No one likes to go to the doctor. Many pets become distressed at the mere mention of the “V” word. Some are afraid of the carrier or terrified of being in the car. Pulling into our parking lot at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale can set off howls of distress. Then there is that long walk through the front door, seeing strange animals and strange people. All the sounds and smells that go with the visit bring back memories of past experiences. For humans, entering an examination room and seeing medical staff in uniform can make the blood pressure rise. This is known as the “White Coat Syndrome”. Veterinary patients are no different. But did you know that veterinary visits can actually be the exception to a fear of doctors?
Believe it or not, you and our veterinary team can work together to make your pet’s visits to our hospital tolerable, if not even enjoyable. It takes some work and patience. Everyone involved needs to have the willingness to “call it quits” and reschedule when the patient signals they are not comfortable. Medications can help in some cases, but the biggest component entails everyone working together to make the visit a pleasant experience, with treats, kindness and compassion.
Preparation for Veterinary Visits Begins in the Home
Some pets just do not like to travel. They see the carrier come out of the garage and dive under your bed for cover. Start acclimating your pet to the carrier and travel at least one week before your veterinary visit. Better yet, make carrier and travel experiences part of your routine together. Set the carrier out with the door open and place treats or toys in it. Line it with a soft snugly towel. Allow your pet to explore and associate the carrier with happy thoughts and experiences.
Begin with short trips in the car, preferably on an empty stomach if your pet is prone to motion sickness. At the end of the trip, reward your pet while still in the car and wait a few minutes before exiting. Expand on the distances traveled gradually. Feel free to drive to our office and take your dog for a brief walk around the yard so they become accustomed to the sights and smells. Always reward your pet to make this a happy experience.
Puppy and Kitten Veterinary Visits Are Ideal for Setting the Tone
We love our puppy and kitten visitors. We know we are beginning on a lifelong journey with them from the moment they first enter our door. Watching a young puppy or kitten confidently playing and exploring while visiting our office makes us all happy. Once you have begun your “homework”, we want to help make your pet’s visit to our hospital as comfortable as possible.
It is often best to bring your pet in when they are a little hungry so you can offer treats throughout their visit. Check to make certain it is okay to feed them before offering treats because some diagnostic tests may require fasting. Once you have the OK, give them small treats at each step of their visit and talk in a calm, confident voice. Avoid cuddling them or reinforcing their fear. Remember, you want to reinforce the good behaviors. It should go without saying, but never punish your pet or yell at your pet during the visit.
Feel free to bring your pet in for “lobby visits” and “exam room visits” without a doctor/nurse visit, just to get them accustomed to coming in to see us. Our staff always has a jar of treats, warm voices and happy smiles. Go slow. Bring favorite toys or treats as rewards. Let your pet sense that you too are comfortable during the visits. Beginning with pleasant experiences at a young age will give everyone a life of happier visits.
Working with Pets Already Fearful of the Veterinarian
As a pet owner, you know your pet’s typical response to trips to the veterinarian. If your pet has shown fear or discomfort during previous veterinary visits, we want to know ahead of time, when you are scheduling. Ask to have a veterinarian telephone you to discuss the best approach. We have several doors into the hospital and some pets are better off coming in a private entrance, away from other pets, directly into a private examination room. We may recommend a “test visit” first to see how your pet responds, prior to performing a complete examination or any diagnostic testing.
Patience and understanding of your pet’s responses in a novel setting are most important. We may be able to proceed with the complete visit, or we may recommend certain medications and rescheduling to keep your pet calm and comfortable on a return trip. For some pets, we may recommend a series of desensitization visits prior to any planned stressful procedures.
Our hospital team members are trained in gentle handling techniques and in reading pet body language. Listen to them as they assist you in keeping your pet calm and comfortable. If your pet is comfortable in its carrier, do not remove it from the carrier until asked to do so. Many procedures can be performed with the pet snuggled into a blanket inside the carrier with the top removed.
If there is any risk of you or our staff being bitten or scratched, it is especially important for you to follow our directions on how to handle or not handle your pet. Remember, we do this every day with a wide variety of pets. Our goals and your goals are the same. We want to be able to help your pet remain healthy, and also do this in a stress free way.
Working with Painful or Ill Pets
Unfortunately, not all visits to the veterinarian can be pre-planned. Patients get ill or injured and you may not have time to train them into happy veterinary visits. If your pet is injured, please be certain you relay as much information as you can to our staff before moving your pet to bring it into the hospital. “First do not harm” applies to owners as well as veterinary staff. Pets in severe pain may lash out and bite as a self-protective mechanism, even when that is not their normal disposition. We will instruct you how to protect yourself and your pet prior to moving them.
Our doctors all have taken “Fear Free” training courses. We train our team members to be “patient advocates”, working with the doctors and owners to alleviate your pet’s pain and fear. All of our hospital staff are pet owners themselves. They feel great compassion towards your pet and empathize with your distress when your pet is ill or injured. We do our best to calm and distract your pet during uncomfortable but necessary procedures. We have a variety of medications to use in hospital or dispense for home use to help control pain and keep your pet calm. Careful sedation may be necessary in some patients to help them to calm down and allow diagnostics and treatments. We assess each patient as an individual. We have many “tricks of the trade” to help keep them comfortable throughout their visit.
If your pet has favorite treats, toys, or blankets, please feel free to bring along whatever you think will make their visit more comfortable. While difficult, it is important for you to remain calm and confident for your pet. They will sense your level of comfort and be reassured.
How to Help Your Pet Not Be Afraid of Home Treatments
Often, when pets go home from our hospital, you will need to continue with their medical care at home. It is important that you maintain your positive relationship with your pet throughout the healing period. We may teach you how to acclimate your pet to a muzzle, using treats, or how to snuggle your pet in a towel so it feels more secure. We may teach you how to ice pack an incision or perform gentle massage to help alleviate discomfort. Rewarding your pet during treatment procedures at home can make the process much better for all concerned.
If you need to give medications, disguising them in a treat can make them more tolerable. Giving a treat, followed by a treat with the medication, followed by another treat, in rapid succession can “make the medicine go down” much easier. Coating tablets with a little bit of butter can make them easier to swallow. Putting a small dab of butter on your pet’s nose will make them lick and swallow as well.
Ear medications are often better tolerated when brought to room temperature first. Gentle massage of inflamed ears and sneaking the medication in from behind during the massage can be effective. Having someone offering treats during any at home medical treatment can make for a more positive experience for all. Keeping calm and maintaining a gentle and reassuring tone of voice will go a long way towards keeping your pet’s trust in you.
You can read more about keeping your pet calm and free of fear during their veterinary visit by clicking here.