Fear Free Explained
The Fear Free Concept of Veterinary Medicine
Many pet owners know the feeling of seeing their pet trembling, hiding, or acting out of character, due to the Fear, Anxiety and Stress (FAS) associated with a trip to the veterinarian. Some pets may even resort to growling, biting, or scratching, as their fear response takes over. Stressful veterinary visits can cause physiologic and behavior changes which impair healing, contribute to chronic health problems, and make treatment and handling more difficult. If repeated, they learn to associate those feelings with that place, so it happens again and again. When fear, anxiety, and stress around veterinary visits are reduced, the health and wellbeing of patients is improved.
Taking the time to actually pay attention to your pet and how they perceive what's about to happen to them is a relatively new concept. Any pet owner can confirm - our pets know how to express displeasure if only we pay attention. It's up to us to listen, comfort, and reassure them they're safe and respected. To ensure the health of your pets, there are some unpleasant things that need to be done which can involve needles, restraint or other things they may not like, but doing so shouldn't involve FAS when it can be avoided or minimized. And that's what we're about: improving the human-animal bond through care practices that seek to reduce FAS during our visits. Our care might take a little longer and appear more unstructured, because your pet's current mood and willingness dictates the order in which we conduct our exams. Our teams come to your home in an effort to provide the most comfort and familiarity for your pet, all to further minimize FAS.
For those of us who experience it Fear Free is a new, albeit "obvious when you see it", concept in veterinary medicine which aims to recognize and reduce FAS associated with visits to the veterinarian. Achieving this takes effort and requires active communication between the owner and the veterinary team, but the reward is a better experience and less stress for all involved — the pet, owner, and veterinary team.
Because we practice medicine in a fear free way that prioritizes your pet over our time, in the event that your dog or cat has a higher level of FAS, it may not be possible to get everything done in one visit. Remember, the overall goal is to set your pet up for success, establish a positive relationship, and not push them past a reasonable comfort level. We may need to return at a later date to complete non-urgent tasks if your pet’s FAS level becomes too high. Our furry family members (just like us) do better if they only have to deal with one or two stressful things at one time, rather than several all at once.
In some instances, it can also be beneficial for our veterinarian to provide you with a prescription for a mild sedative to give to your pet at home prior to a visit when a pet has known significant anxiety or stress associated with veterinary visits. If you feel that your pet may benefit from taking a medication prior to a veterinary visit to reduce stress, then have a discussion with our veterinarian, as ultimately early communication is key in these situations. There are many different options for pre-visit medications based on the health status of the pet. The strategies that best work for each individual pet are recorded in the medical record for future reference and updated as needed.
To encourage a positive experience and decreased FAS with the veterinarian, rewards such as treats, toys, or petting/brushing may be used during an exam or when obtaining diagnostics. It is also important for both you and our veterinary team to be calm, speak in quiet voices and for our veterinary team to approach your pet in a slow manner as dogs and cats are sensitive to loud noises and quick movements. Overall, the goal is to make the veterinary experience as stress-free as possible for your pet, which will, in turn, make it less stressful for all involved.
We work a little harder and learn a little more to gain the knowledge and tools necessary to look after both your pet’s physical and emotional wellbeing. We love our pets, as you do yours. Their happiness and comfort is first and foremost in our minds in every encounter. Unpleasant things like blood draws may have to happen, but they can be less unpleasant with a little extra care and understanding.
We are proud to be Fear Free Certified and take pride in being able to offer optimal care and well-being for the pets we serve. We also recognize that our approach does not fit everyone’s needs or expectations. If we are a match for your expectations of care, we'd love to be your choice!
