Some pets enjoy veterinary visits, but many, as you probably know, aren’t. They cannot understand that the procedures and medications available at the veterinary clinic are for their own health and well-being.
However, there are ways to make your veterinarian office experience easier for you and your veterinarian staff. Here are some pointers for things you shouldn’t do.
1. Assume good behavior for your pet
We all like to think that our pets are the best four-legged creatures to walk the world. Unfortunately, it is very common and normal for pets to show completely different aspects in veterinary clinics.
Cats can have difficulty changing their environment. It helps to slow things down. You can also search for a Fear-Free™ Certified clinic.
If your dog is on a leash, sniff it. Use many positive reinforcement cues, such as snacks (if you have them), verbal praise, pets, and more.
If your pet has never been to the veterinarian’s office before, let staff know that it is your first visit. Assuming your pet will be friendly (even if they were in the past), it can put staff at risk and cause negative experiences for your pet.
2. Do not use a leash
Don’t think your very lovable golden retrievers don’t need a leash for their veterinary visits. You never know how your dog will react in the parking lot or waiting room. If you or your pet approaches your pet, there may be a very unsettling big dog that can cause harm to you or your pet.
Offresh’s pets can naturally be stressed out of anxiety and sick pets and pets already in the barge. Some animals, such as rabbits and cats, can be very easily scared by large dogs approaching their carrier.
We want to do the best for all pets and pet parents, so make sure your pet is on leash without getting close to other pets.
3. Do not use a carrier
It is equally important to maintain small or more unsettling pets in their carriers. Many pets feel safer when they are in an enclosed space. This also protects you from other animals. Without a carrier, cats, birds, small reptiles, or pocket pets can escape or seriously harm themselves. The carrier also makes it easy for veterinary staff to access your pets.
There are some great options for your career:
Making the airline visible and bringing them out while you’re at home can cause anxiety, not only does not let your pet go to the vet in general. Ensure your pet develops a positive relationship with your career.
4. Use retractable chains or ultra-long leashes
This may not be known, but it is important to know. Rolled leaves are dangerous. They can wrap your pets, other pets, or people. This can lead to scratches and travel risks. Instead, use a fixed length leash.
Long fixed chains are perfect for dogs and “sniffaris” outdoors, but can also be dangerous in the waiting room. Choose a leash short enough to keep your dog within a few feet. You can choose to combine this with a high quality harness. It’s even more useful if the harness has a handle or the leash has a handle.
Harness Pro Tips: When it comes to harnesses, the best way to prevent your dog from pulling is by aggressive reinforcement training. Certain harnesses prevent many pulls (easy walks), but they will continue to pull if a strong-willed dog is well motivated!
5. Make your pet medication or forget to mention your current medication before discussing with your veterinary health team
Many people have anxiety medications due to pets lying around the house and antibiotics/steroids that have been prescribed in the past but have not finished.
You may want to relieve your pet’s anxiety prior to a veterinarian visit or planned procedures/test, but do not give your pet any unprescribed medications unless you are discussing the premise with your veterinary care team. This can cause all sorts of issues.
First, it makes it difficult for a veterinarian to be able to reach the correct diagnosis if the veterinarian sees clinical signs and is unable to see your pet when it is sedated or not taking medication.
It can also cause unnecessary or dangerous side effects. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Rimadyl®, Metacam®, etc. deramaxx™, or eTogesic®) and corticosteroids (e.g. Prednisonetriamcinolone, or Dexamethasone) Two classes of medications most frequently prescribed in veterinary medicine. However, if two or more are given at the same time, gastrointestinal problems are likely to occur even within a few days of each other.
Another example is combining certain drugs that can cause “serotonin syndrome.” Several types of drugs commonly prescribed by pets increase serotonin levels in the brain, and when they are used together, their combined effects can lead to dangerous and fatal reactions.
Drugs that can play a role in serotonin syndrome in pets include Anipril® (selegiline or L-deprenyl), Mitaban® and Prevestic® (Amitraz), ClomicalM® (Clomipramine), Reconcile® and Prozac® (Fluoxetine), and Amitriptyline. These medications should not be administered together. You may need a transition period or a “wash-out” period that lasts several weeks.
Make sure you have a past medical record and a list of current medications that your pet is on when you come to the vet. You can also find online templates that will help you prepare for commonly asked veterinary visit questions.
6. Assume pricing
Part of veterinary care is cost. Just like people’s bills, healthcare costs can be high. This would not visit two clinics with the same price. This is because it depends on many factors such as location, quality, and demand.
Don’t assume that it’s the same for your own pet, as your friend was castrating your dog for $120. Big pets need more medicine. Smaller pets need fewer.
Various medications cost different amounts of the clinic, and some are very difficult to get. If you are in a small town of local veterinarians and your friend went to a big veterinarian chain in a big city, the rates will vary. Keep in mind that you are paying for the best possible care for your beloved pet.
Pet insurance can help you literally become a lifesaver in preparation for unexpected costs! A wellness plan will help you prepare for all the expected costs to keep your pet healthy.
7. Assume a diagnosis
When you bring your pet with you sick, open your mind. Many symptoms can manifest in tons of various diseases. For example, vomiting in cats can be a diagnosis of hair bulbs, allergies, thyroid disease, irritable bowel disorder, anxiety, or many other things.
In addition to this, pets tend to hide their symptoms well from illness. Instead of assuming what the diagnosis is, let your veterinarian staff do the necessary physical examinations and diagnosis to get a sense of what is happening with your pet.
8. Google the path to cancer
This is a big thing. Don’t panic before your sick visit. The Internet can be a great resource for pet information, but it can be misleading if the source is unreliable. It can lead you to expect the worst possible outcomes for your pet.
This can cause you a lot of unnecessary anxiety and it stresses your pet as it can make your pet feel our anxiety. This makes veterinary visits more stressful for everyone.
9. Veterinarians and veterinarian staff on their covers
At the veterinary clinic or hospital, you will meet staff from a variety of backgrounds. But one of the most likely things they have in common is that they are there to help keep their pets healthy and feel comfortable in the clinic.
Do your best not to judge any of these dedicated professionals by their appearance. For example, if your vet looks younger, don’t assume they know or shouldn’t know what’s best for your pet.
10. I think they’re adding unnecessary tests to charge more
One of the most common misconceptions of pet parents is that veterinarian professionals charge high prices and earn a lot of money from the field of work.
The truth is that there are no veterinarian experts in this field for money. Often, they can do much less than you expected. In addition, The American Veterinary Association estimates that recent graduates have an average debt of $147,258 from veterinary schools.
Veterinary experts also sacrifice mental and physical happiness sometimes for the love of their field. Sadly, Veterinary experts have a high rate of suicide and depression Compared to the typical US population.
The reasons for this are burnout, high stressful work, big workloads, long hours, and the caring fatigue of having to give pet parents bad news about their beloved pets, although they may hide it.
They are dedicated to making your pet’s life better by placing an IV catheter, doing orthopedic surgery, simply giving your pet one-on-one time and love and doing their best when they need it, whether they know that they are in good hands or not.
