Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Shotts.
Hi Nathan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a veterinarian by training and, at heart, someone who has always wanted to make high-quality veterinary care more accessible. I graduated from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and have been practicing in the Houston area since 2014. Early in my career, I spent many years in emergency and critical care, eventually serving as the head of the emergency department at a large specialty hospital. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for medicine at its most intense — but it also showed me how many emergencies could have been prevented with earlier, routine care.
Over time, I kept seeing the same challenges for pet owners: rising costs, long wait times, stressed pets, and logistical barriers like transportation or busy schedules. Many people genuinely wanted to do the right thing for their pets but found the traditional clinic model overwhelming or unaffordable. That disconnect stuck with me.
Mobile Pet Vax was created to solve that problem. I wanted to build a model focused on preventative care that was convenient, low-stress for pets, and financially accessible for families. By bringing veterinary care directly to people’s homes, we remove many of the obstacles that prevent pets from getting consistent care — no crowded waiting rooms, no car anxiety, and no taking hours off work.
Today, Mobile Pet Vax serves the Greater Houston area with a focus on wellness, vaccinations, and preventative medicine. We operate at high volume and low overhead so we can keep prices reasonable without compromising medical standards. My goal has always been simple: keep pets healthier for longer by making routine veterinary care easier to say “yes” to.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most healthcare startups, especially one built from scratch, there was a steep learning curve moving from being solely a clinician to also running a business. I had to learn operations, staffing, logistics, and scaling — often simultaneously.
COVID was a major turning point. Demand for veterinary care surged as pet ownership increased, while the industry faced staffing shortages, burnout, supply chain issues, and reduced appointment availability. Mobile Pet Vax experienced rapid growth during this time, but that growth came with significant challenges. We had to scale carefully, maintain medical quality, protect our team, and adapt quickly to a rapidly changing landscape.
COVID also fundamentally changed veterinary medicine. It exposed how limited access to care can be and accelerated the need for alternative delivery models. Mobile care became more widely accepted, but we still had to educate clients that high-quality medicine isn’t tied to a building — it’s tied to experience and standards.
Those challenges shaped how we operate today. They pushed us to build efficient systems, focus on preventative care, and create a model that’s sustainable for both pets and the people caring for them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Mobile Pet Vax is a mobile veterinary practice focused on preventative and wellness care for dogs and cats throughout the Greater Houston area. We provide at-home exams, vaccinations, diagnostics, and routine preventative services, with the goal of keeping pets healthy and catching problems early — before they become emergencies.
My background is in emergency and critical care, which strongly influences how I practice today. Having seen firsthand how devastating — and often preventable — many emergency situations can be, I place a heavy emphasis on education, early intervention, and realistic care plans that pet owners can actually follow. While we aren’t an emergency hospital, that experience allows me to practice preventative medicine with a strong medical foundation and a proactive mindset.
What we’re most known for is making veterinary care easier to access. By going directly to our clients’ homes, we eliminate many of the biggest barriers to care: transportation challenges, long wait times, stressed pets, and rising costs. We operate at high efficiency and low overhead, which allows us to keep prices reasonable without sacrificing medical standards.
What I’m most proud of is the impact this model has on pets and their families. We regularly care for animals who might otherwise go without routine veterinary attention due to cost, anxiety, or logistical challenges. Seeing pets stay healthier longer — and owners feel supported rather than overwhelmed — is incredibly rewarding.
What sets Mobile Pet Vax apart is the combination of experience, efficiency, and intention. We’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We’ve built a focused, sustainable model centered on preventative care, compassion, and accessibility — and we do it at a high level. That clarity of purpose is what allows us to serve a large community while maintaining trust and quality.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I try to keep things practical and focused on continuous improvement rather than chasing every new tool or trend. In veterinary medicine, staying current is essential, so I rely heavily on continuing education resources, clinical journals, and professional forums to keep up with best practices and emerging standards of care.
From a business and leadership standpoint, I’ve found a lot of value in books and podcasts that focus on systems, decision-making, and sustainability. *The E-Myth Revisited* really shaped how I think about building processes that allow a business to scale without burning people out. I also appreciate content around leadership and organizational health, because running a veterinary business is just as much about supporting your team as it is about medical care.
On a day-to-day level, tools that help with organization and efficiency — scheduling systems, route planning, and task management — are essential in a mobile practice. When your clinic is literally on the road, small operational improvements make a big difference.
Outside of work, I’m intentional about maintaining balance. Spending time with family, getting outdoors, and disconnecting when possible are important for longevity in this profession. Veterinary medicine can be emotionally demanding, and taking care of yourself is a prerequisite for taking good care of others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mobilepetvax.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mobilepetvax/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mobilevethouston
Image Credits
Wael Esmair, Mosaic Media
