If your pet becomes stressed when they see the veterinarian, you may be tempted to postpone their annual wellness visit, but these evaluations are vital to keep your four-legged friend happy and healthy. Our Memorial Animal Hospital team approaches every pet with compassion and strives to make their experience as low-stress as possible, but you can also take steps to help keep them calm. Keep reading to learn tips for a low-stress veterinary visit.

#1: Properly socialize your pet

Proper socialization is important to help puppies and kittens grow into well-adjusted and well-behaved adult pets. The process, which involves positively exposing your young pet to as many different sights, sounds, smells, and experiences as possible, helps keep their veterinary visit low-stress, because socialization includes:

  • Meeting new people — If your pet is used to meeting new people, they will be excited to be introduced to our veterinary team.
  • Visiting new places — If your pet is properly socialized, a new place is an exciting adventure, and the veterinary hospital’s sights and smells will not be frightening or stressful.
  • Riding in the car — If your pet rides in the car only to go to the veterinarian, the experience may frighten them. Practice riding in the car, so your pet is comfortable and stress-free. 
  • Handling — Part of proper socialization involves your pet learning to have their ears, mouth, limbs, belly, tail, and other body parts handled, which should help them cooperate during our veterinary examination.

If you adopt your pet as an adult, you can still handle them at home and expose them to new experiences to help them get used to veterinary evaluations.

#2: Acclimate your pet to their carrier

In many cases, the only time a pet sees their carrier is when they have a veterinary appointment, so they run and hide when the carrier comes out of storage. Help your four-legged friend view their carrier as a comforting safe haven rather than confinement, so they don’t become stressed. Tips include:

  • Leaving the carrier out — Place the open carrier near your pet’s favorite resting area, which allows them to investigate the carrier and get used to resting inside.
  • Making the carrier welcoming — Make the carrier more comfortable and welcoming by placing your pet’s favorite blanket or your recently worn clothing inside. You can also place treats or catnip in the carrier to entice your pet to investigate.
  • Feeding your pet inside the carrier — Feed your pet inside their carrier to help them form a positive association.
  • Covering the carrier — When transporting your pet, cover their carrier to help block their view of stressful sights.
  • Keeping the carrier stable — When carrying your pet in their carrier, hold the handle with one hand and support the bottom with the other for stability. In addition, place the carrier on your vehicle floor to prevent sliding on or falling from the seat.

#3: Keep your pet hungry 

Hungry pets are typically more treat-motivated and will more likely cooperate with our veterinary team in exchange for high-value treats. An empty stomach will also help prevent car sickness on the way, which can stress your pet before they reach our hospital.

#4: Bring your pet’s favorite things

Bring your pet’s favorite blanket or toy to help provide comfort and familiarity while they are at our veterinary hospital. In addition, bring a good supply of your pet’s favorite treats, and treat your pet frequently, including when they arrive, walk through the door, step on the weigh scale, enter the examination room, and when being examined. 

#5: Schedule your pet’s appointment early

Our team tries extremely hard to keep to our appointment times, but emergencies occur that sometimes derail our carefully planned day. Scheduling your pet for the first appointment of the day helps ensure that our team will see your four-legged friend promptly, and they won’t have to wait in an unfamiliar waiting room near pets and people they’ve never met. 

#6: Keep your pet in the car

If you know your pet gets stressed in the veterinary hospital, wait with them in the car. Call our team when you arrive, and we will let you know when we are ready to take your pet to an examination room. 

#7: Notify our veterinary team about your pet’s stress

Our Memorial Animal Hospital team is American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)-accredited and we always use appropriate low-stress techniques with your pets. However, if you notify us that your pet becomes highly stressed during a veterinary visit, we will take extra precautions to ensure they are not overwhelmed.

#8: Consider pre-visit sedation for your pet

Sometimes, these techniques are not enough to manage your pet’s stress, and our team may recommend pre-visit sedation. This involves administering an oral medication to your pet before their visit to help them stay calm during their examination, so we can provide the care they need. 

Our Memorial Animal Hospital team prioritizes stress-free visits, and we encourage you to let us know about your pet’s fear or stress during veterinary visits when you contact us to make an appointment. Then, we can devise a plan to ensure their next visit is as low-stress as possible.