Vetmobile Housecall Veterinary Service

About Vetmobile Housecall Veterinary Service

Vetmobile Housecall Veterinary Service is a mobile veterinary practice led by Dr. Kraus, serving Rochester and a wide network of southeast Minnesota communities including Chatfield, Eyota, Stewartville, Byron, Pine Island, Elgin, Douglas, and Oronoco. Rather than requiring pets and their families to travel to a clinic, Dr. Kraus brings full-spectrum care directly to the home — a model that reduces stress for animals and simplifies the logistics for their owners. The practice is built around the belief that comprehensive health care, from routine wellness visits through end-of-life support, should be available at every stage of a pet's life.

Vetmobile's end-of-life services are among the most detailed and compassionate available in the region. The practice offers veterinary hospice — which Dr. Kraus calls "pawspice" care — for pets diagnosed with incurable illness or whose owners have declined further curative treatment. This involves education about the disease process, pain recognition and control, fluid therapy, nutritional counseling, incontinence management, environmental modifications, and ongoing quality-of-life assessment. The practice operates Monday through Friday with appointment-based scheduling, and additional times may be available depending on the type of care needed.

Services Offered

Vetmobile Housecall Veterinary Service provides the following services to families in the Chatfield and Rochester, Minnesota area:

• In-Home Veterinary Hospice (Pawspice) Care
• At-Home Euthanasia
• Cremation Coordination (Private and Simple Options)
• Comprehensive Wellness Exams and Preventive Care
• Medical, Surgical, and Dental Services
• Pet Health Screening
• Online Pharmacy

What to Expect

Families facing end-of-life decisions can schedule a consultation with Dr. Kraus to discuss hospice options or euthanasia. When at-home euthanasia is chosen, Dr. Kraus uses a two-step process: a small sedative injection given under the skin that takes five to ten minutes to take effect — during which time owners can hold, pet, or feed their companion a favorite treat — followed by an intravenous barbiturate that brings a quick, painless, quiet passing. Aftercare options include home burial (where permitted by local ordinance) or cremation, with private cremation returning the pet's cremains to the family. Dr. Kraus emphasizes that the goal throughout is to provide a "friendly voice and gentle touch" in the privacy and comfort of home.