Care Tips

Care Tips

Your pets give you a lifetime of unconditional love, loyalty, and friendship. In return, they count on you to provide them with food, water, safe shelter, regular veterinary care, exercise, companionship, and more. Take care of the essentials for your pets, and you'll develop a rewarding relationship with your furry friends.

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Prepare Your Pets for a Visit to the Vet

Prepare Your Pets for a Visit to the Vet

When you consider what a vet visit entails, you can begin to appreciate why your pets may become so overwhelmed and (sometimes) hard to control. Not only will they encounter dozens of new smells, but they may also hear barking dogs, meowing cats and strange voices. They may be handled by vet staff in unfamiliar ways that could add to their apprehension.

Help your pets feel more relaxed--and even enjoy their vet visits--by following these tips:

Some dogs and cats never go anywhere except to the vet. Thus, they may begin to associate the carrier or cars with a stressful experience and begin to worry the moment you pull out the carrier or put them in the car. To prevent this anxiety, do some practice runs. For cats and smaller dogs, leave their carriers open in your home, filled with bedding and occasionally some tasty treats. Every so often, place your pet in the carrier, take them out to the car, but then come back inside and provide treats and affection. You can even take your dog somewhere fun, so he learns that a ride in the car can end in a pleasurable destination.

It may help to take your dog to the vet clinic for brief visits prior to your appointment. Introduce him to the clinic when it's quiet to get him used to the smells and sounds of the new environment so it won't be entirely strange to him when you actually go for the exam. Let him meet the wonderful people who work there; have the staff give him a treat and place him on a scale; and allow him to sniff the exam room. A few visits like this will help him to associate the vet clinic with a positive experience.

At home, during quiet times, you can help your pets become comfortable with being handled for a medical examination. Gently pat them on different areas of their body while they are in a relaxed state. Mimic how the vet will examine your cat or dog-touch around their eyes and ears, gently hold their feet and toes (which also helps alleviate their fear of nail clipping), lift their lips and touch their teeth, gently move their legs, etc. Cats especially often need and enjoy regular brushing. Take your time with this kind of touch, and do it often so that it becomes an agreeable experience for your pet both at home and at the vet.

Exercise your dog before a vet visit; a tired dog is more relaxed and easier to manage. Although you probably won't be able to tire out your cat, try to manage her adrenaline levels and keep her in a relaxed state before going to the vet.

If you are early for your appointment or have a long wait, consider staying in the car with your pet or in a quiet area of the office—the less stimulation, the better.

Keep larger dogs on a short leash while in the waiting area, and maintain control of them throughout your visit to avoid any stress, injury or altercations with other pets. If your dog shows any signs of aggression toward dogs or humans, be sure to have him muzzled for everyone’s safety.

If you have a small dog, cat, bird, or other small pet, take them into the clinic in a carrier—consider one with an opening at the top for easier loading. Your pets will feel more comfortable being in their familiar space, with their own blanket, toys, etc. In the car and in the waiting room, keep the carrier covered with a towel from home—this will buffer the strange noises and smells and help you regulate the temperature for your pet. For your cat, you can even spray the towel, carrier and yourself with a pheromone spray, such as Feliway®, to help keep her calm and comfortable.

Throughout the visit, stay relaxed and unconcerned. Your pets can sense your feelings, and you need to remain calm so they can feel calm. Remember, your pets look to you for their safety and security.

After the vet visit, take your dog somewhere fun to play and to reward him. For cats or other small pets, take them straight home and give them their space and time to relax—don’t over-handle them after an already stressful day.

Your veterinarian and clinic staff will also appreciate you taking the time to ensure your pets are calm and comfortable during their visits.

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