Understanding Fear Free
Fear Free, founded by Dr. Marty Becker in 2016, aims to make vet visits less stressful for pets. His mission is to “take the pet out of petrified and get pets back into practices.” A 2014 Bayer Veterinary Healthcare Usage study revealed that 37% of dog owners and 58% of cat owners say their pets dislike vet visits. Additionally, 26% of dog owners and 38% of cat owners find the mere thought of a vet trip stressful.
Why Fear Free Matters
A Fear Free vet visit means less stress for pets and their families, making regular check-ups easier and more pleasant. Routine visits are key to keeping your pet healthy and happy, allowing vets to catch potential issues early and provide timely treatment.
Getting Your Pet to the Vet
A stress-free vet visit starts at home. Always bring your pet on a leash or in a secure carrier. Cats, in particular, may feel anxious the moment they see the carrier. To help ease their fear, try getting your cat comfortable with the carrier by:
- Leaving the carrier in a spot where your cat likes to relax.
- Adding familiar bedding inside, like a favorite blanket or something with your scent.
- Placing treats, toys, or catnip in the carrier daily to encourage exploration and create positive associations.
Here are some tips for choosing cat carriers that can make visits less stressful, as not all carriers are created equal.
- Choose a carrier with a large front and top opening to make it easier to get your cat in and out.
- Opt for a carrier that can be taken apart in the middle, allowing the top half to be removed. This lets your cat stay in the bottom half during the exam, keeping them more comfortable.
What is the Process for Implementing Fear Free?
Each of our hospitals has Fear Free Certified team members who have undergone extensive training to create a low-stress environment for our patients. The skills and techniques they’ve learned aim to reduce anxiety for pets and their families before, during, and after each visit. When pets are calm, we’re able to provide better medical care while ensuring the safety of our team.
Caring Hands Animal Hospital may use the following techniques to support a Fear Free experience for your pet.
For Your Dog’s Comfort
- Adaptil, a calming dog pheromone spray, is applied to our staff’s clothing and the blanket your dog rests on during the visit.
- An Adaptil diffuser is placed above the dog scale for added comfort.
- We offer a variety of treats in our exam rooms, including peanut butter, cheese, and biscuits.
- Soothing music, like Through a Dog’s Ears, plays to help create a calm environment.
- We prioritize gentle handling and avoid using force for treatments or diagnostics. For especially fearful pets or painful procedures, we may recommend mild sedation to ensure a stress-free experience.
Comforting Our Feline Friends
- Feliway Spray: A calming "happy message" pheromone is applied to our staff’s clothing and the towel or blanket your cat will rest on during their visit.
- Feliway Diffuser: Provides a soothing environment in our cat waiting area.
- Tasty Treats: A selection of soft, crunchy, and flavored treats to help ease anxiety.
- Cat-Only Spaces: Dedicated exam rooms and waiting areas just for cats at select locations.
- Soothing Sounds: Relaxing cat-specific music ("Through a Cat’s Ears") plays to create a peaceful atmosphere.
- Gentle Handling: We avoid scruffing unless absolutely necessary for safety. For particularly anxious or uncomfortable patients, we may recommend mild sedation to reduce stress.
Stress Indicators
Our team is trained to recognize signs of stress in pets and take steps to help them feel more at ease. Check out this helpful chart to better understand your pet’s various moods.
