Taking the Fear Out of Vet Visits
Tips To Sooth Those Sweaty Paws
The nervous anticipation builds as you pull up in the parking lot. Your heart starts to pound, and the anxiety begins to make your palms sweat. Does that sound a little like how you feel when you go to the doctor? Change the sweaty palms to sweaty paws and that is how many pet patients feel as they enter a veterinary office.
It’s not a new phenomenon to be nervous for a veterinary visit, but for many pets, each visit adds more anxiety: You have to go in the car, they take your temperature and there might be vaccinations. And, if ever they were really scared from poor handling or a painful procedure, the stress is higher.
However, the answer is not to avoid taking your pet or pets in for needed preventive care examinations or when they are ill. What helps more is to discuss your concerns with your veterinarian, and learn what strategies and potentially supplements or medications can help make those visits less stressful for both you and your pet.
Why worry about our fearful pets? First, whether the visit is for a regular well pet examination, or an emergency, to borrow a phrase from Dr. Marty Becker, it should not be “necesScary.” Second, we have learned much in recent years about the negative physiologic effects of stress and anxiety on our patients. So too have we worked to develop options and products to help make it better. It’s on our shoulders as veterinarians to improve things through action and education.
Where to start:
An eight-step plan of action
1. Alert the veterinary staff that your pet has had previous bad visits and/or anxiety issues. They can make recommendations tailored to your pet. Focus on making the pet’s experience at the veterinarian good can be a criteria for practice selection.
2. Go hungry. Fast your pet or give a reduced breakfast depending on the time of your appointment. Why? Because if pets will accept treats and food at the veterinary office, they will be more relaxed. Please make sure to note any food allergies.
3. Be calm. Avoid speaking in a high-pitched voice – that “baby” voice can trigger stress, especially when traveling in the car.
4. Use pheromones. Treat a favorite toy or blanket with calming pheromones such as Adaptil© for dogs and Feliway© for cats.
5. For cats, make sure the carrier is part of their environment as a bed or hidey-hole and not just dragged out for vet visits. Spritz a favorite blanket with Feliway© to cover the carrier and make sure that the carrier is not flopping around on the car seat or off kilter.
6. Play classical music or even especially created pet music in the car on the way to the vet, and then again home.
7. For dogs, while you’re waiting in lobby or exam room, put them through their obedience training and tricks. They can’t maintain much anxiety if their focus is taken away.
8. For cats, allow acclimation time in the exam room. Open the carrier and allow them to exit and wander the room.
Dr. Margot can be reached at parkhillvet.com.