When veterinary professionals undertake the task of becoming Fear-Free Certified, they are showing their dedication to the well-being of their patients. Fear Free techniques and principles are designed to reduce the fear, anxiety and stress that cats and dogs often experience during a trip to the vet.
Our Fear-Free Certified team members have undergone extensive training on how to create a calm and welcoming environment for the dogs and cats that visit our hospital, and how to recognize when one of our patients is feeling fearful or anxious or in need of a more gentle approach.
You and your companion are important to us, and from the moment you walk through our doors, we want you both to feel comfortable and at ease. Our Fear Free techniques help us accomplish this goal.
Westend Veterinary Hospital is dedicated to decreasing stress, anxiety and fear in patients while offering the best medical care possible.
The small things we do to make your pet's experience at our hospital positive include offering treats, mats and hiding spaces, allowing cats to stay in their carriers or dogs in their owners' laps, pre-visit medications when needed, and modifications in our handling techniques.
Larger Fear-Free principles that have been incorporated into the design of our animal hospital include separate cat and dog areas to reduce stress and excitement.
We feel that adhering to both big and small Fear-Free principles makes our delivery of veterinary care a more gentle and positive experience for our patients and their owners.
Fear Free principles extend throughout our hospital and we prioritize them second only to the medical care of our patients.
We work with patients and their families to undertake the following steps before and during each appointment:
We start by understanding and identifying how pets communicate signs of stress to us.
These signs can include a number of subtle and obvious signals, from a tense expression or dilated pupils to growling, hissing or a tucked tail, just to name a few.
We also ask about the dog or cat's known stressors, which can include sounds, scents, discomfort, disease processes and unfamiliar people.
Getting to know our canine and feline clients and understanding what causes them to become stressed, and how they communicate that stress, helps us better manage it during their visits.
We ask pet parents to speak up if there is something that causes fear, anxiety or stress (FAS). We can help!
An anxiety-free veterinary appointment starts at home. Let us know if your pet gets stressed going to the vet. We can offer suggestions for things to do at home before the visit. There may be options to send supplements or medication home before the visit to help with car sickness or to help decrease the level of stress at the vet.
If your pet gets stressed coming into the lobby or meeting new people or other animals, we can have you wait in the car or in our outside waiting area, and then come directly into the exam room. We have several entrances to help.
Let us know if your pet does better with male or female vets.
Cats and small- to medium-sized dogs should be acclimated to their carriers ahead of the visit. This can be accomplished by leaving the carrier out in an area of the home where the pet likes to be. ​Place a towel over the top of the carrier to help create a safe place with familiar scents.
The carrier should be outfitted with toys and comfortable bedding or a non-slip mat. Carriers that have a top-off option are ideal because they are more accessible.
You can also spray cat or dog pheromones in the carrier or, for larger dogs, onto a bandana.
If transporting a medium to large dog, be sure to use an approved restraint device in the car. The drive to the vet can be kept low-stress with calm music or silence and by avoiding hard stops or starts.
Bring your pet's favourite treats or toys to the visit.
At our veterinary office, we do our best to keep the atmosphere calm, quiet and positive.
To help reduce your pet's stress in the waiting area, keep cats and dogs separate as much as possible. Cat carriers should be kept off the floor and on a sturdy table or chair. Keep your dog leashed and close to your side to minimize interaction with other waiting pets.
When you arrive, you and your pet will receive a warm and friendly welcome. We want you to know that you are important to us.
As dogs and cats are often sensitive to loud noises and quick movements, during the appointment, our veterinary team will remain calm, speak in quiet voices and approach your pet in a slow, careful manner.
To encourage a positive experience and decrease fear, stress and anxiety during the visit, rewards such as treats, toys or petting/brushing can be used during an exam or when obtaining diagnostics, as long as it is not contraindicated based on why the pet is at the hospital.
We have treats throughout the hospital, but if your cat or dog is on a special diet, we encourage you to bring their treats or food with you to the visit.
Families are allowed to be with their pets during procedures (excluding sedation, anesthesia, X-rays and while the hospital is closed). The staff will direct families on how they can play a part in their pet's treatment to reduce stress for the pet and to keep staff and family safe during the procedure.
If restraint is required during a procedure, our trained staff may use a towel wrap, a muzzle or an Elizabethan collar to ensure the patient is safe and comfortable. A mild sedative may be recommended to make sure that the procedure can be performed safely and is less stressful for the patient.
If you already know that your pet experiences anxiety or stress when visiting the vet, it may be beneficial for the veterinarian to provide you with a mild sedative to give to your pet at home prior to an appointment.
In some cases, we will reschedule a procedure if the pet is stressed. This allows us to send home medications before performing the procedures.
Westend Veterinary Hospital is located in the Orangeville area, and our veterinarians are passionate about your pet's health. Get in touch today to book your pet's first appointment.
