Fear Free Animal Hospital in Amesbury
Does your pet get anxious on the journey to the vet? And then, once here, they become even more stressed in the hospital? We understand. As a Fear Free animal hospital, our whole team works hard to go above and beyond to ensure your pet is happy and comfortable in our care. We also want to reduce or even eliminate the stress of your journey to the clinic. Happy, stress-free pets mean stress-free owners, too!
Call (978) 388-3074 or schedule your appointment online.
Preparing Your Pet for a Less Stress Visit
Getting your pet to our animal hospital is half the battle. Our knowledgeable team is here to help in any way we can to help you create a better experience for your pet. Here are some tips for a less stress journey:
- Establish a better relationship with your pet and their carrier. Fill it with things they love including soft bedding, their favorite toys, and treats. Once they associate good things with their carrier, they should go in willingly.
- Walk larger dogs to your car on a leash, and encourage them to get into the car on their own (treats help, here!). Additionally, create a positive experience with their harness by not forcing them into it (again, treats can work wonders!).
- Prepare the car for the journey. Some calming pheromone sprays can help your pet feel at ease, as well as calming music, and a comfortable temperature.
- If your pet is in a carrier, support it as much as possible. Hold it from the bottom, with one side pressing against your chest. This helps to reduce any sudden movements and makes sure your pet is well above any other animals when they come into the hospital.
- Give yourself plenty of time. If you’re rushed, your pet will sense your stress and may become stressed as well. Additionally, talk to your pet in a matter-of-fact voice. When you are calm and relaxed, your pet will be, too.
- Being early allows your pet to adjust to their new environment. Cats can take from 5-10 minutes to adjust. Dogs will have time to calm down from the car ride with a walk around the building or wait in the lobby if they are comfortable with other pets and people.
- Ask us for more help. If your pet is particularly anxious about their journey, ask us about anti-anxiety medications we can prescribe to decrease stress during the car ride.
Our Efforts to Reduce Stress
While you handle getting your pet to us in a calm state, once you’re here, we take over. Some of the ways we create a less stress experience include:
- Calming music in the exam rooms
- Gentle handling
- Minimized time in the waiting room
- Pheromones sprayed throughout the hospital
- Soft, calm speaking
- No white lab coats (which can be shockingly bright to pets)
- Pet-friendly color palettes
- Lots of special treats
- And more!
Ask us more about the techniques we use to reduce stress by giving us a call at (978) 388-3074. We’ll be happy to talk to you about our fear free methods in the hospital as well as give you advice on keeping the peace at home, too.