What does Fear Free mean?
As much as we would like to make your pet’s visits completely free of fear, we know that’s not possible. However, being a fear-free certified practice means that the entire team is trained to recognize the signs of Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) in your pets, and they are aware of the various methods that can be used to help reduce that fear. This allows us to support both your pet’s physical and emotional health and well-being. For more information and tips on how you can help, check out FearFree Happy Homes.
How is Fear Free different?
We use several strategies to reduce your pet’s fear, anxiety, and stress during their visits.
- Before you even walk in the door, you’ll notice signs asking you to call first – that’s so we can make sure other pets aren’t in the lobby at the same time as yours. Even if your dog or cat loves meeting new friends, not everyone’s pet is as eager to socialize with a stranger.
- We play calming music and use pheromone diffusers (Feliway and ThunderEase) that are shown by research to help soothe pets.
- Our staff is trained to notice more subtle signs of fear, anxiety, and stress so that they can adjust how they interact with your pet to make them more comfortable.
- When possible, we utilize lots of yummy treats to make your pet’s visit a more positive experience. Who doesn’t love a nice snack?
- We keep your pet with the person who makes them feel safe, you! We perform our exams, blood draws, and vaccinations right in the room.
- We may prescribe medication to help our more anxious pets feel more comfortable. Even the best environment won’t help if your pet’s level of fear, anxiety, and stress is too high. Medication helps to bring that level down enough that they can appreciate the extra perks.
Does Fear Free cost more?
Not necessarily. We don’t charge more for Fear Free exams or treatments, but some pets will benefit from additional care, such as medications, to help them feel more comfortable. If your pet needs additional care, we’ll discuss your options and costs with you before proceeding.
Will my appointment be longer?
Possibly – we typically schedule our appointments for 30 minutes to allow your pet time to get comfortable with us for treatment and to answer any questions you may have. For some pets, the level of anxiety is so high that sedating them for the exam is less stressful for them. We only do this with your permission. These visits can take longer, and you are welcome to stay with your pet or come back to get them at your convenience.
What should I bring?
We will have a variety of goodies, but if your pet has a favorite treat, please bring some with you. If your pet has dietary restrictions, it is very helpful if you can bring snacks that they like and are able to eat.
Consider bringing items your pet finds comforting and familiar. For example, if your pet has a favorite blanket, they may appreciate having it in their crate during travel. If you’ve trained your pet to use anything specific for cooperative care, such as a rug, bowl, or toy, you’ll want to bring that with you as well. Keep in mind that pets respond differently in different situations, so something they really enjoy at home could be completely ignored while they’re here. And always supervise your pet, even with familiar items – it’s not unusual for pets to chew and destroy items when they are stressed, creating potential health hazards for themselves, such as choking or breaking a tooth.
What happens if my pet is too scared for treatment? Will I have to pay another exam fee?
The doctor will discuss options with you if we’re not able to get your pet comfortable enough for treatment without undue fear, anxiety, and stress. In some cases, that may mean prescribing medications for your pet to take before their appointments to help them be more comfortable, and then rescheduling your pet’s treatment. Whether or not there are any additional costs will depend on the situation. We will discuss costs with you before proceeding.
Is it safe to medicate my pet for veterinary visits? Will my pet always need medications? What about interactions with other medications?
The medications we prescribe are usually well tolerated. The doctor will discuss any risks and potential interactions with other medications with you before proceeding. It’s hard to say whether or not your pet will always need medications, as each pet is different. Some pets respond well to our Fear Free approach and even learn to enjoy their visits over time, while other pets remain fearful throughout their lives.
Why should my pet be hungry?
We suggest bringing your pet when they are a little hungry to make the treats we provide more enjoyable, similar to how you will enjoy a meal out more if you are hungry than if you had just eaten an hour ago. If your pet needs to eat for medical reasons, please go ahead and feed them!
What if my pet doesn’t like treats?
Most pets love our treats, but sometimes they like other things, like praise or pets more, and we are happy to adapt accordingly! That said, it’s very common for pets not to want treats when they aren’t feeling well or when they’re experiencing fear, anxiety, and stress, so we may discuss some of these possibilities with you to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help your pet feel their best.
Can I help calm my pet during exams and treatment?
We do our best to keep you and your pet together as much as possible. The extent to which you’ll be able to help calm your pet will really depend on the situation, though. Sometimes, that may look like practicing any cooperative care you’ve taught your pet. While other times it may be providing treats, pets, and/or talking soothingly to them. We’re always happy to discuss how we can work together to best support your pet!
What is cooperative care?
Cooperative care involves training your pet to be an active and willing participant in their grooming and veterinary care. This training not only helps to desensitize your pet to receiving care, but also allows them to position themselves for care and provides a way for your pet to let you know if they are comfortable proceeding or not. They can choose “no,” which means they don’t have to resort to aggression to avoid procedures they are uncomfortable with.
How do I teach my pet cooperative care?
Deb Jones has free resources available on her YouTube channel and in her Facebook group.
How does reducing my pet’s stress improve their health? Does it help them heal better/faster?
Reducing your pet’s stress helps their physical health in a myriad of ways. Fear, anxiety, and stress can affect many things that make it more difficult to get a correct diagnosis, like changes in heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, and temperature. Stressed and fearful animals may be more likely to injure themselves or others when pushed too far or panicked. They may engage in destructive behaviors that could cause a dental injury or foreign body ingestion, both of which could require surgery. Stressed animals may also engage in other maladaptive behaviors, like excessive paw licking, that could cause injuries or infections as well. We also know that chronic stress can be a contributing factor to many chronic diseases. Further, stress and fear can delay healing and/or contribute to re-injury if the pet is unable to remain calm during recovery.
Can’t we just hold my pet down?
Unfortunately, forcing a pet to endure high levels of fear and anxiety often reinforces their fear and anxiety, resulting in even higher fear and anxiety in the future that becomes more difficult to desensitize.