Reducing stress and fear of veterinary visits!

Jan 1

Preparing for veterinary visits:

When booking a consultation, speak with your veterinary team to see how they can best support you and your pet to prevent them from becoming distressed and overwhelmed, which could lead to them displaying undesired behaviours.

Book the first consultation of the block to prevent your pet from having to wait for the consultation or during quieter times, and request extra time/a double appointment to provide your pet with breaks.
You could call ahead before arriving to ensure that your veterinary team are running on time. I would recommend that you do this out of your pet’s sight/hearing, or they may begin to associate phone calls with the vets.
Speak with your veterinarian about whether situational anxiolytic medication or calming supplements may be suitable or beneficial for your pet (if they are visiting the vets for a visit during their training, they may benefit from a medication that prevents memory formation, so they do not remember any unpleasant experiences or procedures). It is, however, important to remember that these medications are not beneficial when you are trying to train your pet to be comfortable with the veterinary practice, as they may not create positive memories/associations with memory-blocking medications. These medications often need to be administered a couple of hours before travel/veterinary visits.
Consider taking your pet to one veterinary branch for unpleasant experiences (preferably the one they are already uncomfortable with) and begin your positive training with another branch (if possible).
Gather any equipment/muzzles/records/high-value treats ahead of your visit and place them in the car the day before so you are ready; this will reduce your stress, prevent rushing and reduce the risk of your pet making associations with the items.
Ensure that your pet has had the opportunity to go to the toilet before their visit, since this could cause them to feel stressed (unless samples are required).
Avoid communicating any key words to family members in the presence of your pet that they may associate with going to the vets, e.g., ‘I am taking Bentley/Tiggy to the vets’.
Consider a pet box that opens from the front and from above, one where the base can be slid out, or one that can be easily dismantled; this will reduce stress when removing your pet from their carrier.
Consider leaving pet boxes out in your home so they become a comfortable sleeping site and do not just come out when veterinary visits are impending.
Consider a home visit for your pet’s examination if possible (not all treatment will be able to be performed at home and visits to the practice may be required in some circumstances).

Travelling to the veterinary clinic:

Ensure that your pet is comfortable travelling in the car. If dogs are reluctant to jump into the car or your pet shows signs of stress/nausea when travelling, please get in contact or speak with your veterinarian for more advice.

Ensure that travelling equipment such as dog harnesses/crates/pet seats/boxes are secure to prevent movement which could cause your dog to feel worried or unsafe. Place cat boxes on the floor behind your seat.
Provide soft, padded bedding in the crate/car/box to ensure your pet’s comfort during travel. I like Vetbed, which can be ordered online for a reasonable price. It is important to be sure that your pet does not eat any items left with them in the car/box/crate.
Cover kennels/boxes/crates with blankets to reduce visual stimuli (for dogs’s this should also be done for normal travel for walks, so that your dog does not learn that it is associated with veterinary visits.
Give yourself ample time to get to the veterinary clinic, drive slowly and avoid bumps or sudden braking where possible.
Spray blankets with pheromones such as Adaptil Calm for dogs or Feliway for cats, or with calming scents such as Pet Remedy. If using Adaptil or Feliway, they should be sprayed approximately 15-30 minutes before travel to allow the alcohol in the product to disperse.
You could offer your pet one of your jumpers with your scent or a favourite toy to help them feel more secure.
Avoid playing music/the radio too loudly; animals have sensitive hearing, and this can cause them to feel stressed.
Where possible, avoid travelling on very hot days or on days with heavy rain. Keeping an eye on the weather forecast can be helpful, although I appreciate that this is not always practical. Excessive heat can cause animals to feel uncomfortable increasing the risk of behavioural complaints and increases the risk of heat stroke. Rain amplifies sound, which can be a trigger to animals with their sensitive hearing, and windscreen wipers may also be triggering to some pets.
If safe to do so and your pet does not suffer from travel sickness, offer your pet something safe to chew/lick whilst travelling, e.g., a long-lasting chew covered in turkey paste/peanut butter for dogs or a lick-e-mat for cats. Skip this step and do not feed your pet if they are having a procedure that requires them to be starved.
If possible, bring their companions too; this is particularly beneficial for our small exotic pets who are closely bonded.

Arriving at the veterinary clinic:

If everything goes to plan, this step should be very short.

Avoid parking directly outside the practice; if possible, park with cars or blockades in the way to avoid visual/auditory stimuli and high footfall of people/dogs passing the car.
Alert the veterinary team that you have arrived, but that you will be waiting outside in the car; for dogs, you could take them for a short walk if your veterinary team is running behind and happy for you to do this.
Keep your pet in the car so that they do not become stressed in the waiting room. There are lots of strange smells, sounds, and visuals that can cause pets to become overexcited or stressed.
If you have to enter the waiting room, sit away from any doors and behind blockades to achieve space and keep cats up high/off the floor.
For dogs, if possible and safe for your veterinarian and your pet, ask your veterinary team to complete minor assessments in the car where they feel secure.
If your practice has a door directly into the consulting room, it may be beneficial to ask your veterinarian to use this as an alternative to the front door and waiting room.
Avoid people interacting with or touching your pet unless necessary or if they enjoy it.

The examination:

Request extra time for examinations to allow your pet breaks.

If possible, request a larger consulting room to provide your pet with space to move away if they are feeling worried.
Be your pet’s advocate. If you feel they need a break and the procedure is not urgent, ask your veterinarian to stop.
Focus on the important/necessary procedures/examinations – the rest is a bonus; evaluate wants vs needs.

If your pet struggles with the examination or medical treatments and you would like to discuss a training plan to help your pet feel more comfortable with visiting the veterinary clinic, please get in contact for more advice. Becka can help with the following:

Training your pet to feel more comfortable with the administration of medications (injections/ear drops/eye drops/oral medications, etc)
Training your pet to feel more comfortable with touch/examinations/equipment
Training your pet to consent to handling/procedures
Training your pet to feel more comfortable with their pet carrier
Training your pet to feel more comfortable with the veterinary team and practice
Management techniques, if you do not wish to go down the training route

Make it one of your New Year’s resolutions to support your pet with veterinary visits this year.