HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a mobile vet in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A mobile vet in Ireland costs €55–€160 per visit, typically around €90. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a mobile vet in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers mobile vet work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — diagnostic Services — mobile vets can perform diagnostic tests like blood work or imaging on-site, helping to quickly identify health issues.
- How does type of service required change the price?The cheapest option is cheapest for a reason. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does distance traveled change the price?Fuel and time on the road are built into the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does any additional treatments or medications needed change the price?It decides how much of the job can be done at once. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Mobile vet services generally do not include extensive surgical procedures or hospitalisation, as these require specialised facilities — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobile vet job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL cover, not just public liability — public liability pays if your dog bites a stranger; care, custody and control is what pays if your dog is injured, lost or killed while in their charge, and plenty of walkers carry only the first; How many dogs are walked at once, and whether yours is walked with strangers' dogs; Whether they are insured to drive your dog in their vehicle, and how it is secured; What happens if your dog is hurt or runs — the plan, and which vet; Keys: who holds one, how it is returned, what happens if it is lost, in writing; Two references from current clients, called not read.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers mobile vet work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — diagnostic Services — mobile vets can perform diagnostic tests like blood work or imaging on-site, helping to quickly identify health issues.
A good answer: The cheapest option is cheapest for a reason. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Fuel and time on the road are built into the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It decides how much of the job can be done at once. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Mobile vet services generally do not include extensive surgical procedures or hospitalisation, as these require specialised facilities — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobile vet job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability — palliative Care — for pets with chronic conditions or terminal illnesses, mobile vets can deliver palliative care, focusing on comfort and quality of life.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the mobile vet starts, and an itemised invoice after — emergency Services — in cases of sudden illness or injury, mobile vets can offer emergency services, providing immediate care without the stress of transporting your pet.
Getting the quote right
- Type of service required — the cheapest option is cheapest for a reason.
- Distance traveled — fuel and time on the road are built into the price.
- Any additional treatments or medications needed — it decides how much of the job can be done at once.
- Your pet's size — a bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: type of service required — the cheapest option is cheapest for a reason
- They will not talk about it: distance traveled — fuel and time on the road are built into the price
- They will not talk about it: any additional treatments or medications needed — it decides how much of the job can be done at once
- A price for the mobile vet before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the mobile vet has begun
What a mobile vet costs: €55–€160 per visit
The figures are for the job, per visit, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Routine check-ups and Vaccinations each carry their own band. Mobile Vet price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Mobile vets near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstType of service required — the cheapest option is cheapest for a reason — that is what the mobile vet is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneDistance traveled — fuel and time on the road are built into the price — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAny additional treatments or medications needed — it decides how much of the job can be done at once — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherYour pet's size — a bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the mobile vet is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, so it's best to discuss your needs upfront — it decides how much of the job can be done at once.
- Emergency Services
- In cases of sudden illness or injury, mobile vets can offer emergency services, providing immediate care without the stress of transporting your pet.
- Palliative Care
- For pets with chronic conditions or terminal illnesses, mobile vets can deliver palliative care, focusing on comfort and quality of life.
- Diagnostic Services
- Mobile vets can perform diagnostic tests like blood work or imaging on-site, helping to quickly identify health issues.
- Routine Check-ups
- Comprehensive health examinations to monitor your pet's overall wellbeing.
- Vaccinations
- Administering necessary vaccinations to protect your pet from various diseases.
- Minor Ailment Treatments
- Providing treatment for common health issues like skin irritations or ear infections.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a mobile vet: questions people ask
The cost of mobile vet services can vary based on factors such as the type of service required, the distance traveled, and any additional treatments or medications needed. Emergency services typically incur higher fees due to the urgent nature of care.
A typical mobile vet appointment can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the services provided. More complex procedures or multiple pets may require additional time.
While many mobile vets are general practitioners, some may have specialisations in areas like surgery or dermatology. If your pet has a specific condition, it may be beneficial to consult a qualified specialist.
Many mobile vets offer same-day or emergency services, but availability can vary. It's advisable to call ahead and check if they can accommodate your urgent needs.
Yes, many mobile vets allow you to book multiple related services in one visit, which can be more convenient and cost-effective. Discuss your needs with the vet when scheduling your appointment.
Mobile vet services generally do not include extensive surgical procedures or hospitalisation, as these require specialised facilities. Additionally, certain diagnostic tests may need to be conducted at a veterinary clinic.
MORE GUIDES