It’s all fun and games when you’re walking down the street until your pup realizes you’re taking him to the vet. Then–if your dog is anything like ours–he’ll start to shake. He’ll cry a bit (he’d be so embarrassed to know we were sharing this info). And we don’t blame him–going to the vet can be a super scary experience. Wouldn’t it be easier if the vet came to you? At least then, you wouldn’t have to coax your dog out from under the exam table.

Turns out, there are vets that will do just that. . . and they can treat almost everything that an in-office vet can. We spoke with Karan Aneja, co-founder and CEO at Vetted, a major in-home veterinary company in the U.S., who explained five common reasons pet parents contact them.

Tummy troubles

When your dog is having stomach issues (vomiting, diarrhea), the last thing they want you to do is put them in the car or drag them to the vet. During an at-home examination, a vet can conduct a fecal test (to rule out parasites) and offer advice on what might be causing the indigestion. Often, the owner is switching food too quickly or the pup is sneaking table scraps. If testing reveals something more serious, the vet will recommend appropriate treatment or medication.

Itchy skin

Does this sound like your inner monologue when your pup can’t stop scratching? ‘OMG, does he have fleas? Could it be a food allergy? I don’t have time to deal with this!’ Instead of taking off work for an in-office sick appointment at the vet, why not have a vet swing by and do a flea assessment, run a cytology for lesions, and check for allergies? In-home vets are happy to make suggestions for how to alleviate the itching, such as trying an elimination diet, Aneja says.

Ear infection

You noticed the telltale signs: he’s scratching his ear, he’s dragging it on the floor, it’s a bit . . . smelly. Instead of dragging him back again to the vet, an at-home vet visit can help resolve the issue. “Food allergies or environmental allergies can contribute to ear infections, or they can be caused by yeast or bacteria,” says Benjamin Rosnick, one of Vetted’s most experienced veterinarians.. “We do a skin cytology to see if something specific is causing it. We may run allergy panels and suggest food trials,” he explains. Vetted vets leave pet owners with a few days of corrective medication, then overnight the rest of their prescription directly to their homes.

Senior wellness exams

Your older dog’s perfect day involves eating, taking a snooze on the couch, and wandering lazily around the block. A trip to the vet isn’t exactly a fun activity these days. An in-home vet makes it easy for senior pets to be examined because there’s no long, bumpy car ride or the anxiety of a packed waiting room. During senior wellness exams, house call vets check to make sure your pup’s kidneys are functioning properly, that his liver looks good, that his joints are still functional, and that there’s no sign of infection. Let him go back to sleep while you and the vet chat about his changing dietary needs and the supplements he should probably start taking to make sure he stays healthy for as long as possible.

Thanks to our friends at Vetted for their help on this article. Want to try a an ultra-convenient in-home exam? Use promo code OLLIEVIP to get your first exam fee totally FREE from Vetted through February 28, 2019.