How to make the visit to the veterinary clinic less stressful for your pet ?

• Ask to always see the same veterinarian, if possible.

This will allow your dog or cat to develop a bond of trust with his vet. He may even be happy to see him or her next time. If your pet has a preference for men or women, you can mention it when making the appointment.

• Come often to the clinic between appointments.

This will allow your pet to get used to the smells, the other animals, the people and the atmosphere of the place. Take him a few times a month to be weighed. Sit in the waiting room for a few minutes and then leave. Do not forget the treats! After a while, he will learn that not only unpleasant things happen in the clinic.

• Have your dog walk for a while just before his apointment.

If he normally has a lot of energy to spend or is very excited by nature, he will be more relaxed during his consultation.

• Make an appointment during the less busy periods of the day.

Early in the morning or during lunch or dinner hours. During these quieter periods, there are usually fewer people and animals on site. Waiting times also tend to be shorter. When making an appointment, you can also ask the receptionist to tell you at what time of the day it is best to come.

• Desensitize your dog or cat to the car ride.

If your pet gets into the car only to go to the vet, he may learn to fear the car. It is therefore important to teach him that the car is not a threat.

First, go in the car with him, turn on the engine and turn it off after a few seconds. Offer him treats to reassure him. Repeat the process several times a week until he is no longer anxious.

Afterwards, take short walks in the neighborhood. Just a few minutes at the beginning. Come home when you feel that your pet is becoming anxious. Lengthen turns only when your pet tolerates the previous ones. Again, do not forget the treats!

With time and treats, car trips will become part of his routine and he will be less anxious when he arrives at the vet.

• Keep your cat or dog’s carrier always in his sight.

As with the car, if you take out the carrier only to go the vet, your pet may be afraid of it. It is better to leave the carrier always out so that he gets used to his presence.

You can also put treats inside and let your pet get in and out as he wants. This way, you will not have to fight with him to get into the carrier just before a visit to the vet.

• Ask to wait for the vet in an examination room.

This way, your dog or cat will be less exposed to the presence and noises of people and other animals.

• Give him treats.

Before the veterinarian arrives and during the consultation too, to make him appreciate his visit.

• Feel free to let us know if you are not comfortable holding your pet.

If he fidgets a lot or is very excited, it can be difficult for you to hold him during manipulations. To prevent the situation from becoming stressful for everyone, we can ask the help of a member of our staff to hold him.

Many cats and dogs are calmer when their owners are not present. If this is the case with yours, you can leave the consultation room or we can take him to another room to do the manipulations.

• Try not to react while we handle him.

If you react negatively, your dog or cat will feel your stress. He may become even more anxious.

• Avoid being late for your appointment or arriving too early.

You may then have to wait a while before seeing the vet, which will increase your pet’s stress level.

• Use Feliway® for cats or Adaptil® for dogs.

These natural pheromones will help relax your pet by improving his sense of well-being. You can spray them in his carrier, on a blanket or in the car 15 minutes before leaving.

• The veterinarian sometimes prescribes more powerful medication to very anxious animals.

The goal is not to make the animal sleep, but rather to relax him. If you think that your pet might benefit from such medications, do not hesitate to tell your veterinarian.

• Administer the anti-anxiety medication approximately 2 hours before departure from your house.

If your pet is taking anxiolytics (which eliminate anxiety) to go to the vet, it is important to respect this period to ensure that the medication has time to act before reaching the clinic.

During his lifetime, your dog or cat will need to go to the vet at least a few times. Given that these visits are mostly stressful for him, it is important to find ways to reduce this stress during visits. Equally important is to prevent him from being stressed before he even arrives at the clinic.

You've tried the tips we have suggested, but your pet is still anxious when visiting the vet? Call Hôpital vétérinaire de l'Est inc. to get a behavioral consultation with Dr. Laurence Saine, DMV. She will certainly help your pet be less anxious when visiting the vet.

Text created in April 2019