Preparing Your Pet for a Fear Free Veterinary Visit
Preparing For Your Visit
Before your visit, we’ll send you a pre-visit questionnaire designed to help us understand your pet’s unique personality, preferences, and past experiences. By learning what comforts them—and what might cause stress—we can tailor their visit to create a calmer, more positive experience. Whether it’s special handling techniques, preferred treats, or a quiet exam room, we’re here to help your pet feel safe and cared for.
Preparing Your Dog
With a little preparation, you can help your pup feel safe, relaxed, and even happy about going to the clinic. Below, you’ll find trusted, dog-specific resources to guide you through gentle handling tips, car ride prep, and positive training techniques that make vet visits smoother and less stressful for everyone.
Preparing Your Cat
Cats are sensitive creatures, and vet visits can be a major source of stress—for both of you. The good news? A little planning can go a long way. Whether it’s getting your cat comfortable with their carrier or creating a calmer ride to the clinic, the resources below offer cat-friendly tips to help reduce fear, anxiety, and stress every step of the way.
During Your Visit
When you walk in, you’ll notice the difference right away. The lobby is calm, with soft music and a relaxed environment. We greet your pet with comfort in mind—dogs get a bandana infused with Adaptil (a calming dog pheromone), and cats get a towel spritzed with Feliway (a pheromone that helps cats feel safe).
You’ll also be offered a snack, a drink, or even a wine tasting—because we believe Fear Free should include humans, too.
We have non-slip mats and cozy beds ready if your pet prefers a soft spot to relax. Cat parents? You’ll head straight to an exam room to skip the stress of a busy lobby with other pets.
Treat menus are available throughout the clinic, so you can let us know what your pet loves—peanut butter, cheese, tuna, you name it. Not into treats? We’ve got toys and other ways to help them feel good here.
Before your visit, we ask about your pet’s likes and dislikes so we can plan ahead. During the appointment, our team uses gentle, minimal handling and adjusts our approach to keep your pet calm. If your pet is too stressed, we may recommend pre-visit pharmaceuticals or Confidence Building Visits.
We’re here to make every visit as stress-free and positive as possible—for both you and your pet.
