VanVet Mobile Pet Care
Please note: We are unable to accept new clients at this time.
CARING COMPASSIONATE COMFORTABLE
Mobile Vet Serving Allendale Hudsonville Jenison Zeeland Marne
Our Team
Dr. Kim Ernst, DVM, and Troy Ernst
Dr. Kimberly Van Wulfen Ernst has integrated her love of animals, her compassion for people, and her education (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine with High Honor and Masters Degree in Veterinary Anatomy from Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine) during her 20+ years as a small animal veterinarian.
Dr. Kim's husband, Troy, is a Forensic Scientist with the Michigan State Police as well as the Business Manager of VanVet Mobile. Their family includes three human children (Elijah, Anna, and Leah), two Labradors (KeyKey and Clover), a golden retriever (Abby), and two orange cats (Mango and Tango). The Ernst family enjoys camping, card games, movies, running, and yard games.
Amanda VandenBosch
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Amanda, inspired by her passion for helping animals and people, earned her degree and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) in 2013. After working in a clinical setting since graduation, she was ready for a new veterinary adventure. Her unique skills and experience have equipped her to handle the many details of providing care in settings more suited to her patients' comfort. In addition, she is Fear Free certified and very excited to expand her knowledge in ultrasound scanning.
Amanda and her husband, Cody, enjoy spending time outside with their lab/husky mix, Gus. Traveling to enjoy God's creation is one activity they do not take for granted and try to experience a few times each year.
Elijah Ernst
Veterinary Assistant
Our Story
After many years in veterinary medicine, having worked with dozens of other talented veterinary professionals at several excellent area practices, Dr. Kim and Amanda recognized a need for a different model of vet care.
VanVet Mobile Pet Care began with the desire to provide excellent medical care to pets...without the stress incurred from traditional veterinary practice. "Going to the vet" induces anxiety in dogs, cats, and their people. We bring care to you, where we can examine and provide care inside your home, in your yard, or within our van.
"VanVet" is a name that could stand on its own, since the vet will respond in the van, but it is more than that. It is also a recognition of the Dutch heritage in the west Michigan area and of Dr. Kim's maiden name (Van Wulfen) and Amanda's last name (VandenBosch). So you can see that VanVet Mobile Pet Care is more about the people and animals than the vehicle!
We are all given just 24 hours in a day, and we recognize the need for balance in life. That is why we are not a full-time practice; instead, we will see patients on a limited number of days per week, allowing us to also be there for our spouses, families, churches, and friends. We will arrange to see your pets when we are able to care well for them in the time that we have, and we will provide you with medical records for each visit in case your pets need to go to another place at another time.
Mobile veterinary care is ideal for many pets, many owners, and many procedures, but it is unable to offer everything that is available at a brick-and-mortar veterinary hospital. At this time, we offer all of the services listed here, but we are not equipped for radiology (X-rays), invasive surgery, or specialized or emergency care. However, we are equipped to help you find this care if your furry family needs it!
Emergency services are available at:
Animal Emergency Hospital (on Plainfield NE, phone 616-361-9911)
BluePearl Pet Hospital (on Michigan St NE, phone 616-284-5300)
Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital (in Byron Center, phone 616-537-1402)
Our Services
Our primary service area includes Allendale, Hudsonville, Jenison, Zeeland, and Marne.
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House call
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Pet exams
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Vaccinations
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Puppy/kitten examinations
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Ear and skin care
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Urinary issues
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Minor injury/wound care
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Blood work
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Tonometry (eye pressures)
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Hospice care
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Food/medication delivery
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Euthanasia (see Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery's website for aftercare options.)
Our Van
Our van is a Ram Promaster 2500 that was customized into a mobile veterinary clinic by Drifter Vans. Our patients love the space! Dr. Kim and Amanda have stocked it full of the necessary supplies and tools to meet your pets' needs. Check out the surprise reveal and see a video of the interior of our van here!
Questions...Answers
What should I expect during a visit?
Much less stress! Pets are much more at ease in their own home or yard.
For many appointments, Dr. Kim and Amanda will drive to your house to examine and treat your pets either outside or in your home. Most of these visits will take longer than a typical visit to the vet, since one of our priorities is to get a more complete picture of what is going on with your pet's health. We will discuss with you current conditions and medications, potential treatments, and other considerations to help you and your pet enjoy your life together!
Can Dr. Kim be my full-time vet?
Veterinary medicine has become more like human medicine, with general practitioners and specialists that work together to provide the best care for your pets. Mobile clinics like VanVet Mobile can provide much of the medical care, but are limited in some areas. In these situations, Dr. Kim would refer you to other clinics or to specialists. There also will be times when Dr. Kim is not able to see all of our furry friends that need care, so it is important that you maintain a relationship with a brick-and-mortar veterinary clinic. Our record-keeping is easily shared with other veterinarians in order to keep them informed of each situation.
My pet already saw a vet this year. Can Dr. Kim prescribe medication for my pet, without an exam?
Veterinarians are federally required to have a valid relationship with their clients and patients. Dr. Kim needs to have personally examined your pet and communicated with you in order to recommend and perform treatments, including prescribing medications. This helps ensure the safety of your pet!
How can I pay for your services?
We offer a variety of payment methods, including personal checks, credit cards, and Venmo. Payments are collected at the time of service.
Request an Appointment
Our hands are full, so we can only schedule current clients at this time. To request an appointment (or to contact us for any other reason), please fill out this form. Using this form (or emailing us if we have already seen your pet) is the optimal method of reaching us. Please note that we are a part-time mobile veterinary practice with limited staff, so we often have no one immediately available to reply to emails. The days that we typically are not available for appointments and email responses are Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you have an urgent or emergency need, call Animal Emergency Hospital (Grand Rapids; 616-361-9911) or BluePearl Pet Hospital (Grand Rapids; 616-284-5300) or Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital (Byron Center; 616-537-1402).