These vets, groomers will treat your fur babies at home amid pandemic
Like most pet owners, chances are, you too have turned into your pet's personal groomer and first-aider since the beginning of quarantine.
While any fur parent would go all out for the love of their fur babies, nothing beats getting TLC from the experts. All the more when you can have it in the comfort of your home.
And yes, it is possible even with the threats of COVID-19 outside.
To get you and your floofs started, PhilSTAR L!fe catalogs some of the trusty veterinarians and groomers in Luzon who are just one call away from giving you expert pet care at home with (or without) the pandemic.
Vet ng Bayan by Doc Noel
For Dr. Noel Manalo, being a mobile veterinarian is not just a profession but also a vocation.
The 45-year-old animal MD has been hopping from city to city since 2010. Much of his 10-year experience as a mobile vet was spent servicing urban communities in Luzon. Hence the label “Vet ng Bayan.”
He explains in an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, “Kumbaga, combination siya ng business and charity. Mga malalaking shelter na kumukupkop sa stray dogs, ako rin ang tinatawagan. Tapos halimbawa, 'yong malalaking shelter, imbis na kunin ko [iyong bayad], dino-donate namin sa mga charities for hydrocephalus patients, na-paralyze, may cancer,” he says.
Grounded on his mission to foster animals in less privileged areas, Doc Noel ensures economical prices even to pet owners residing in private neighborhoods. He enumerates, “Home service, from P200 to P350. Personal fee, P250. Pero kapag malayuan, probinsya gaya iyong sa Tanay, P700. Halimbawa may galis ang aso, usually P500 to P850. Kahit ilang aso na po iyon.”
Doc Noel’s services include pet vaccination, consultation, minor surgery, laceration repair, anti-rabies, spraying, and neutering. All of which you can avail based on the scheduled trips that he regularly posts on his Facebook page, Vet ng Bayan by Doc Noel.
He adds, “Kung out of the way ka, ise-schedule namin. Kasi ang area namin, Bulacan to Quezon province po. Ganoon kalawak—buong Manila, sa Rizal, buong Cavite, Laguna. So napakalawak po.”
Doc Noel’s previous experience as a roving veterinarian geared him for the new normal in animal health care. And he is determined to keep going the distance now more than ever.
“Ang advantage po, mas nakaka-reach sa akin ang clients, mas nakakatulong tayo sa kanila. Kumbaga, ngayon may problema tayo sa transpo, paglabas-labas, malaking advantage rin na ako ang lumalapit sa kanila. Nakakatulong po tayo ng malaki sa pet owners at mga pets po,” he concludes.
To schedule an appointment with Doc Noel, contact 09165583130 or send a message here.
Dr. Gil Palaganas
Dr. Gil Palaganas’ expertise goes far beyond the borders of the Philippines.
The 59-year-old doctor has been treating animals since 1985. Out of his 35-year experience, Dr. Palaganas spent 15 years attending to patients in Saudi Arabia.
He was working as the vet of Pet Express in Festival Mall Alabng before Luzon was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
But no pandemic can stop the seasoned vet from fulfilling his duties. In April 2020, Parañaque-based Dr. Palaganas began rolling out his home services to furparents living at “any point of Luzon.” It consists of consultation, vaccination, dental prophylaxis, and operations, among many other services.
In an interview with PhilSTAR Life, Dr. Palaganas shares this feedback from one of his clients during ECQ: “Ang ganda ng surgery ko, nakakain na iyong pusa. Second try ko iyon na surgery kasi noong first time, lumabas iyong prolapse niya. Second time, [tinanggal] ko na. Sabi ko sa client, ‘Update mo ko, update mo ko minsan.’ Nagsend siya ng video, ganda. Ang ganda ng result.”
Dr. Palaganas’ adaptability to different working conditions explains his diverse client portfolio. “Iyong isa sinabi sa akin, Doc, may PUI [person under investigation] kami dito. Ang sabi ko sa client, ilabas nalang iyong aso doon sa area nila, outside. Sa waiting shed ako nagtreat ng aso nila,” he recounts.
He also assures pet owners that his services come at a reasonable price. He says, “Consultation is 350. Sa experience ko, natatakot sila na malaki ako magcharge. Low cost naman ako, hindi naman bonggang bonga. Sinasabi ko nalang, ako magaadjust sa inyo, walang problema. Happy lang ako sa ginagawa ko.”
To book Dr. Palaganas’ home services, send him a message on his Facebook page or mobile number 09369574439.
Vet’s on Call
Since the quarantine started, Vet’s on Call has been the go-to mobile vet clinic of many fur parents, including celebrities like Ai-Ai delas Alas, Matt Evans, Kiray Celis, Sarah Abad, and Sue Ramirez.
Despite having a star-studded clientele, the Sampaloc-based clinic assures all fur parents in Luzon that you can book them anytime without having to break the bank.
Home service fee and consultation cost P500 each. Blood test is P1,200, X-ray is P1,200, and ultrasound is P1,300. They also provide vaccines, such as anti-rabies (P350), 4-in-1 (P850), 5-in-1 (P450), 6-in-1 (P550), Kennel cough (P500), and proheart (P1,500). Cost of minor surgeries, meanwhile, varies per case.
Dr. Reign Zander Castro of Vet’s on Call tells PhilSTAR L!fe that their team is always up all day (and night) to cater to your fur babies’ needs. “ Minsan may miscellaneous calls, minsan may emergency, pinupuntahan pa rin namin that time. Meron lang pong extra payment like emergency fees. Iyon lang ang nababago,” he says.
