It’s little wonder that many pets find a visit to the vet a pretty stressful experience. We poke, prod and give them injections – all in an unfamiliar environment.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. At Bryants Road Vet, we are committed to providing a welcoming and stress-free environment for your cat or dog.
In this blog, we share a few of our top tips for helping to make sure the next visit to the vet is stress-free.
Don’t be in a rush
If you’re stressed, then your pet is bound to feed off that stress as well.
Before your vet appointment, make sure you are well prepared. If it’s at a clinic you’ve never been to, know how long it will take to get there, and where you can park. At Bryants Road Vet we have plenty of parking at the front and back of the clinic, so you’ll never be late trying to find a park.
Give yourself plenty of time to get to the clinic without needing to rush, and take along anything your vet has asked you to bring – this may be your pet’s papers, previous vaccination records etc. Also, have a think about any questions you may wish to ask the vet – this may be about your pet’s diet, their behaviour, or any other concerns you may have.
Try not to feed them before their visit
Many pets are led by their stomachs – and we as vets definitely use that to our advantage when dealing with more anxious cats and dogs. At our clinic, we use treats (with your permission of course) to calm a more nervous pet on their arrival, as well as during and after anything your pet may view as a bit scary or uncomfortable, such as vaccinations or taking their temperature.
Familiarise your cat with the carrier
If the only time your cat sees and gets put into their carrier is when they go to the vet, it’s little wonder that they fight you tooth and nail when you try to place them in there. In the week leading up to their visit, put the carrier out in an area where your kitty likes to play or sleep. Depending on the type of carrier you have, keep the door open or remove the top to make it easily accessible for some fun or rest. Add in a nice, comfy blanket at the bottom of the carrier and a few of their favourite toys to make sure they feel nice and comfortable.
Ensure your pet feels secure once at the vet
A vet clinic waiting room can be a pretty intimidating space, particularly for cats and small dogs. The different smells, noise and inquisitive animals can really make some pets’ anxiety levels skyrocket.
Cats feel much more secure if they are at a higher level, so it is best to place the carrier on the chair next to you. Smaller dogs may also feel more comfortable off the floor and may feel happiest being held or sitting on your lap. If possible, maintain eye contact with your pet and talk to them to try and distract them during your wait.
At Bryants Road Vet, our half-hour appointments and smaller-sized clinic mean you’ll never experience an overly crowded waiting room when you visit us. We will also do our best to send you through to the consult room as soon as possible – even if your vet isn’t quite ready to see you – to ensure a calmer environment for your pet.
Bring your dog in to meet us
If you get a new puppy or dog, it’s a great idea to take them to your vet for a visit. We love nothing more than meeting new animals, and whenever possible, we will also take your pup into the consult room, have them sit on the table, and hop on the scales to get them used to the clinic.
All of this familiarisation will help make the first “official” visit to the vet much more stress-free now that your dog has a positive association with the vet clinic.
Talk to your vet about other options to help your pet relax
If after all of the above steps your cat or dog still finds a visit to the vet an overwhelming experience, it’s worth talking to your vet about additional measures to make them feel more relaxed.
For more extreme displays of fear and anxiety, a mild sedative can be prescribed to enable the vet visit to take place.
Choose your vet wisely
Just like choosing your own medical professional, it’s vital that you choose a vet that is a good fit for your cat or dog – and for you too. Before making an appointment with a clinic, drop in for a chat, unannounced. It’s a great way to see the staff in action, the environment of the waiting room and interactions with pets and their owners. The relationship between you and your vet clinic is likely to be long-term, so it’s important that you feel comfortable and valued.
We’d love to meet you and your pet
As a team of animal lovers, we treat all the cats, dogs and pocket pets that come through our door like they are our own. We work hard to provide a stress-free environment at our vet clinic for your visit and offer individualised care for our patients.
At Bryants Road Vet, we use the synthetic pheromones Feliway (for cats) and Adaptil (for dogs) to help anxious pets feel more secure and comfortable. We also welcome owners of nervous pets to chat with us before their consultation to work out a strategy to help them. This may include having the appointment on the grassed area alongside the clinic or choosing a time when the clinic is less busy for your visit.
To make an appointment, you can book online, give us a call on 3801 1744, or pop into our clinic at 141 Bryants Road Loganholme.