A calmer vet visit

We’ve had the same veterinarian for years. He’s an excellent vet and provides great care, and we really like him.

But when I brought our dog Rex in for his first visit shortly after we adopted him, he was very fearful. Rex is leery of men he doesn’t know, and was especially nervous about them when he first came home.

The second time I brought Rex, his fear escalated and our veterinarian thought it was best that he stop his exam. I agreed.

But then I worried. Rex is young and has years of medical appointments, vaccines, and annual blood draws ahead of him. How would we manage to get him the care he needed?

I realized we needed to take a few steps back in order to set Rex up for success.

We decided to try a female veterinarian, but we needed more than that.

I researched fear-free veterinary clinics, and found a couple options in our metro area. I booked an appointment at the one I thought would work best for us, and then called with an unusual request. Could I bring Rex in for a visit where he simply received treats from the veterinarian, and had a chance to get a feel for the clinic – no needles or exam? They agreed, and scheduled us for a “happy visit.”

When the veterinarian came into the room, she sat on the floor near Rex and gently gave him treats without making eye contact. Rex cautiously took them, and over the course of our visit, worked up his courage to give her a good sniff. She gently held out different things for him to look at, including her stethoscope. Rex’s curiosity and comfort level grew. After a short visit and a whole lot of treats, we headed home with a positive experience under our belts.

A month later, we did the same thing. The clinic we found is great for dogs like Rex. The entire staff is trained on fear-free interactions. Each person who walked by him handed him a generous amount of treats. A DAP diffuser in the exam room releases calming pheromones. Instead of putting Rex on an exam table, the staff sits on the floor at his level. They are patient and gentle, and give lots of praise.

At our third appointment, Rex was due for a vaccine. I arrived with a lick mat and a can of Easy Cheese. The technician sat gently near Rex, giving him treats to help him feel comfortable. When it was time for his shot, Rex was calm and so focused on his cheesy mat that he barely noticed the needle go in. We all celebrated his great job, and the staff kindly allowed us to stay in the room while Rex got every bit of cheese off the mat, his reward for a job well done.

Our plan is to continue occasional “happy visits” for Rex, to keep his association with the vet clinic positive and help him gain confidence. With practice, we’re hopeful that Rex’s vet-visiting skills will keep improving.

If you are interested in finding similar options for your dog, a growing number of veterinarians, technicians, and clinics are getting trained in fear-free methods.