Stress-free Veterinary Care

For many of our beloved pets, a visit to the vet can be a stressful experience. This may be due to an unfamiliar environment, new smells and sounds, previous negative experiences such as injections or nail trims, car travel, feeling unwell, or even sensing their owner's anxiety about the visit. Unfortunately, each stressful experience can reinforce these feelings, causing future visits to become increasingly difficult. Signs of stress or fear in pets can include panting, lip licking, yawning, trembling, hiding, vocalising, a lowered tail, and reluctance to be handled.

Creating Positive Experiences

At Cammeray Vet Hospital, we believe that veterinary care should be a positive experience for both pets and their families. Reducing stress is not only about making veterinary visits more pleasant; it can also improve the accuracy of examinations, reduce fear-related behaviours, and help pets receive the care they need more comfortably. This is done through thoughtful handling techniques, environmental modifications, positive reinforcement, and stress-reducing medications when appropriate. Sometimes the simplest strategies can make a big difference. Two of our staff, Head Nurse Sylvi and Nurse Madi have done extra training in ‘Fear-Free’ animal care. So our team is well trained to recognise the signs of stress and adjust their approach accordingly.  

Dogs 

For our canine patients, examinations may take place on the floor, on the consultation table, or even in our treatment area; wherever they feel most comfortable. Our nurses often assist by gently distracting pets, and using low-stress handling techniques to help them feel at ease. Offering treats during examinations and on arrival in reception can help create positive associations with the practice and reinforce calm behaviour.

Extra Care for Our Feline Friends

Cats often experience vet visits differently from dogs, so we take additional steps to minimise their stress. Whenever possible, feline patients are separated from dogs and taken directly into a consultation room on arrival. Cat carriers are kept elevated off the ground and covered with a towel to provide a sense of security. We also use Feliway®, a calming feline pheromone, throughout our consultation rooms and hospital areas. Our team aims to minimise unnecessary handling and allow cats time to settle into their surroundings. For hospitalised feline patients, we provide hiding boxes in their enclosures, giving them a safe space where they can feel more secure.

Stress-Free Medication 

Another way to help your pet feel more comfortable is to administer medications to reduce stress levels. For pets staying for surgery, diagnostic procedures, or in hospital we offer “stress-free medication” in a tablet form. The option for this medication is on our hospital consent forms, and available on an ‘opt-out’ basis. Some of our patients are even prescribed this medication to be given prior to a vet visit. Some “stress-free” medications were originally approved for use in humans, but now widely used for animals. Each patient is assessed and medication is administered as deemed necessary to lower or eliminate their stress levels. The medications that we use in our practice are Trazodone and Gabapentin. 

Please let us know if you would like to discuss this further for your pet. It may make a difference! 

Give us a call on 8057 5362 anytime. We are happy to help!