Stressful Vet Visits
I was inspired to write this post after a very stressful vet visit that I witnessed while working at a veterinary hospital in the past. A husky and her owner came into the hospital for a simple nail trim, but immediately after they walked through the door, the pup was not having it! She did everything she could to get out of the building - scratch at the doors and windows, run around the perimiter of the lobby, and even press herself up against the door in hopes that maybe she could push through and run away.
After about five minutes of Puppy freaking herself out, mom stepped in and half-carried, half-dragged Puppy to an available room. It was a traumatic experience for everyone involved, even me, a simple bystander! And, Puppy was only coming in for a nail trim! Imagine if this were something more invasive like an annual visit or a sick visit.
Vet visits can be extremely stressful for the pets, and in turn, horribly stressful for the owners and the veterinary staff, as well. When a visit starts off on the wrong foot, it can lead to a downward spiral of bad veterinary experiences and future fear and stress at the hospital. I've compiled a list of things that can be helpful to prevent stressful vet visits and ensure that your future visits are happy and easy!
1. Find a soothing environment. I know, it sounds silly - your pet is going to the doctor, not a day spa! But I promise, the environment really does make a difference. Imagine a veterinary hospital with a large, open lobby, full of curious dogs and stressed out cats. The rooms look old and dirty, like many animals have been there before you. The wait time is long and you can feel the tension in the room. Both people and animals are anxious. The staff is behind schedule, so they speed through appointments to try and catch up. Your pet is handled quickly and without much attention to how he/she is feeling about the appointment. You hear dogs barking loudly in the back and you even hear a little yelp from the room next door.
Now, imagine walking into a veterinary hospital with a much different environment. The lobby is clean and soothing, with much natural lighting, a waterfall that doubles as a puppy drinking fountain, and no other pets are waiting to be helped. The air smells nice, there is classical music playing, and there are plants throughout the hospital. The staff is welcoming and friendly and you can feel a calm, positive energy around you. There are plenty of treats and kind words given to your pet and the staff is patient and kind to you and your animal. The appointment goes at a steady pace and the pet is only asked to do things that he/she is comfortable with. You and your pet almost forget that you are in a doctor's office at all!
Which of these two would you rather be a patient in? I have worked in both veterinary hospitals - one with a dirty, stressful environment, and one with a clean, calm, spa-like environment - and I have noticed a significant decrease in the amount of stressful pets at the hospital with a more positive, calm environment. While stressful visits do happen anywhere, they are less likely to occur and can be handeled more easily in the right environment. I suggest going to a new vet without your pet for the first time! Observe the hospital, maybe ask for a tour, and get an idea of the energy that surrounds the hospital. Do you feel comfortable and at ease, or do you feel stressed out and hurried? Either way, your pet will likely feel the same.
2. Go slow! Don't let the staff do anything that you or your animal is not quite comfortable with. Usually, if you take time to introduce new things to your pet slowly, they will be more comfortable with what is going on and will comply more easily. Don't let the staff rush to the muzzle right away, instead, get in the right setting, remain calm, and slowly introduce things to your pet. Continue to reinforce with treats and/or kind words and let your pet know that he/she is doing a great job and everything is fine!
3. Visit the vet for no reason. This one is huge! If every time you take your dog or cat to the vet, they get poked, prodded, and made to do uncomfortable things, then they will constantly expect the same to happen, even if they are just going for something simple, like a nail trim or weight check. Try visiting your vet for no reason at all. Ask reception if they would be on board with you bringing your pet in for a treat and maybe a few sniffs around. Then, simply leave! Short visits like this, where something GOOD happens, instead of something bad, can lead your pet to think that the vet is not always bad!
4. As always, talk to your vet and trainer about what you and your pet are working on. They may have some ways to help you succeed and may help provide additional support on your journey to happy vet visits.
These problems with stressful vet visits may not be resolved overnight, but with some conscious effort, you and your pet can start to experience easy, happy vet visits in the future. It will lead to less trauma for everyone involved - you, your pet, and the veterinary hospital staff!
Before you go! Does your pet get anxious every time you leave him alone at home? You might be interested in my blog about separation anxiety. Check it out here!
