Happy Visits!

Some pets are really intimidated by the vet's office, here are some ways we can help! (Image Source)

It is no secret that many pets do not like coming to the veterinary clinic. We joke sometimes saying they have white coat syndrome, but this can actually be quite serious. It is sometimes the reason many of our pets (especially cats) do not get the routine care they need. Owners begin to feel bad that their pets are so scared and stressed when they come to the clinic, so many times it is avoided all together. While there are options in some areas for house visits or mobile veterinary services, that is not always possible. So what can be done to help our pets? One option is considering happy visits!

We can't blame our pets for being scared, but we can help make veterinary visits a little less stressful (Image Source)

What is a happy visit? A happy visit is when your pet comes in and doesn't have anything painful or scary done to it. Maybe we give some treats, maybe we play with a favorite toy. Whatever your pet likes we make that happen at the clinic. Depending on your pets stress level, this will determine how involved the visits need to be. For example, if your pet is stressed before it even gets in the car, we need to work on desensitizing your pet to the car ride (or carrier for cats). Leaving the carrier out year round so your cat is used to it can make travel much easier. You can also offer treats and toss toys in there throughout the year so it is not a scary place. If your dog is scared of the car, reward them every time they go near it, maybe they get half of their meal near the car, and slowly work your way up to just sitting in the car and getting back out. Then over time (and each pet is different so this could be weeks or months) you start driving to different places and rewarding them.

Treats and special rewards can help make visits a little less stressful! (Image Source)

Sometimes our pets may need a little more help than just treats and rewards. There are products available that can help! Phermone sprays such as Feliway and Adaptil can help calm anxious pets when used appropriately. There are also supplements, such as Composure Pro, that help relax your pet without sedating them or having any harmful side effects. Sometimes we need to do a combination of therapies to help calm anxious pets. It is important to remember that patience and hard work pay off! Definitely ask your veterinarian for their recommendations.

When pets are more relaxed, it makes everyone happy! (Image Source)

Once the pet gets to the clinic we may start small just offering treats and letting them leave. Or maybe getting them on the scale is a challenge, so we work on treats and petting or special rewards near the scale. Overtime maybe we have them visit with the doctor or technician so they get used to strangers handling them. This will help when they need to come in for a medical appointment to make the clinic less intimidating.

This pug seems ok with his examination! (Image Source)

It is important to know what motivates your pet. In some instances it may not be food but rather play or exploration. We have one special kitten that didn't seem too interested in treats, but loved his toys. So with every nail trim we set aside time for him to play/ explore our exam rooms. While he may never love coming to the clinic and getting vaccines, he is definitely not intimidated and not fighting his owners to get here. That is a win-win for everyone.

While not all patients will be this relaxed, we can definitely make them more comfortable with each visit! (Image Source)

Although happy visits may take a little bit of time and commitment, they will reap huge rewards for your pet in the future. If you are stopping in to pick up their monthly flea/ heartworm or just driving by we always encourage you to stop in with your pet, in hopes of making their next visit less stressful.