Visiting the vet does not have to be a scary, stressful experience for our furkids. Learn more about gentle control, touch gradient, positive reinforcement, complimentary ‘Happy Visits’ and more, as part of our Fear-Free approach to veterinary care.
Pet Unity Singapore recently interviewed our Head Veterinarian, Dr Esther Lam, on her insights and tips on how to make each vet clinic visit a calmer and more positive experience for our pets.
Read on for an abridged version of the discussion below. For the full article, visit Pet Unity’s website.
Paws N’ Claws is part of the trusted vet network on Pet Unity’s pet registry, which aims to protect lost pets and reunite families more quickly. Learn more about the pet registry in our post here.
Reducing Fear, Anxiety, and Stress in Animals
Does your dog hide once he senses a trip to the vet? Does your cat flatten her ears or resist every attempt to get her into the carrier?
For many pets, going to the doctor’s can be a stressful experience filled with anxiety and fear. After all, unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells, combined with being handled by strangers, can be overwhelming for anyone.
The Fear-Free approach to veterinary care aims to address this, to ideally provide a calmer, more positive experience for pets and put them at ease.
Pet Unity: Dr Esther, thank you for joining us today. What is Fear-Free care, and why is it important?
Dr Esther: Fear-Free care is a specialised approach in veterinary medicine that prioritises both the physical health and emotional well-being of pets.
It’s about creating a calming, conducive environment to reduce Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) during veterinary visits.
This helps us ensure a more positive experience for pets, and can also make future visits less daunting and more comfortable for everyone involved.
Fear-Free strategies are science-based and behaviour-led. They include gentle handling techniques, positive reinforcement, and close observation of body language.
Pet Unity: How do Fear, Anxiety, and Stress manifest in our pets?
Dr Esther: Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) are emotional states that can significantly impact a pet’s behaviour and well-being. For example, a dog might cower, bark, or try to flee when encountering something unfamiliar or scary. A cat may hide under furniture before a vet visit, simply because they associate the carrier or car ride with a previous negative experience.
As for stress, you might notice changes like panting, pacing, drooling, excessive grooming, or aggression.
Pet Unity: What does a Fear-Free aligned vet clinic look like?
Dr Esther: Fear-Free clinics are designed and operated with the pet’s comfort in mind. The entire environment is tailored to feel safe and soothing.
There may be separate consultation rooms, waiting areas, or quieter spaces for cats and dogs. Tools like pheromone diffusers, soothing music, soft lighting, treats, and cozy items like blankets and mats are often used to make animals feel at ease.
Fear-Free aligned clinics also feature larger and more spacious cages and cubicles for hospitalised pets, as well as anti-slip mats, to make it more comfortable and safe and help pets feel more secure during their stay.
Pet Unity: Handling can be a big stressor for pets. How do Fear-Free professionals approach this?
Dr Esther: The staff at Fear-Free aligned vet clinics or hospitals are trained to handle pets in ways that alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress. These include gentle control and touch gradient.
At Paws N’ Claws, gentle control — the gentlest form of restraint possible — is used during physical examinations and treatments to keep the pet feeling secure. Our veterinary team comfortably and safely positions the patient to allow veterinary care to be administered.
We also use techniques like the touch gradient, which gradually introduces pets to increasing levels of touch while monitoring their acceptance and comfort level. This approach helps build trust and reduces stress.
Importantly, the Fear-Free approach starts even before the visit to the vet clinic or animal hospital. We may recommend anti-anxiety strategies such as supplements or medications, and offer tips for the owners to condition their pets to handling and restraint — such as getting them accustomed to having their limbs or paws touched.
Pet Unity: Positive reinforcement is a big part of Fear-Free care. How does it work?
Dr Esther: This involves rewarding pets with plenty of treats, toys, praise, and play throughout their visit — such as during blood draws and vaccinations — to create positive associations with the clinic. Over time, it can help pets feel more comfortable and less frightened about returning to see the vet.
Pet Unity: My cat doesn’t like vet visits. How can I make it less stressful for him to see you at the vet clinic? Do I need to inform you in advance?
Dr Esther: Cats are especially sensitive to changes and unfamiliar environments, so preparation is key.
Yes, it’s a good idea to WhatsApp or call our team ahead of time about your cat’s specific needs or behaviours, so that we can make the necessary arrangements. Our appointment process via WhatsApp has a simple registration form for pet owners to fill in, such as to indicate your pet’s usual level of anxiety and any dislikes.
Active communication between the pet owner and the vet is essential for tailoring the visit to reduce FAS effectively. If our veterinarians suggest pre-visit pharmaceuticals to help your cat feel calmer (especially if your cat has had negative experiences at the vet’s before) and you would like to try that option, you may drop by the clinic a couple of days prior to pick up the medication.
We also often recommend at least one Happy Visit before the actual appointment. This can be very helpful in making the upcoming visit less intimidating for your cat.
As for what you can do at home, start by acclimating your cat to his carrier. Leave the door and the top part of the carrier open, and place it in an area at home where he likes to be.
Inside the carrier, you could place treats, toys, and a soft blanket or a t-shirt that smells like you, to make it a comfortable, inviting space.
During transport, some ways to reduce stress include carrying the cat carrier on your lap to reduce movement during the car ride, and spraying cat-appeasing pheromones like Feliway for cats on the carrier.
These steps, combined with our Fear-Free approach at the vet clinic, can make the visit much more comfortable for your furkid.
Pet Unity: What are ‘Happy Visits’, and how can they benefit pets?
Dr Esther: ‘Happy Visits‘ are non-medical, positive interactions at the vet clinic — pets can explore the clinic premises, meet the staff, and enjoy treats or playtime without undergoing any medical procedures.
A well-established concept within Fear-Free care, Happy Visits are designed to help pets build positive associations and become familiar with the clinic over time. The goal is to make future medical visits less daunting.
At both our Paws N’ Claws vet clinics in Upper Thomson and Yishun, Happy Visits are complimentary for patients with scheduled appointments, as we believe every pet deserves to feel at ease in a veterinary setting.
Fear-Free Veterinary Care
Our friendly and knowledgeable team are Fear-Free aligned, prioritising your pet’s physical and emotional well-being. We will gladly address any questions you may have, as we wish to enable every owner to make informed decisions about your pet’s health and well-being. From advanced diagnostic tools to tailored treatment plans, we are here to help your pet recover and feel better.
At Paws N’ Claws Veterinary Surgery, both of our branches in Yishun and Upper Thomson are part of the trusted vet network on Pet Unity’s pet registry, which aims to protect lost pets and reunite families more quickly. Learn more about the pet registry here. To get 10% off the Pet Unity membership fee, quote PU+PNC when registering your pets.
Have a question? WhatsApp us at 8891 4417 (Upper Thomson) or 8809 0787 (Yishun).
Alternatively, please fill in the form below to send us a query.
