We love to see your pets but we know they aren’t always as enthusiastic about coming to see us. When your pets come to the vet it can perpetuate a lot of anxiety and fear but it doesn’t have to. We work really hard to make this a positive experience for you and your pet, but we need your help! Making the trip to the vet starts at home-there are certain small things you can do at home prior to your appointment that can help your pet have a calmer experience when they come in to see us.
Lets start with what can be our most challenging group of patients… cats. They’re not always so receptive when visiting the vets office and we understand! Lets think about the whole process of gathering your cat and taking them to their appointment it makes perfect sense why they want to avoid it at all costs. They’re most likely found curled up asleep on their bed ,woken up abruptly, put into this box (which we’ve heard is like getting tooth paste back into the tube!), placed in the car where they undoubtedly end up either at the groomer or their veterinarians office…ugh!!
So what can we do to help? At home there are adjustments that can be useful. For one, the cat carrier can be a dead give away for what is about to come….! Start by leaving the carrier out for at least one week before coming in.. think of it as another piece of home furniture! Taking that carrier out only once or twice a year allows them to directly relate that to us. Try and make it a positive place to be - put a bed in it, add some toys,catnip or treats (Temptation treats work great!)
Use Feliway pheromone spray ( 8 sprays) and wipe the carrier down with Feliway wipes.Hopefully, when the appointment day arrives they’ll be more comfortable with their carrier.
Lets assume for a minute that you have successfully corralled your kitty and are ready to put him/her in the carrier but we still have a very unhappy cat…god forbid! This is the time when you place a towel or blanket over kitty and wrap/burrito him,this makes it a lot easier to slide kitty friend into the carrier.It also helps prevent their paws and claws from digging in to us…an added bonus!
Having a blanket already inside the carrier is a great idea so they have something they can burrow into and hide. Cover the carrier during travel time - cats prefer to be hidden.
The waiting room for a cat can be extremely stressful especially if there are barking dogs. Check with your veterinarian and see if they set aside cat only appointment times or if there happen to be better times of the day to bring kitty in.. If not you may want to just keep your kitty in the car while you wait.
Pheromones are another amazing and useful tool that can help quite a bit when you need to take them on a stressful trip. Pheromones are odorless to us but they send comforting messages to your cat and dog. Pheromones are species specific and you’ll need to get the appropriate product for your pet. The only pheromone products that we recommend are Feliway (cats) and Adaptil (dogs. For further information on these products here are their websites: https://www.feliway.com/us and https://www.adaptil.com/us
For dogs, treats can be a great way to gain their trust and keep them calm and distracted during an appointment. Making appointments later in the day before dinner time can be one of the best times to come in because they’ll be more food motivated. If you happen to have a pickier dog or a dog who tends to be more anxious bringing in home cooked special treats can be even more enticing.
We encourage clients to bring their dog or new puppy in for quick visits to just say “Hi”. Sitting in the waiting room for a few minutes,visiting the exam rooms,greeting the staff and being fed a few treats make for a positive quick first experience. Check with your veterinary team and see what times would be best.
If we are running a few minutes behind keeping your dog in the car or taking him for a walk in the yard is a great option. Just let us know that you are here and we will come out to get you.
Unfortunately, fear and anxiety can turn into aggression for both dogs and cats. If you’re anxious and stressed about their appointment your animals will pick up on that feeling so it’s very important to try and be your best calm self! We are no strangers when it comes to dealing with aggression (of any type), its something we see often in this field. When we have an animal that has fear aggression it’s important to make things positive and quick for them. Basket muzzles are recommended as they allow a dog to fully open their mouth and pant. It allows us to use food as a distraction, you can drop treats in or smear some cream cheese or peanut butter on the muzzle.Placing a basket muzzle on pre appointment is a good habit to get into
If we ever have to muzzle your dog please don’t be offended we aren’t doing it to be mean we are doing it to protect not only us but our patient. Talking about muzzling an animal can be a touchy conversation but in reality it’s a great alternative. With high anxiety/aggressive dogs, muzzles can actually help calm them down, taking away their ability to bite which can put them at ease.
At times we may recommend a light sedative before your appointment. The idea behind this is to keep them calmer and hopefully over a few years of positive visits they may begin to trust us more and not be so reactive in this environment. Medication can be a great way to achieve a positive visit for both dogs and cats.
If you’re reading this for ideas in preparation for your first visit with a puppy or a kitten try some of the tips above and start off on the right foot. If you’ re reading this because your animal already has “white coat syndrome” know that you are not alone. We’re here to help so feel free to reach out with your concerns or questions.
See you soon.
