You might delay bringing your beloved animal companions to the veterinary clinic because it causes them fear, anxiety, and stress. Pets may hide or refuse to go into their carriers when it’s time to leave. They may “put on the brakes” when approaching the car. Often, they may shake or drool during the car ride. Some may even vomit or have a stool accident in the car or carrier.
Once at the vet office, your dogs may bark at or jump on people. They might have urinary accidents in the lobby even though you just took them to the potty area outside. Perhaps your cat hisses and swats at the veterinary team when she’s perfectly sweet at home.
We get anxious when we know our pets aren’t feeling well. In addition, if our pets “misbehave” or act unruly, we can also feel shame and embarrassment. For all these reasons, and more, bringing your pet for a veterinary visit is stressful!
However, if we take a few deep breaths to calm our own nerves, we can project a confident and relaxed energy to our companions.
Before the Visit
Stress can begin long before the day of the visit. You may not realize it, but your pets notice the subtle changes in your routine. Maybe it’s when you move your keys and wallet closer to the door. Perhaps the cat carrier only comes out when it’s time to go to the vet. Here are some things you can do to reduce stress prior to the vet visit.
- Leave early with plenty of time to manage unforeseen circumstances. Allow enough time to account for construction, traffic, urine/stool accidents, or any other unexpected bumps along the way.
- Play calming music in the car. Songs with a slow tempo and low volume have been shown to help calm pets during the ride. Try Classical, New Age, or Soft Rock on your next drive to the vet clinic.
- Keep the cat carriers out all the time. Make the carrier a safe and inviting spac
e where your cats can relax, find tasty treats, or even eat their meals. When the time comes to go to the vet, the carrier will seem much less scary. - Transport your dogs in kennels instead of loose in the backseat of your vehicle. With the dogs in kennels, it will be safer for all of you in the event of an accident. Additionally, you can cover the kennels with blankets to give your dogs a feeling of safety and security.
- Use a calming spray (like Quiet Moments) on a blanket in the carrier/kennel, on a bandana, and in the car. This can give an extra boost of calming support anywhere your pets go.
When You Arrive at the Clinic
Survey the scene to see how many other pets may be in the parking lot or lobby.
You are welcome to leave your pets in the car (weather permitting) while you check in at the front desk. We can text or call you when your assistant is available.
If the lobby is stressful for your pets, we are happy to escort you directly into your own exam room right away. This does depend on room availability, but it is often a great option for lowering the stress level for you and your pets.
Do other animals rile up your pets? We can let you in through a side door so that your pets don’t see any other people or animals prior to their appointments. Simply make arrangements with our reception team to use this option for your pets.
If you do need to wait in the lobby, keep your pets close to you. Avoid retractable leashes that allow your dogs to wander into other pets’ spaces. Keeping close control of your own pets lowers stress levels for your pets and for others in the waiting room.
During the Visit
We do everything we can to help your pet be as calm and comfortable as possible!
- All pets have things they like or dislike – from the flavors of treats to the ways to best restrain them. We make detailed notes in your pets’ medical records so we can repeat what works to make the next visit less stressful.
- Our exam rooms have a calm and serene color scheme, without harsh contrasts or bright colors.
- We play soothing instrumental music (often specifically designed for pets) throughout the clinic. This music helps mask sounds of doors opening/closing, specialized medical equipment, and other pets.
- We prep each room to make it a comfortable environment for your pets. Non-slip mats prevent our patients from sliding around during an exam. We also use calming spray specific to dogs or cats before each appointment.
- A treat buffet is the best way to make friends! To make sure your pet is happy and relaxed, we offer a variety of treats. This helps your pets focus on the snacks rather than the services.
- After each visit, we thoroughly clean and deodorize the exam rooms.
- Most pets are more comfortable staying with their people. For that reason, we do as many services as possible in the exam room.
- Sometimes due to space or equipment restraints, we need to take your pet to our treatment area. Rest assured, the calming music and treat buffet continue in our treatment area! We also use lick mats with special treats (like peanut butter or canned food) for extra support.
We treat every pet with respect and care. If your pet is too stressed, we stop the procedure and discuss options for rescheduling. Your pet may benefit from coming at a different time of day. Perhaps pre-visit medications can help. We will work with you to determine what would make your pet most comfortable during a vet visit.
After the Visit
Some pets at home may react negatively after their housemate visits the vet. Pets may smell differently after a hospital stay and need some time to reacquaint. Be sure to reintroduce pets slowly and carefully. Give each one a safe place to retreat, if needed, and check on them often to be sure the transition back home goes smoothly.
