Fear-Free℠ Visits to Syosset Animal Hospital
Trips to the vet can be quite stressful for our animal friends. Not only do they have to leave their safe spaces at home, but they may also encounter other animals, which can make them nervous.
At Syosset Animal Hospital, we’re committed to providing Fear-Free℠ office visits. We want your pets to feel comfortable when they visit us, so we take many steps to make sure they feel happy and relaxed as soon as they walk in the door.
To keep your pets’ visits Fear-Free℠, Syosset Animal Hospital provides:
- Calming music. As many of us humans know, a little bit of background noise can help distract from nervousness.
- Minimally invasive surgeries [link to: new minimally invasive surgeries page]. These surgeries lead to a quicker and more comfortable recovery than traditional surgeries. This means your pets will have fewer negative associations with us.
- Low-dose and oral vaccines. The lesser the dose, the more comfortable your pets will be when they receive vaccines. We can even provide certain vaccines orally, which is also easier on your pets.
- Snacks! Treats create positive associations with our clinic, our staff and our veterinarians. We usually give dogs turkey and cheese, but for cats or picky eaters, you can bring your pet’s favorite treats from home.
You can help before your pet’s appointment, too:
- Don’t feed your pet for 12 hours before her appointment. Unless your pet has a medical condition that would make fasting dangerous, don’t give her food in the 12 hours before her appointment. This means she’ll be hungry when she visits us, and our treats will be more enticing!
- Bring your cat in a carrier and your dog on a leash. Carriers give cats a sense of security, as it lets them hide. Your smaller dogs may even benefit from carriers for the same reason. And leashes give you a bit of control over your dog, keeping you, your dog and our entire veterinary clinic safe.
- Create positive connections with your pets’ carriers and leashes. Cats shouldn’t only see their carriers right before they go to the vet. To help your pet get used to her carrier, leave it somewhere she can access it regularly. Place fluffy bedding, treats or toys in and around it. Dogs should already be used to wearing leashes before they visit. You’ll have an easier time managing your pets when they’re on leashes, plus, if you use leashes regularly, your dogs won’t associate them with the vet.