Tips for Making Those Trips to the Vet Purr-fect
According to a recent survey of pet owners, the stress of taking your pet to the veterinarian’s office is a major reason for not seeking veterinary care, particularly with regard to those frisky kitties of ours. However, because your pet needs regular preventive medical care to ensure optimal health and quality of life, here are some tips to ease the process:
Kennel/Crate
Introduce your pet to a crate or kennel before it comes time to use it to travel to the veterinary practice. Once your pet accepts and uses the crate, the crate can be used to transport him to and from the veterinary practice.
Hiding places
Some pets feel more comfortable when they can hide. Provide a blanket in the crate for your pet to hide under. You can also use a blanket to cover the crate and give her a sense of protection.
Car rides
Consider placing your pet’s crate on the floor of the front seat to provide a visual barrier as well as calming white noise from the engine running. Safety belts specially adapted for dogs are also available. If your pet does get car sick, speak with your veterinarian about strategies to alleviate the symptoms.
Pheromone spray
A pheromone is a species-specific chemical naturally released by your cat/dog. These naturally occurring pheromones are available from your veterinarian, verified online pet pharmacies, and pet stores. Spray the pheromones on your pet’s bedding or on a bandanna to be worn around his neck one to two hours before coming to the veterinary practice.
Practice sessions
Call ahead to your veterinary practice to find out when there is a quiet time to visit. During the visit, your pet can calmly walk around the practice and even enter the exam room. Use treats and positive praise with your pet as you tour around.
Distractions
Bring your pet’s favorite treats/toys to give them something positive to focus on during the visit.
Choose a comfortable place
If your pet is nervous when you arrive at the veterinary practice, be sure to find a quiet seat away from other pets. If necessary, you can call ahead to request that you and your pet be placed in an exam room right away to minimize stress.
The Bottom Line
Taking your pet to the veterinarian’s office should be a fun interactive experience. If you feel something could be done differently in the practice to make your pet more comfortable, do not hesitate to discuss these concerns with us. We want to make your pet’s experience positive so that we can deliver the highest quality of care.
Hill & Harbour Veterinary Center is a small animal general practice, specializing in preventative care, surgery, dental health, and emergency medicine. Contact us today!
I like how you mentioned that one main reason for pet owners not seeking veterinary care for their pets is because of the stress transporting them to the clinic. My sister is thinking of looking for an animal hospital for her cat because she’s considering moving since she might accept a new position at the company she works for. It seems like a good idea for my sister to think about finding a reputable establishment to take her cat to so that it can continue to be as healthy as possible.
My favorite tip from your article was definitely the one about doing some practice sessions with the cat before making a trip to a vet. My cat can be extremely unpredictable at times; sometimes he does what I say immediately and sometimes he just sits there and ignores me. With an attitude like that, I’ll definitely need to practice a bit with him before taking him to any veterinarians in the area.