings.
Appointments at my premises allow me to maintain a high standard service with fewer interruptions and distractions and also help your bitch remain calm throughout the appointment.
Mobile appointments involve additional travel, fuel, setup time and the repeated transportation of delicate scanning equipment. Keeping the equipment safely installed helps protect it and ensures it is always ready to provide the best possible images. It is also worth considering the time involved in a mobile appointment. A journey of just 30 minutes each way means an additional hour of travelling for a scan that would normally take around 20–30 minutes. During that travelling time, I could be seeing other clients at my premises. While travelling 20–30 minutes to attend an appointment may sometimes seem a long way for some, providing the same service as a home visit requires me to make that journey in both directions, as well as allowing additional time for setting up and packing away the equipment. For this reason, a mobile scanning service would inevitably need to be priced considerably higher than an appointment at my premises.
I appreciate that some owners are concerned that travelling may cause their bitch unnecessary stress if they are not used to the car, particularly during pregnancy. However, for most dogs a short car journey is unlikely to cause any problems, and appointments at my premises are quiet and private, with no waiting room or other animals present. In fact, many dogs settle better for their scan away from their own home environment, where there are often more distractions.
If your bitch has a medical condition or you have specific concerns about whether she is fit to travel, you should always seek advice from your veterinary surgeon.
After-whelping checks
After-whelping checks are also carried out at my premises. Introducing a stranger into the home shortly after a bitch has given birth can sometimes cause unnecessary stress or anxiety for both mum and her puppies. My priority is always the comfort, welfare and safety of your bitch while providing the best-quality service possible. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Why control and safety matter
The photograph below shows an injury caused when a dog was not kept under full control during a scan. On this occasion I was fortunate that only my arm was injured—it could easily have been my face. For the safety of your pet, yourself and me, dogs must remain under proper control throughout the appointment.
