By Ayanna Revnell, CVT
Veterinary visits can be stressful for many pets. The unfamiliar environment, new smells, sounds, and past experiences can trigger fear and anxiety. Fortunately, there is a safe and compassionate way to help: Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals (PVPs).
What are Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals (PVPs)?
Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals (PVPs) are medications or a combination of medications given to your pet before their veterinary appointment to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress associated with going to the vet. PVPs are designed to make your pet’s veterinary experience more comfortable and calm.
Why Are PVPs Recommended?
If your pet has shown signs of fear or anxiety at their vet visit, has a history of a stressful or negative experience, can be reactive to handling, or is scheduled for a surgical procedure, then PVPs may be recommended.
PVPs are often recommended to be given prior to a surgical procedure. These medications help your pet to be more comfortable and less anxious while staying in the hospital. Giving these medications prior to their surgery allows for lower doses of anesthetic drugs to be used. This reduces the risk of anesthetic complications and promotes smoother recovery. Often these medications can be used during the post surgery recovery period to help treat pain and keep patients calm to promote healing.
A calmer patient often means a safer and smoother anesthetic experience.
Breaking the Cycle of Fear
Fear can build over time. If each veterinary visit is very stressful, pets may develop increasingly heightened anxiety before future appointments. Using PVPs consistently can help prevent the formation of fearful memories and reduce escalating anxiety at future visits. This can help pets learn that the clinic is not as scary as they anticipate and over time some pets may not require these medications and can enjoy visits with positive reinforcements such as treats.
Why Give PVPs 2 Hours Before the Appointment (and the Night Before)?
Timing is extremely important.
To effectively reduce anxiety, medications need to reach peak effectiveness before your pet realizes a veterinary visit is about to occur. Once anxiety starts to rise, it can be harder to control. Giving medication the night before helps reduce anticipatory anxiety and administering again 2 hours before the appointment ensures it is working during travel and check-in.Following your veterinarian’s instructions carefully helps ensure the best outcome.
What About Natural Products?
Some supplements may help manage mild stress responses. However, they are unlikely to be effective as a sole therapy for moderate to severe fear. Supplements are not regulated as strictly as prescription medications and few supplements and herbal products have undergone rigorous scientific trials to confirm their effectiveness.
While natural options may play a supportive role, prescription medications are often more reliable for pets experiencing significant anxiety.
The Goal: A Better Veterinary Experience
Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals are not about convenience, they are about compassionate care.
Reducing your pet’s fear and stress improves your pet’s emotional well being, enhances patient safety, allows for more thorough and less stressful examinations, and creates better long-term associations with veterinary care. If your pet struggles with vet visits, speak with your veterinary team about whether PVPs may be appropriate.
