We Practice Gentle Handling Techniques

We are proud to utilize gentle handling and anxiety reducing techniques when treating your pet.

We use stress-free techniques so that your pet experiences less anxiety triggers.  This means a happier visit for you, your pets, and our staff.

There are many ways we make a visit to our hospital stress free for both you and your pet:

• Using food treats throughout your pet’s appointment, even for dog wellness care, cat wellness care and pet dental care, as needed.
• Massaging your pet during their appointment
• Using environmental stress relievers such as music and pheromone diffusers placed throughout the hospital.
• Early use of sedation for the pets that need it.
• Using anti-anxiety medication when needed.
• Separate dog only and cat-only examination rooms.
• Waiting in the quiet environment of an exam room instead of the waiting area.

You can help make your pet’s visit to our animal hospital less stressful too! Consider using these techniques at home in preparation for your visit to us:

• De-stress your pet’s carrier. Make the carrier a fun place to be for your pet by leaving it out so your pet is used to the carrier, using it as a regular place to feed treats and by putting new toys inside the carrier for discovery.
• Bring calming items such as toys or Thundershirts along to the appointment if your pet uses one at home.
• Give your pet any prescribed sedatives at the prescribed time before the appointment.
• Bring pets to the appointment a little hungry, so your pet is highly food-motivated when we offer treats.
• If your pet is nervous when visiting us, bring the pet to the hospital between appointments to say hello to the front desk staff and eat a few treats so that your pet makes a positive association with our staff and hospital.

If you have any questions about our stress-free techniques and how they may help your pet, please give us a call.