While many homeowners are still apprehensive about outsiders entering their homes during pandemic, Vet’s on Call guarantees that their team goes on board infection-free. Dr. Castro explains, “Every month po kami nagpapa-swab test. Then every visit namin, nagdi-disinfect kami—alcohol, face shield—kumpleto naman. We make sure rin na negative iyong client na pinupuntahan namin. Tinatanong namin sila kung may exposure or anything na possible nahawaan sila ng corona. Tinatanong naman naming.”
To book an appointment, contact 09066930408 or click here.
Pam’s Pet Care Station
Quezon City folks need not look any further than Pam’s Pet Care Station to get their pets doctored. Located in Building 22, Malakas Street, Quezon, City, Pam’s Pet Care is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays, to attend to the medical needs of their fur friends within the borough.
Vet Josep Genesera is on-board for home services, including check-up (PHP300) and vaccinations: deworming (P200), anti-rabies (P300), and 5-in-1 (P400). Treatment comes with a home service fee worth P350 to P500, depending on your location.
To book an appointment, send a message to Dr. Genesera at 09285023161 or on Pam’s Pet Care Station Facebook page.
Dr. Jia Gonzales-Mendoza
Driven by her desire to provide accessible and affordable health care to animals, Dr. Jia Gonzales-Mendoza pivoted quickly amid the pandemic.The Bulacan-based vet had to postpone the launch of her new hospice, Bark ‘N Purr Grooming and Animal Clinic, when ECQ was implemented in Luzon on March 16, 2020. One week after, she already began offering home services to fur parents within Bulacan.
But Dr. Medoza didn’t just extend help to those within her arm’s reach. She went on to provide free online consultation to pet owners nationwide. At the same time, she created a Facebook group where her fellow animal doctors and pet owners can provide assistance to other fur parents in need during the lockdown.
“Ang ginawa ko nalang I made a group, Vet Clinics Open in the Philippines, na puwedeng makapag-inquire iyong naghahahanap ng home service. So nag-add ako ng mga kakilala kong doctors, naghanap ako ng services na puwede nilang tawagan. So puwede silang makapag-inquire doon sa group. Parang tulong nalang rin,” she recounts to PhilSTAR L!fe.
Dr. Mendoza launched her clinic Bark ‘N Purr Grooming and Animal Clinic in Santa Maria, Bulacan on Aug. 10. Despite having her hands full, she continues offering online consultation and home service to pet owners in Bulacan. “I do home service by appointment nalang, usually Sundays kasi Monday to Saturday nasa clinic ako," she clarifies.
To book an appointment, contact Dr. Mendoza at 09162471170 or on the Bark 'N Purr Facebook Page.
Pet Haven Mobile Veterinary Clinic
Admit it: cutting your doggo's hair by yourself can be scary. It can result in an uneven haircut or worse, scrapes and scratches on your pooch's delicate skin.
Luckily, Pet Haven Mobile Veterinary Clinic is just one call away if you need expert pet grooming treatment anywhere in Metro Manila. The Quezon City-based clinic offers a complete package of bath, haircut, nail clipping, and ear and anal gland cleaning for as low as P400. They also give flea and tick medications for the same price.
If you want to book their service, call at least one day before your preferred appointment date at 3383-7833, 09672379475, or 09532906447. You may also drop a message at Pet Haven Kamias on Facebook.
VetSaver Pet Center
VetSaver Pet Center is on a roll even during the pandemic. The grooming center was quick to equip each of its branches—located in Antipolo, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, and Cavite—with trucks specially designed for your doggo's grooming needs.
Rates vary per dog breed. Small dogs are priced at P550, medium at P650, large at P800, and extra-large at P900. To avail of their services, book one week in advance through their hotline 09162490099 or Facebook page here.
Grooming Express
Grooming Express is based in Novaliches and caters mostly to puppers within Quezon City. Their rates range from P400 to P650 depending on the size of your dog.
They also offer home service to pet owners outside Quezon City, but with a minimum number of canines: three for residents of Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Cainta, and Montalban, and two dogs for those residing in San Mateo, Manila, Malinta, Valenzuela, and Caloocan.
To book an appointment, call at least one day in advance at 09236222189, 09263428445, or send a message to Grooming Express home service on Facebook.
3J Home Service Pet Grooming
East folks can hit up 3J Home Service Pet Grooming for quality and affordable treatment for their doggos. Owned by couple Gerald Oval and Yvonne Tugunon, the mobile grooming center prims fur babies living in Marikina, Cainta, Taytay, Angono, and other municipalities in Rizal.
Grooming costs P400 for small breeds, P500 for medium breeds, and P600 to P700 for large breeds.
The number of dogs that they serve in a day range from five to as much as 32 per pet owner. "May 32 pero 'pag yung ganun, pinapakyaw namin ibig sabihin 2 days namin gagawin," Yvonne tells PhilSTAR L!fe.
She recommends booking them for the Christmas season, as they have a "Pamasko December Promo" where you can get their services at a bargain. "P250 sa small, P300 sa medium, P300 sa large [dogs]," she says.
You can get in touch with Yvonne at 09075205766 or through their Facebook page here.
Banner image from Emigil Sairaval Salaganap, Kiray Celis, and Pet Haven Mobile Veterinary Clinic on Facebook.