We aspire to be a
​fear free HOSPITAL

What is Fear Free?

The Fear Free Veterinary Initiative promotes the practice, methods, and tools
that calm veterinary patients and create a low stress environment.
This encourages better healthcare, satisfied clients,
​ relaxed patients, and happy veterinary staff.

From Living room, to exam room, and back home again.....
Steps to help you and your pet be less stressed;
Stress can start at home, placing fluffy in the cat carrier, or owners being worried on the car ride in.

• TIP: Leave the cat carriers out at home with a bed, catnip and treats to get your kitty accustomed to it.    
• TIP: Reduce your stress level by playing soothing music in the car, and realizing fear travels down the leash..

Watch this video of Emmy mellowing out to our ICALM music, while hospitalized....

• TIP: Use Feliway or Adaptil pheromones in the carrier or car for minimizing stress

Feliway Pheromone spray for cats

Adaptil Pheromone spray for dogs

Bring your pet hungry to your visit

• We use LOTS of yummy treats to distract your pet during their visit.
• Dogs and cats experience similar endorphin release when eating like people! Bring on the spray cheese!
• Let us KNOW if your pet has food restrictions.  BRING YOUR OWN TREATS!

Minimize stress when arriving at the hospital

• If the waiting room is busy or your pet is nervous, ask to be placed into an exam room to relax
• Leave your pet in the car until it's time to go into an exam room
• Take advantage of the kitty waiting area (TIP for dog owners, cats generally do not like it when you let your dog stick his nose in a cat carrier of a waiting patient...)
• Towels are provided in the waiting room, sprayed with Feliway to place in, or cover your cat carrier, for your appointment.
• Grab a tennis ball from the basket, and keep Fido happy!

Tips for the exam room;

• Let the staff know if you have a preference for a room with a table or a window.  Does your dog prefer to stay on the floor?  Does your kitty do better near a window?
• Spend  few minutes listening to the calming music and RELAX!  (fear travels down the leash and through the carrier)
• Give your dog that extra minute to come out from under the bench for a treat
• Bring kitty in a carrier where the top comes off easily, so kitty can feel secure in the bottom half during her exam

Help your veterinary team determine the best way to care for your pets emotional well being

• Does your dog do better with MOM or DAD?
• Is your dog more nervous with you or without you?
• Now that your pet is accustomed to the quiet exam room, would you be willing to step out so the Dr can get that blood draw ? (that you maybe don't want to see) 
• Or are you ok staying with your pet?
• Are you ok rubbing your dogs nose, while we feed them spray cheese and trim nails?

OK NOW WE ARE DONE!!

• This is the time to celebrate our Fear Free successes, evaluate what's working, and make a plan for baby steps for the next visit. 
• Often times it can take a few visits to build up a trust in the positive process.

 ​​HAPPY VISITS!!

• We encourage you to come in for Happy Visits
• Pull into the parking lot, give a treat and go home...
• Come up the front steps, treat, and go home...
• Come into the waiting room, GET LOVED by the front staff, COOKIES!! and go home...
• It's a process.....let us help you

Medication?

• Yes, some patients need a little extra help to fight that anxiety
• Try a Thundershirt and see the amazing difference!  www.thundershirt.com

• Your Dr may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication, or a natural supplement to help take the edge off your pets fearful visits.  Believe us when we say, IT HELPS!!