Overview: 

Fear Free is a unique program that has a proven record of success in reducing pet fear, anxiety and stress by understanding when pets are communicating these behaviors. We partner with you to manage and change the behavior of your pet to provide a Fear Free experience for all.

With over 52,000 veterinary and pet professionals committed to becoming Fear Free Certified, Fear Free is one of the largest initiatives to this day. 

Fear Free’s mission states, “Our mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.”

Benefits:

• Reduce your pets fear, anxiety, and stress

• Minimize physical restraint

• Hospital/Pet Parent Partnership

• Online Resources

What do we do to meet this goal?

• If your pet would be more comfortable waiting in the car rather than the waiting room, let us know, and we’ll be glad to accommodate you.

• We will attempt to bring you into the exam room a few minutes before your pet will be seen because we’d like the two of you to spend some calm time together. This will allow your pet to explore the room and relax a little first.

• Special calming chemical signals, known as pheromones, are infused throughout our exam rooms and treatment area. Our staff also spray themselves with this same pheromones. Only dogs and cats can smell these pheromones, which they find comforting and relaxing.

• We promise to keep our voices low and calm and never to use force to examine, test, or treat your pet. We’ll use gentle control techniques, innovative tools, and medication when necessary to ensure your pet’s emotional health isn’t sacrificed for the sake of medical care.

• Unless it’s medically inappropriate, we’ll be giving your pet lots of treats during the visit. This is so he or she starts associating a trip to the veterinarian with good things! That will keep stress levels low. Bringing your pet into the appointment hungry can help this process along!§ Some pets prefer to be examined up high, on the table, in your lap, in their carrier, or on the floor. We’ll go where we need to go to make your pet comfortable during the exam.

• We’ll also use specialized distraction techniques to keep your pet focused on good experiences while we perform procedures such as injections that might cause brief stress or pain.

• If your pet has shown signs of bad stress and anxiety before a visit to the hospital, pre-visit sedation or supplements may be recommended to help take the edge off and keep your pet happy and relaxed.

Why Choose Fear Free:

Your pet’s enrichment and emotional well-being are Fear Free’s top priority. Our Fear Free certified team will partner with you to tailor a plan that improves you and your pets experience at our hospital. We will partner with you to prepare for a hospital visit before, during, and after your pet becomes conditioned to enjoying a weekend with us.

Learn More:

To learn more about what you can do at home to reduce your pets fear, anxiety, and stress, please visit Fear Free’s website:

https://fearfreehappyhomes.com/