At Paws N’ Claws Veterinary Surgery in Yishun and Upper Thomson, we believe that your pet’s emotional health is as important as their physical health. We are proud to have Fear-Free Certified® professionals on our team.
What do we mean when we say that a veterinary visit is Fear-Free? A veterinary team member who is Fear-Free Certified®️ wants your pet to be happy when he comes through the doors of the clinic.
Fear-Free doesn’t mean that your pet will never experience anything uncomfortable at the veterinarian, as they may be injured or ill.
Our team are capable of reducing fear, anxiety, and stress from the examinations and procedures under the guidance of Fear-Free certified professional Dr Esther Lam.
No more waiting, sitting on cold surfaces and mingling with other sick patients.
Need extra help with your pet’s stress and anxiety? Medication can be prescribed upon consultation.
Understanding a Fear-Free approach
Fear-Free is a concept in veterinary medicine that seeks to recognise and reduce fear, stress, and anxiety (FAS) associated with visits to veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and even pet groomers. The aim is to help your pet feel comfortable and relaxed, as far as possible, from arrival till departure.
This means that the animals tend to have a greater ability to act more like themselves. In turn, this makes diagnosis, treatment or training far more successful.
Achieving this takes effort, and requires active communication between the pet owner and the veterinary team.
But the result and reward of a Fear-Free approach is a better experience for everyone involved — the pet, owner, and staff (including the veterinarians, nurses, and technicians).
Fear, anxiety, and stress are common emotional responses experienced by pets when they enter any vet clinic. For instance, you may notice your dog panting, licking his lips, trembling, yawning, crouching in a corner. Or, your cat might be tucking his paws under his body, with widened eyes and dilated pupils, and ears folded back. These are signs of moderate stress.
How can we reduce fear, stress, and anxiety?
A Fear-Free veterinary visit starts before the arrival at the clinic. The key is to start applying Fear-Free methods even BEFORE you and your pet step into the vet clinic or animal hospital, as much as possible.
1. Before the visit: Long before they are brought to the vet clinic, pets should ideally be acclimated to their means of transport — be it the pet carrier, car rides, safety belts, harnesses, or other restraint devices used during the car ride.
For example, the carrier should be placed in an area at home where your pet likes to be. Place comfortable bedding, treats, and toys inside the carrier, and remove the top part of the carrier (if possible).
Once your pet is acclimated, it will be easier to bring them out anytime they are sick, need a wellness exam, or require a medical bath or grooming session, for instance.
2. During transport: Here are some ways to reduce stress while your pet is on their way to see the vet:
- Spray dog-appeasing or cat-appeasing pheromones — such as Adaptil for dogs, and Feliway for cats — on an anti-slip mat and the carrier.
- Carry the cat carrier on your lap to reduce movement during the car ride
- Use dog-safe harnesses for car rides
- Avoid hard stops or brakes
- Play calm music
Dogs and cats should ideally have separate waiting areas at the vet clinic. It is best for cats to be placed in carriers at an elevated spot that is higher than and off the floor, such as on chairs, tables, or shelves.
Anxious dogs can wait outdoors or in the car with the owner until it’s their turn to see the veterinarian. Sometimes, there may be an available consultation room that’s separate from other pets and noise, in which case anxious dogs can wait in that room before their appointment.
3. During examination: A good way to reduce fear, stress, and anxiety is to give the pet rewards — which may be treats, toys, petting, or brushing. At Paws N’ Claws Veterinary Surgery (PNC) and the Medical Grooming Centre (MGC), we are generous in offering pets our homemade dehydrated single-protein treats, which are very popular with the fur kids. These treats are also available for sale upon request.
Other Fear-Free techniques applied by the MGC and PNC teams include gentle control for restraint, and touch gradient. Everyone also speaks in calm, quiet voices and take a slow approach when handling each pet.
If any restraint or approach is causing significant stress in the pet, a mild sedative may be required. Alternatively, the appointment may need to be rescheduled, with pre-visit anti-anxiety medication provided for the next visit.
Happy visits: Building positive associations
Fear-Free veterinary care emphasises positive experiences in the veterinary environment. We offer ‘happy visits’ at our Paws N’ Claws Vet clinics in Upper Thomson and Yishun, free-of-charge, for patients with scheduled appointments.
Happy visits are short, non-medical, positive interactions with the veterinary team outside of routine vet checkups, procedures, and other scheduled appointments.
During a happy visit, you can bring your pet to our clinic premises for plenty of treats and gentle petting, a short play session, or simply to say hello to our staff.
These allow your pet to explore our clinic on their own terms and pace, familiarise themselves with the sights and sounds, and also build a great relationship with the vets, nurses, and technicians. By creating a positive association with the vet clinic, happy visits can significantly reduce anxiety and fear during future vet visits.
Many of our patients have enjoyed their happy visits at Paws N’ Claws! Scheduling regular happy visits, even occasional ones, can make a big difference to your furkid’s comfort level in the vet clinic, animal hospital, or pet grooming centre.
Fear-Free veterinary visits for your furkid
Paws N’ Claws Veterinary Surgery, with clinics located in Yishun and Upper Thomson, is led by Dr Esther Lam, a Fear-Free certified veterinarian who prioritises your pet’s emotional and physical well-being.
Our team will work with you and guide you through the steps to make the vet visit as Fear-Free and pleasant as possible.
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.
