06/06/2025
💙💛 Welcome to Friday! 💛💙
What does it mean for a vet to be "Fear Free?" In short, it means that we never want your pet to be scared when they come to vet. Being sick or injured already feels bad, and we don't want to add to their discomfort. We don't want you to avoid bringing them for routine checks because of how scared they are - early detection and preventative care can add years to their lives (and save money for you in the long run).
Here is what makes a Fear Free vet different:
1. Emphasis on emotional wellbeing 🧘 Most vet visits concern your pet's physical health, but their emotional state affects their physical wellbeing. By being mindful of their emotional wellbeing, we can address their health as a whole.
2. Consistent, regular care 📅 When coming to the vet is an ordeal for you and your pet, you won't want to put them through that stress unless absolutely necessary. When visiting the vet isn't stressful, it's much easier to bring them in regularly for preventative and routine care.
3. Gentle handling and positive associations 🤗 We make sure to use your pet's language to communicate that we are not a threat to them. By avoiding potentially triggering behaviour (such as sudden movements or loud noises), they will be less fearful of us.
4. Safer vet visits for all 🏥 Frightened or stressed pets may lash out or try to escape, which can result in them injuring themselves, you, or one of our team members. When we take fear out of the equation, we eliminate a risk to everyone involved, including your pet.
5. Accurate exams and test results 🎯 Stress is not just in the brain, it has a physical effect too. Stress can influence heart rate, breathing, temperature, blood sugar, cortisol levels, and more. It is also more difficult to examine a pet who wants nothing more than to get away, and may result in a rushed, less accurate examination in an effort to minimise discomfort and increase safety. When your pet is calm, we can do more thorough, accurate exams and tests.
6. Calming environments 🍃 pheromones, calming music designed for pets, hiding spots, and non-slip surfaces all contribute to an environment that feels safer and less scary for pets.
7. Medications and supplements when needed 💊 Just like with humans, some pets need a bit more help to address their fears. Repeated negative experiences create a cycle that is difficult to break. Even when nothing "bad" happens, just feeling excessively frightened can be a negative experience that reinforces their fear. In those cases, the vets will recommend either a supplement or calming medication to help them.
8. Empathetic language 💬 Certain terms set us up to make negative assumptions about a pet, setting them up for failure. It also doesn't feel good as a parent to hear your little one described as "aggressive" or "fractious." Instead, we make an effort to understand that the behaviour almost always comes from a place of fear, anxiety or stress. By referring to patients as "fearful" and focusing on a specific behaviour and trigger (e.g. "growls with injections"), we can make more constructive decisions about their care.
9. Less stressful wait times 🛋️ We offer a choice of waiting areas wherever possible. We have the reception area, and pets are also welcome to wait in the car, in our outdoor waiting area, or in a consultation room (when available). We also try to visually and physically separate cats and dogs, so they don't work each other up.
10. Help for the way to and from home 🏡 Transporting your pet can be stressful too! Especially when they are not used to it. Our team members can coach you in preparing for vet visits and travel to make it easier, safer, and less stressful for you and your pet.
Questions? Comments? Need to book a fear free visit for one of your pets? Give us a call on 012 460 5252 and one of our team members will be happy to assist.
