In the veterinary field, we know that most pets don’t enjoy their visits to the vet. No matter if it’s just a simple nail trim or something a little more serious; most pets will experience some level of stress at some point during their visit. As pet owners ourselves we understand this and as your trusted veterinary team we make sure to do our best to minimize your pets fear during their time with us.
Our team is always continuing their education to make sure we are giving our clients and patients the best. We do this through courses such as the Fear-Free Certification program. This program was created to teach veterinary professionals how we can help your companions feel less fearful during procedures or visits while getting the care they need.
What are some of the ways we can do this?
Fear Free restraint – During certain procedures it may be necessary for someone on your veterinary team to restrain your animal. Although this may be needed, it can still be stressful for your pet. By using Fear Free restraining techniques we are able to find a balance between performing the procedure and keeping your loved one comfortable.
Recognizing signs of Fear, Anxiety and Stress (FAS) – Learning how each animal displays signs that they are uncomfortable or stressed helps your veterinary team to know when they need to take a step back and try another approach.
Feliway diffusers – Feliway is a product that mimics a cat pheromones to help neutralize the space. Although it may not be noticeable to us, the smell of the dog that was in the clinic before you can be stressful to your cat. To help with this we have placed Feliway diffusers in each of the exam rooms as well as in our treatment area to help make your kitty feel more comfortable.
Continuing to grow and educate. Part of our Fear Free approach is to constantly continue to adapt our hospital to what our clients and patient’s needs. This also means educating our clients on the best way to keep their companions comfortable during transport to our clinic. We choose to adopt this program because when a pet is less stressed during their visit, the quality of medicine improves, and the experience is overall better for everyone involved.
If your pet is fearful of their vet visits, we would love to work with you to find the best Fear Free approach for your furry friend!
Written by Nikki Giles, VA
