How Does Stress At A Vet Office Affect Animals?
You ask anyone who chose a career in veterinary care why they got into the field, and they are likely to respond with something about them loving animals or wanting to make the animals’ lives better. Unfortunately, most animals don’t understand that intent and become extremely stressed and anxious when visiting vet offices or animal hospitals.
A study completed in 2009 by five scientists, found that when examining the behavior of clinically healthy dogs visiting a veterinary hospital in Germany, 78.5% of the dogs studied were fearful on the examination table. This study also found that even a single visit to a veterinary clinic can have a dramatic impact on a pet’s long-term behavioral well-being.
In addition to the potential long-term impact, stress and anxiety in pets when at the veterinary office or hospital is extremely common and can pose a potential danger. They pose potential dangers to their owners, the vet, the staff, and to themselves. Stressed pets have been known to scratch, bite, or snap at those around them, making it so important to find ways to reduce the stress.
Top Ways To Reduce Your Pets’ Stress From Vet Office Visits
You, as the owner, must remain calm and relaxed.
Pets can often feed off of the owners’ stress and anxieties. If you remain calm and decrease your stress about the situation, your pet will likely follow your lead.
Give your pet medication 2 hours prior to your visit.
While you do not want to rely on drugs all the time, anti-anxiety medications are sometimes the best option for an animal that is so stressed and fearful that they become a danger not only to the people who are treating them, but sometimes themselves or their owners too. Be sure to speak to your veterinarian about this to see if it is an option for your pet.
Spray Feliway (for cats) or Adaptil (for dogs) in your car or the pet’s carrier.
Feliway and Adaptil are synthetic copies of pheromones proven to help support cats and dogs in a range of stressful situations. Quite often the effects of these sprays are immediate and last for 4-5 hours. Be sure to speak to your veterinarian about this to see if these are a good option for your pet.
Visit the veterinarian office often.
Stop by often for your pet to get treats, sniff the smells, and get used to being handled by the staff members. Even a simple weighing-in helps your pet become more accustomed to going to the vet office or hospital.
Let your pet stay at home!
Through the use of Telehealth tools and technology, you can complete many of your vet visits and check-ups from home. This helps reduce anxiety and stress in your pets a massive amount.
With animals’ anxiety and stress reduced, vets can continue doing their jobs for the reason that they started: to love and care for animals while making the animals’ lives better.
Telehealth Reduces Pets’ Anxiety
Telehealth practices allow for pets to remain in environments that make them feel safe and comfortable. This is hugely impactful and is shifting how veterinary professionals conduct business. If you want to learn more about if Telehealth is right for you and your pet, check out our blog post about the benefits of Telehealth and e-appointments.
