The Fear-Free™ initiative, with Dr. Marty Becker at its head, promotes the practices, methods, and tools that calm veterinary patients and create low-stress environments to encourage better healthcare, more satisfied and compliant clients, a happier staff, and a healthier bottom line. Here are 10 steps toward Fear-Free™ visits to take the “pet” out of “petrified” and get pets back into your practice.
1. Help the pet owner deliver a calm pet to your clinic. The Fear-Free™ veterinary visit (like pain control) is best created with a multimodal approach that must involve the pet owner. The owner’s role in taking a pet to the veterinarian must fundamentally change. The owner should condition the pet to the carrier or restraint device and to car rides long before the day of the veterinary visit. Cats should be allowed to use their carriers daily as a resting place so that the carrier is familiar and comfortable, rather than something associated with a frightening car ride. Also, you and your veterinary team should learn to detect fear early by asking owners about the anxiety their pets experience. If you don’t ask, you may miss it. Don’t wait for advanced signs, such as a dog hiding under the exam room chair or a cat lashing out.
To keep the pet calm on the day of an appointment, instruct pet owners to use Adaptil™ or Feliway® pheromones (Ceva), calming nutraceuticals, and carrier covers. Owners will need to remain calm themselves. They may find it helpful to play special calming music and use aromatherapy in the car. Some pets may require prescription anxiolytic medication before they leave home.