Is your pet, like many, one that feels anxious coming to the vet? We do our best to help your critters feel at ease…but we know, stepping into our clinic is stepping outside the comfort zone for a lot of animals. At our hospital, we are committed to fear-free handling techniques, and we are a certified Cat Friendly Practice. In addition, the owners’ role in making the visit go smoothly is critical and below are some steps that are sure to help.

Before your visit:
Teach your pet to feel familiar with tools/accessories well before appointment day. Keep your cat’s carrier out and open in the house – add a comfy blanket, occasionally toss in some treats. If it’s ONLY ever dragged out (and maybe cobweb-covered?) just for vet visits, your cat will NOT be thrilled! Same goes for harnesses, basket muzzles, gentle leader collars, etc. – if they are only associated with the vet, their use will heighten your pet’s level of worry. Check out www.muzzleupproject.com for pointers for helping your pup feel more comfortable wearing a muzzle.

Consider using a pheromone product before/during your pet’s appointment. Feliway (for cats) and Thunder Ease (for dogs) make wipes, sprays, and collars you can use with your pets for visits (and other stressful events!) to help them feel more relaxed.

During your visit:
First, check your own temperature – if you’ve had a few tough vet appointments in the past, your stress can trickle down to your pets – deep breaths, people! Next, bring along any special comfort items (toy, blankie, treats). You may have noticed we’re BIG on treats here, but you know what your pet loves the most…bring it along!

What if we inform you that your pet is too stressed to complete needed procedures? We might need to provide sedation or just pause to try again on a different day. I can promise you, this is NOT a negative judgement on you or your pet. If we are making this recommendation, it is because we care deeply about your pet’s safety and emotional well-being (that whole “first do no harm” thing). If your pet feels super-stressed, sometimes the best option is to try again after having some medication…more on this in a moment.

After your visit:
Did things go well? Awesome! Do all those things again next time!

But what if they didn’t?  Let’s talk.  We are more than happy to discuss ways to help appointments go better in the future.  We might suggest “PVP” (Pre Visit Pharmaceuticals) for your next vet visit. That could include medication for nausea (cats and dogs are often not at their best if they roll into exams just having had terrible car sickness!). It could include medications for anxiety…you might be surprised to know that MANY veterinary patients take some meds before appointments. With medications given in advance, your pet will hopefully feel more relaxed and have a more peaceful, positive experience!

Ultimately, we are all on the same team when it comes to reducing exam anxiety for your pet. We want your pet to love seeing us as much as we love seeing them! Please reach out if you have questions for how we can help that to happen.